Tributes pour in on anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death

King Charles has remembered his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on the first anniversary of her death. 

Looking back at the late Queen’s legacy as he led the royal family’s tributes on social media, the monarch said: “In marking the first anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death and my Accession, we recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us. 

“I am deeply grateful, too, for the love and support that has been shown to my wife and myself during this year as we do our utmost to be of service to you all. Charles R.”

Buckingham Palace has also shared an image of the late Queen, chosen by His Majesty to mark the anniversary. 

The image shows Her Late Majesty captured by photographer Cecil Beaton at her official London residence, as part of an official sitting on 16 October 1968. Elizabeth II was seen wearing her Garter robes and the diamond Vladimir tiara with its pearl setting.

The photograph has not been released before now but it was first shown at the National Portrait Gallery between November 1968 and March 1969, as part of its first photographic exhibition ‘Beaton Portraits 1928-68’. 

This was also the first retrospective of the work of a living photographer in a British national museum.

Beaton first photographed Her late Majesty in 1942. He photographed Her Late Majesty and many other members of the royal family across the decades but the 1968 sitting was their last sitting together.

His Majesty and the Queen are spending this poignant milestone privately at Balmoral, the former monarch’s beloved summer home in the Highlands and where she passed away on 8 September last year. The King and Queen will head to Crathie Kirk for private memorial prayers alongside a very small number of Balmoral guests.

The Prince and Princess of Wales paid their own respects on social media, saying how much they “missed” the late Queen. They wrote: “Today we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. We all miss you. W & C.” 

Alongside the heartwarming post, the royal couple shared a series of images including one showing the late monarch with her grandchildren Lady Louise Windsor and the Earl of Wessex, and great-grandchildren Savannah and Isla Phillips, Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. 

The image was taken by the Princess of Wales during the royal family’s annual summer holiday at Balmoral in 2022.

Princess Eugenie went on to release an unseen image with her late grandmother, and remarked: “Thinking of you today. Missing you so much but remembering what a life of service, love and dedication to everyone and to your family, who loved you so very much.”

Princess Anne’s son-in-law, Mike Tindall, also honoured the late Queen with a video showing the photos of her from birth up until her later years.