The royal family is paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in the wake of her death, and her grandson William, the Prince of Wales, is among the first to speak out about his late grandmother’s legacy. On Sept. 10, the prince issued a moving statement about the impact the queen had not only on her country, but on his life.
“I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real,” he wrote in part in a message posted across the official Prince and Princess of Wales’s social media accounts. Prince William was with the queen in Balmoral at the time of her death.
The new king – the queen’s eldest son – took the lead in paying tribute to the queen. On Sept. 8, Buckingham Palace confirmed via a statement on its website that “the queen died peacefully at Balmoral,” just a few short hours after reports noted her family rushed to be by her side. The Queen’s death followed worries about her health, which were announced in a separate, earlier statement from the Palace that said “the queen’s doctors were concerned” for her.
Shortly after the queen’s death, her son, Charles, who has now acceded the throne as King Charles III, issued a statement via the Royal Family’s Instagram to pay tribute to the late monarch. “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” it read. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
The following day, Sept. 9, Charles gave a televised address to UK citizens – his first as King – speaking not only of his mother’s legacy, but also about the future of the country. He then attended a service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth II at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. During his speech, King Charles spoke about his mother’s “profound personal commitment” to her country, highlighting her “sacrifices” and “devotion.” He concluded his message, “Darling mama, as you begin your last great journey, to join my dear late papa, I want simply to say this: Thank you, thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all of these years. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
During her 70-years-long rule, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch achieved many milestones. Her legacy began when she was appointed to the throne in 1952 at 25 years old following the death of her father, King George VI. In her day, the queen was head of the Commonwealth, which currently includes over 50 countries, and celebrated her achievements with her Silver, Golden, Diamond, Sapphire, and Platinum Jubilees.
Tributes for the queen have poured in from Britain and celebrities all over. Read ahead to see how the royal family is mourning their loss.
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King Charles III
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” a statement from Prince Charles, now King Charles III, reads. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
During his Sept. 9 speech, he said (in part), “In 1947 on her 21st birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape Town to the Commonwealth to devote her life, whether than it be short or long, to the service of her peoples. That was more than a promise, it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life. She made sacrifices for duty. Her dedication and devotion as sovereign never wavered through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss. In her life of service, we saw that abiding love of tradition together with that fearless embrace of progress which makes us great as nations. The affection, admiration, and respect she inspired became the hallmark of her reign. And as every member of my family can testify, she combined these qualities with warmth, humour, and an unerring ability to see the best in people. I pay tribute to my mother’s memory and I honour her life of service.”
Getty / Max Mumby/Indigo
Prince William
On Sept. 10, the Prince of Wales released a statement about the passing of his beloved grandmother that highlighted both her life of service, and her impact on William’s life. “On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute. So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign,” he wrote. “I, however, have lost a grandmother. And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful.”
“I have had the benefit of The Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade,” he continued. “My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives. She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life. I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real.”
William added, “I thank her for the kindness she showed my family and me. And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all. My grandmother famously said that grief was the price we pay for love. All of the sadness we will feel in the coming weeks will be testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary Queen.”
“I will honour her memory by supporting my father, The King, in every way I can,” he concluded.
