King Charles Remembers His "Darling Mama" on Her Centenary
King Charles has shared a personal video message commemorating the life of public service of his "darling Mama", the late Queen Elizabeth II, on what would have been her 100th birthday.
In the message, recorded at Balmoral earlier this month, the King expressed that his mother would likely have been troubled by the current state of the world.
"Much about the times we now live in I suspect may have troubled her deeply,"
he said, without specifying particular concerns, whether domestic or international.
Unveiling of the Traditional Bronze Statue
On Tuesday, marking the centenary of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, King Charles and Queen Camilla will view the final design of a traditional bronze statue of the late Queen.
The statue, sculpted by Martin Jennings, depicts the late Queen in her younger years, adorned in the ceremonial robes of the Order of the Garter.
The statue will stand 9.84ft (3m) tall atop an 11.15ft (3.4m) plinth located in St James's Park. Its design draws inspiration from the 1955 portrait of the Queen by Pietro Annigoni.
The unveiling coincides with the 100th anniversary of her birth on 21 April 1926, when then Princess Elizabeth was born in a townhouse on Bruton Street in Mayfair.
Lord Janvrin, chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, explained that the statue portrays her in her public role. He noted that if the statue had depicted her on horseback, as had been considered, it would have emphasized her personal hobby rather than her public service.
The memorial committee faced the challenge of deciding how to represent the late Queen for future generations. Lord Janvrin emphasized their intention to highlight her "very strong sense of duty" and commitment to public service.
King Charles Reflects on the Queen's Legacy
In his video message, the King reflected on the late Queen's life through times of significant change.
"She lived through remarkable change and yet, through each passing decade, through every transformation, she remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served."
Details of the Memorial Project in St James's Park
The memorial project in St James's Park, led by architect Lord Foster, includes not only the bronze statue of the Queen but also a bust depicting her in later years and a bronze statue of Prince Philip.
Additionally, a bridge across the park will be rebuilt, featuring a toughened glass balustrade designed to evoke a royal tiara.
The memorials, situated in the central London park near Buckingham Palace, are expected to be completed within approximately two years.
Digital and Nationwide Memorial Initiatives
Beyond the physical statues, the memorial project will include a digital component with a website inviting the public to contribute their own memories of the late Queen.
The website Queenelizabeth.com, formerly owned by the shipping company Cunard, has been donated to the Queen Elizabeth II memorial. It will serve as a historical archive of memories and a social history of royal events.
The digital archive will also feature a digitized version of the "court circular," which records the official working lives of the Royal Family.
Furthermore, a nationwide memorial scheme will be established through a newly created Queen Elizabeth Trust. This trust will support local community projects aimed at fostering unity among people.
King Charles's Vision for the Future
King Charles, who is scheduled to undertake a state visit to meet US President Donald Trump next week, spoke about the late Queen's enduring legacy of optimism.
"Goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon."
He called for a "happier tomorrow" grounded in "peace, justice, prosperity and security."
The King also recalled how many may remember the late Queen from "a fleeting personal encounter, a smile, a kind word that lifted spirits … or for that marvellous twinkle of the eye when sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life."
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