As the world continues to mourn the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, her eldest son Prince Charles (who will soon be crowned as the new British monarch and referred to as King Charles III) just issued a devastating and loving statement in honor of his mother. The former Prince of Wales, 73, wrote, “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.”
He continued, honoring her legacy and 70-year reign,”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.” King Charles (who will soon have a coronation) concluded, “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.”
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Buckingham Palace announced the Queen’s death in an official statement on Thursday, September 8th and indicated that Charles and his wife Camilla recently traveled to Scotland to be by the longtime monarch’s side amid her recent health concerns. It read, “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
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While the loss of such a beloved and iconic figure is certainly making headlines around the world, Charles immediately succeeding his mother as the new monarch is being widely discussed, as well. Charles and Princess Diana’s firstborn son, Prince William, 40, is now next in line to the throne, followed by his and Kate Middleton’s firstborn son, Prince George, 9. Queen Elizabeth’s death follows that of her husband Prince Philip, who died at age 99 in June 2021. The two were married for 73 years, and many fans continue to express that they find “comfort in knowing” that the two “are together now.”
The Queen’s death follows a year of several health issues, and in October of last year, many recall she was seen out with a walking cane. Later that same month, she spent an evening in the hospital and canceled her scheduled trip to Northern Ireland under advice from her doctors. She also did not appear at the Remembrance Day ceremony in November of 2021 due to her sprained back. Additionally, Elizabeth did not head to Sandringham for her family’s traditional Christmas celebration, in part, because of the uptick of COVID-19 cases at the time.
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In February 2022, she tested positive for COVID-19 and was reported to have mild cold-like symptoms while carrying on light duties at the Palace. After Elizabeth appointed Liz Truss as the prime minister of the United Kingdom at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle on Tuesday, September 6th, Buckingham Palace announced that she would not attend a scheduled Privy Council meeting so she “could rest.”
Just before Buckingham Palace shared the heartbreaking news on Thursday, the Queen’s team wrote in a statement that “the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” adding, “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
