King Charles paid an emotional tribute to his 'darling Mama', Queen Elizabeth the Second, on what would have been her one hundredth birthday, praising her as constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served. Speaking from Balmoral Castle, where she spent her final days in 2022, he reflected on her life of duty through decades of profound global change and renewed his own pledge of service. He ended his message with the words: 'God bless you... you remain forever in our hearts and prayers.'

The King also acknowledged the troubled state of the modern world, suggesting that current conflicts and challenges at home and abroad would have concerned his mother. He said he took comfort in her enduring belief that goodness would prevail and that a brighter future was always possible, echoing a message she first shared as a young princess during the Second World War.

Senior members of the Royal Family are marking the centenary with memorial plans and public events, including a permanent national memorial in central London featuring statues of the late Queen and Prince Philip. A new charitable trust and digital memorial have also been announced to honour her lifetime of public service, while an exhibition at Buckingham Palace celebrating her fashion and legacy has opened to the public.