Private tributes were preferred to large public ceremonies. The United Kingdom marks Friday the first anniversary of the death of Elizabeth II after 70 years of reign, and the accession to the throne of her son Charles III. On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 in her Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where she traditionally spent her summers.
A period of national mourning began during which hundreds of thousands of British people waited for dozens of hours to watch over the coffin of the sovereign, whose longevity was unequaled for a British monarch. A page was turning for the United Kingdom and the fourteen other nations of which the British sovereign is the head of state, with the accession to the throne of Charles III.
A “permanent memorial” project unveiled in 2026
A year later, no large-scale public event is planned to commemorate this change of era but according to British media, Crown Prince William and his wife Kate are expected to make a trip to pay tribute to the queen. The government revealed a few days ago that a project for a “permanent memorial” would be unveiled in 2026, the year of the centenary of the birth of Elizabeth II.
“We remember with great affection her long life, her dedicated service and all that she meant to so many of us,” Charles III said in a recorded birthday message. Less popular than Elizabeth II was, the king also saw the rise of demonstrations hostile to the monarchy from pro-republic activists during his travels in the country, and in particular during his coronation on May 6.
This first anniversary should not be the occasion for a reconciliation between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family either. The Duke of Sussex, who now lives in California with his wife Meghan and their two children, is currently in the United Kingdom to attend a charity event.