I converse to you as we speak with emotions of profound sorrow. All through her life, Her Majesty The Queen – my beloved Mom – was an inspiration and instance to me and to all my household, and we owe her probably the most heartfelt debt any household can owe to their mom; for her love, affection, steerage, understanding, and instance. Queen Elizabeth’s was a life effectively lived; a promise with future stored and he or she is mourned most deeply in her passing. That promise of lifelong service I renew to you all as we speak.
Alongside the private grief that each one my household are feeling, we additionally share with so lots of you in the UK, in all of the nations the place The Queen was Head of State, within the Commonwealth and internationally, a deep sense of gratitude for the greater than seventy years during which my Mom, as Queen, served the individuals of so many countries. In 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, she pledged in a broadcast from Cape City to the Commonwealth to commit her life, whether or not it’s brief or lengthy, to the service of her peoples. That was greater than a promise: it was a profound private dedication which outlined her entire life. She made sacrifices for obligation. Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign by no means wavered, by means of occasions of change and progress, by means of occasions of pleasure and celebration, and thru occasions of unhappiness and loss. In her lifetime of service, we noticed that abiding love of custom, along with that fearless embrace of progress, which make us nice as Nations. The love, admiration, and respect she impressed turned the hallmark of her reign. And, as each member of my household can testify, she mixed these qualities with heat, humor, and an unerring skill all the time to see one of the best in individuals. I pay tribute to my Mom’s reminiscence and I honor her lifetime of service. I do know that her loss of life brings nice unhappiness to so lots of you and I share that sense of loss, past measure, with you all.
When The Queen got here to the throne, Britain and the world had been nonetheless dealing with the privations and aftermath of the Second World Conflict, and nonetheless dwelling by the conventions of earlier occasions. In the midst of the final seventy years we’ve seen our society develop into one in all many cultures and many religions. The establishments of the State have modified in flip. However, by means of all modifications and challenges, our nation and the broader household of Realms – of whose skills, traditions and achievements I’m so inexpressibly proud – have prospered and flourished. Our values have remained, and should stay, fixed.
The function and the duties of Monarchy additionally stay, as does the Sovereign’s explicit relationship and accountability in the direction of the Church of England – the Church during which my very own religion is so deeply rooted. In that religion, and the values it evokes, I’ve been introduced as much as cherish a way of obligation to others, and to carry within the best respect the valuable traditions, freedoms and tasks of our distinctive historical past and our system of parliamentary authorities. As The Queen herself did with such loyal devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, all through the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the Constitutional rules on the coronary heart of our nation. And wherever you could reside in the UK, or within the Realms and territories internationally, and no matter could also be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavor to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I’ve all through my life.
My life will after all change as I take up my new tasks. It is going to not be attainable for me to present a lot of my time and energies to the charities and points for which I care so deeply. However I do know this essential work will go on within the trusted fingers of others.
That is additionally a time of change for my household. I rely on the loving assist of my darling spouse, Camilla. In recognition of her personal loyal public service since our marriage seventeen years in the past, she turns into my Queen Consort. I do know she is going to deliver to the calls for of her new function the steadfast devotion to obligation on which I’ve come to rely a lot. As my Inheritor, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant a lot to me. He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the tasks for the Duchy of Cornwall which I’ve undertaken for greater than 5 a long time. At the moment, I’m proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the nation whose title I’ve been so tremendously privileged to bear throughout a lot of my life and obligation. With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I do know, proceed to encourage and lead our nationwide conversations, serving to to deliver the marginal to the centre floor the place very important assist may be given. I need additionally to specific my love for Harry and Meghan as they proceed to construct their lives abroad.
In a bit of over every week’s time, we’ll come collectively as a nation, as a Commonwealth and certainly a world neighborhood, to put my beloved mom to relaxation. In our sorrow, allow us to bear in mind and draw power from the sunshine of her instance. On behalf of all my household, I can solely provide probably the most honest and heartfelt thanks on your condolences and help. They imply extra to me than I can ever presumably specific. And to my darling Mama, as you start your final nice journey to affix my expensive late Papa, I need merely to say this: thanks. Thanks on your love and devotion to our household and to the household of countries you’ve gotten served so diligently all these years. Might “flights of Angels sing thee to thy relaxation.”
