First anniversary of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II marked with tributes, salutes and a special parade

Today (8 September) marks exactly one year since the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II who died at Balmoral Castle on this day last year, at the age of 96. King Charles III has recorded a message and released a favourite photograph in recognition of the first anniversary of his beloved mother’s death.

The King will spend the day at Balmoral, in Aberdeenshire, although along with Queen Camilla, he will attend the nearby Crathie Kirk church for private memorial prayers.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, will commemorate Her Majesty’s wonderful life in a small service at St Davids Cathedral in the west of Wales. Prince Harry has already paid his own tribute in a speech made on Thursday 7 September, at an annual ceremony in London, saying that the Queen “is looking down on all of us.”

Earlier in the week a special parade of the Queen’s favourite breed of dog took place outside Buckingham Palace.

The day of course is also the first anniversary of King Charles’s accession to the throne, and there will be gun salutes fired Hyde Park and at the Tower of London, followed by the ringing of bells at Westminster Abbey, to mark the occasion.

King’s message

In the King’s message, there was a recollection of the late Queen’s “devoted service” and an acknowledgement of “all she meant to so many of us”. His short tribute included a thank you for the “love and support” shown to him and Queen Camilla during his first year as monarch.

The photograph that Charles chose has never been released before. It shows the Queen at 42-years-old, in an official portrait from 1968, with her standing sideways and smiling in her Garter robes, wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Tiara.

PM’s tribute

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid tribute by pointing out that the scale of the late Queen’s service “only seems greater” when reflecting a year on from her sad passing.

He said: “Our gratitude for such an extraordinary life of duty and dedication only continues to grow,” before adding that he treasured his memories of meeting Her Majesty in which he was struck by her “wisdom, and incredible warmth and grace” together with her wonderful “sharp wit”.

Harry speaks fondly of his grandmother

The Duke of Sussex was visiting the UK for an event he annually attends, but had to abandon last year to dash up to Scotland following the news of his Grandmother’s deteriorating health. He recalled: “As you know, I was unable to attend last year although she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her.”

He went on to say: “And that’s precisely why I know, exactly one year on, she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.”

Corgis on parade

Corgis of course played a huge part in the Queen’s life; from a  very young girl she was besotted with the breed. In a touching moment at the committal service at Windsor Castle immediately after the state funeral last year, the cameras captured two corgis standing with a pair of aides as they waited to bid their final goodbyes to their devoted owner.

The Queen had orchestrated every element of her funeral, in the knowledge that it would be watched by hundreds of millions around the world. The fact that she organized for her two corgis to wait for her coffin as it entered the grounds of the Castle on its way to her final resting place, is testament to how much the dogs meant to her.

Last week there was a very fitting tribute paid when a group of royal fans and their own pet corgis, numbering 20-plus, took part in a parade outside Buckingham Palace in London. The dogs were decked out for the occasion in crowns, tiaras and other royal outfits.

A spokesperson for the group said they could not see a better way to remember Queen Elizabeth II than through the corgis, a breed she had loved and cherished throughout her life. They promised to return annually, remarking that it was their belief that a corgi parade would have given her “immense joy.”

Indeed, this tribute would probably mean more to Queen Elizabeth II than any of the many she will inevitably receive in this short period of reflection.