‘Darling mama’: King Charles reflects on Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy at 100

King Charles III has paid an emotional tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, marking what would have been her 100th birthday with a deeply personal message and renewed focus on her enduring legacy.

In a video address released Tuesday, the 77-year-old monarch fondly referred to the late queen as “darling mama,” celebrating her lifetime of service and constancy.

“She remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served,” he said, reflecting on a reign that lasted 70 years until her death at 96 in September 2022.

Charles acknowledged the challenges of the present day, noting: “Much about the times we now live in, I suspect, may have troubled her deeply.” Still, he drew strength from her optimism: “Goodness will always prevail and a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon.”

Echoing her youthful voice, he cited her first public broadcast at age 14, when Princess Elizabeth urged people to help “make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place.” Charles added: “It is a belief which I share, with all my heart.”

The tribute comes alongside the unveiling of the final vision for a national memorial in London’s St James’s Park, near Buckingham Palace.

At its heart will stand a 7.3-metre bronze statue of the queen as a young monarch, designed by Martin Jennings and inspired by Pietro Annigoni’s iconic 1955 portrait. The painting, based on sittings in 1954, captured Elizabeth in the early years of her reign and remains one of her most recognisable images.

The memorial will extend beyond a single monument, featuring landscaped gardens, winding walkways and a striking glass “unity bridge” modelled after her wedding tiara. A separate statue will depict Prince Philip in naval uniform, gazing towards his wife.

Members of the royal family, including the king, are set to review models of the memorial at the British Museum.

Elizabeth’s path to the throne was shaped by unexpected events. Born in 1926, she became heir after her uncle Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. Her father, King George VI, took the crown, and upon his death in 1952, Elizabeth ascended the throne at just 25.

In the years since her passing, the royal family has navigated a difficult period marked by illness, strained relationships and public scrutiny—underscoring the stabilising role the late queen once played.

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