King honours his 'darling Mama', the late Queen, on her centenary

King honours his 'darling Mama', the late Queen, on her centenary

King Charles has paid tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in a heartfelt video message marking what would have been her 100th birthday. Recorded at Balmoral earlier this month, the King reflected on her lifetime of public service, referring to her affectionately as his “darling Mama.” He also expressed that she might have been deeply troubled by many aspects of the current world, though he did not elaborate on specific issues.

To coincide with the centenary, a new bronze statue of the Queen is to be unveiled to King Charles and Queen Camilla. This statue, created by sculptor Martin Jennings, will depict the Queen in her younger years, adorned in the ceremonial robes of the Order of the Garter. Standing nearly 10 feet tall on a plinth of over 11 feet, the bronze figure will be situated in St James’s Park. Its design draws inspiration from a 1955 portrait of the Queen by Pietro Annigoni, emphasizing her public role rather than personal interests such as horseback riding, which had been considered during discussions.

Lord Janvrin, chairman of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, stated that the imagery chosen aims to capture the Queen’s strong dedication to duty and service, qualities the committee deemed essential for how future generations will remember her. Alongside this statue, the memorial project led by architect Lord Foster will include a bust representing the Queen in her later years, as well as a bronze statue of Prince Philip. The surrounding area, including a bridge in the park, will be enhanced with design elements such as a glass balustrade evocative of a royal tiara. These installations are expected to be completed within approximately two years.

In addition to the physical memorials, a digital component is planned. The website Queenelizabeth.com, previously owned by Cunard, has been donated to the memorial effort and will serve as an archive inviting the public to share personal memories of the Queen. This digital repository will also feature a social history of royal events and a digitized version of the “court circular,” documenting the official duties of the Royal Family. Complementing these initiatives, a Queen Elizabeth Trust is being established to support local community projects across the country. King Charles emphasized his mother’s legacy of optimism, hoping for a future characterized by peace, justice, prosperity, and security, while fondly recalling personal moments that endeared her to many, such as her playful appearance with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life

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