King Charles reflects on loss of Elizabeth II in first anniversary of accession message
King Charles has recorded a poignant message and released a favourite photograph of his mum to mark the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death and his accession to throne. In words written and audio spoken at Balmoral Castle where the Queen died on September 8 last year, the King said he recalled with “great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us”.Today (Friday) is a year since the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, who served as Queen for 70 years, died peacefully of old age at 96 just months after her Platinum Jubilee.The formal colour photograph chosen by King Charles was taken by Cecil Beaton and shows a young Queen, then 42, at an official portrait sitting in 1968.