King Charles Honours ‘Darling Mama’ Queen Elizabeth II On Her 100th Birth Anniversary

King Charles III paid an emotional tribute to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in a video message marking what would have been her 100th birthday on Tuesday.

In the message, Charles fondly referred to her as “darling mama” and praised her lifelong dedication to public service. He said she had remained “constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served” throughout her reign.

The tribute coincided with the unveiling of the final design for a national memorial honouring Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96 after a 70-year reign.

Reflecting on the present times, the king said his mother may have found current global challenges troubling, but drew strength from her enduring optimism. “I take heart

from her belief that goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon,” he said.

He also recalled a message she delivered as a young princess during her first public broadcast at age 14, urging people to contribute to a better future. “It is a belief which I share, with all my heart,” he added.

The planned memorial will feature a statue of a young Queen Elizabeth II, created by British sculptor Martin Jennings. The bronze figure will depict her in ceremonial robes and draw inspiration from a well-known 1955 portrait by Italian artist Pietro Annigoni.

That portrait was painted shortly after Elizabeth ascended the throne, capturing her early years as monarch. Robin Janvrin, who chairs the memorial committee, described it as an “iconic image of the young queen.”

The statue and its plinth will stand approximately 7.3 metres (24 feet) tall at the entrance to St James’s Park, near Buckingham Palace, creating a prominent tribute in the heart of London.