King honours ‘darling Mama’ Queen Elizabeth in 100th birthday speech

Charles pays tribute to mother's life, legacy in address to the world on what would have been her 100th birthday

Published Apr 20, 2026  •  2 minute read

King Charles III addresses the world in his speech about the late Queen Elizabeth II. Photo by The Royal Family

King Charles celebrated his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, on what would have been her 100th birthday during a speech in her honour.

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The King, now 77, took to the royal family’s YouTube channel to commemorate Elizabeth’s life of service and legacy and to celebrate the milestone.

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“Today, as we mark what would have been my beloved mother’s 100th birthday, my family and I pause to reflect the life and loss of a sovereign who meant so much to us all,” the King said, adding he and loved ones “will celebrate anew the many blessings of her memory.

“Queen Elizabeth’s promise with destiny shaped the world around her and touched the lives of countless people across our nation, the commonwealth and beyond.”

Queen Elizabeth II, seen in 2022. Photo by Getty Images

Elizabeth’s life, legacy celebrated

As past footage of the Queen was displayed during the address, the King pointed to Elizabeth’s constancy in the face of decades of drastic change.

“Her near century was one of remarkable change and yet to each passing decade, to every transformation, she remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served,” the King said.

Though the King noted that Elizabeth would not have been pleased to read today’s headlines, saying she would have been “troubled” by the “times we now live in,” he said she believed that “goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is always on the horizon.” He said her reign stands as an example to follow.

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“We could each play our part to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place,” the King said, renewing his pledge of duty and concluding with a warm message for his late mother.

“God bless you, darling Mama. You remain forever in our hearts and prayers.”

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Queen of tradition and sometimes not

As queen of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth, Elizabeth served as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and one of the most popular from 1952 to her death in 2022. Her reign saw some of the most pivotal events in modern history and events that would go on to redefine how the world viewed the royal family.

She advised 14 British prime ministers during weekly private audiences throughout her 70-year reign, including such names as Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.

In 2002, Blair hosted the queen at Downing St. for a dinner in her honour, when Her Majesty remarked, “You are my 10th prime minister. The first was Winston. That was before you were born.”

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Though a figure of tradition, the queen would sometimes break with custom when she felt it was warranted. Two days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the queen ordered Buckingham Palace guards to play The Star-Spangled Banner, an act of solidarity and consolation to grieving Americans that broke with centuries of tradition.

Following the 1997 death of Princess Diana, the queen addressed the world amid an outpouring of grief following the fatal crash in Paris and growing anger over the royal family’s initial silence over the incident. The address was only her second live broadcast in 45 years, offering a tribute to Diana and thanking the British people and the world for coming to Buckingham Palace to pay their respects.

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