LONDON, April 12 — The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to join King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and other royals in marking the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.
The German Press Agency (dpa) reported that the late British sovereign’s life will be remembered during a series of events held around her birthday, April 21 — the date she would have turned 100.
The King has reportedly written a speech for the occasion, commemorating his mother’s 70-year reign and highlighting her legacy and service.
Queen Elizabeth died peacefully at her home in Balmoral, aged 96, on September 8, 2022, after serving as sovereign for 70 years, the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, and was mourned by her family and friends and remembered by the nation.
For the woman who was never meant to be sovereign, the Queen fulfilled her pledge to serve the nation and the Commonwealth and came to earn the respect of many — from world leaders to the public.
The highlight of the events will see the royal family gather for a Buckingham Palace reception on the day of Elizabeth’s birthday, with charities and organisations associated with the late Queen invited, including Cancer Research United Kingdom (UK), the Jockey Club, and the Army Benevolent Fund.
Guests will include some of the UK’s oldest citizens, who are celebrating their 100th birthdays on April 21, with the King presenting their centenary cards in person.
Earlier in the day, members of the royal family will visit the British Museum to see a scale model of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial with architect Lord Foster, who won the bid to design the national monument, during a reception attended by the prime minister.
The memorial will also feature a “family of gardens” in St James’s Park, with meandering paths and a new translucent-glass unity bridge.
During the day, the Princess Royal will officially open The Queen Elizabeth II Garden in London’s Regent’s Park, and on April 20, the King and Queen will visit a new exhibition showcasing the late monarch’s wardrobe — Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style — at The King’s Gallery.
