Members of the British royal family led commemorations on Tuesday marking what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday, including plans for a new charity and memorial in London.
Queen Elizabeth, who was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, began her 70-year reign in 1952 at the age of 25, immediately following the death of her father, King George VI. During her reign, she became a symbol of stability in an ever-changing global climate. She died in 2022 at 96.
In a heartfelt video tribute, King Charles III remembered his mother as a steadfast leader who touched many lives and maintained an inspiring optimism during turbulent times.
“Queen Elizabeth’s promise with destiny kept shaped the world around her, and touched the lives of countless people across our nation, the Commonwealth, and beyond,” the king said. “Her near century was one of remarkable change, and yet, to each passing decade, through every transformation, she remained constant, steadfast, and wholly devoted to the people she served.”
He said his mother would have been deeply troubled by current affairs, yet always held a “belief that goodness will always prevail, and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon.”
Charles concluded his tribute by urging the public to follow Elizabeth’s example and “strive together towards a better, happier tomorrow. One rooted in peace, justice, prosperity, and security.”
William and Catherine, the the Prince and Princess of Wales, also paid tribute, remembering Elizabeth for “inspiring generations through a lifetime of duty.”
Alongside the tribute was a collection of photos, including images of Elizabeth with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
On Tuesday, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the British Museum, where they viewed a scale model of the final design for a memorial planned to reshape St. James’s Park in central London. The memorial will include bronze statues of Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, along with a bridge featuring a toughened glass balustrade inspired by the tiara she wore on her wedding day.
The statue will be sculpted by Martin Jennings, inspired by the 1955 painting of her by Pietro Annigoni. The queen will be depicted as a young woman clothed in the ceremonial robes of the Order of the Garter.
“As our longest‑serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II devoted her life to public service. The nation will commemorate her extraordinary reign with a memorial that offers a place of reflection for generations to come," U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.
A digital memorial featuring archival material from the queen’s lifetime was launched Tuesday alongside the St. James’s Park memorial, and invites the public to share their own memories of the late monarch.
A new independent charity, the Queen Elizabeth Trust, was unveiled Tuesday to commemorate the queen’s life. It aims to strengthen communities by revitalizing local spaces, creating gathering spaces, and supporting parks and green space restoration, along with training and resources to local groups.
“I am delighted to be part of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, a charity which aims to make a lasting difference in communities across the UK. Its focus on working hand in hand with people to renew and sustain shared spaces reflects what we’ve heard from local groups across the four nations: that these places work best when they are shaped by and for the communities they serve,” Claire Whitaker, the interim chief executive of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, shared in a statement.
“I am looking forward to seeing this work come to life over the coming months, and to supporting inclusive, revitalized spaces which bring people together for years to come.”