King Charles has paid a poignant tribute to his "darling Mama" on what would have been her 100th birthday - and said that there are many issues today that "may have troubled her deeply".
As the royal family gathers to mark her centenary with events in London, the monarch has shared a video message to "reflect on the life and loss of a Sovereign who meant so much to us all."
© WireImage"Much about the times we now live in I suspect may have troubled her deeply, but I take heart from her belief that goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon," he said.
"For as a young Princess Elizabeth put it in her first ever public broadcast, aged just 14, we can each play our part 'to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place'. It is a belief which I share, with all my heart."
Royal officials would not be drawn on which issues Charles was referring to, but he is thought to have been referencing challenges both in the UK and overseas.
The King went on: "So young or old, and whatever our differences, let us therefore seek to follow this example as we make today not the marking of a milestone felt by absence but the celebration of a life well-lived, and a legacy of hope, as we strive together towards a 'better, happier tomorrow' - one rooted in peace, justice, prosperity and security."
© Getty ImagesThe three-minute clip, which Buckingham Palace shared on their social media channels, was filmed earlier this month in the library at Balmoral Castle, the beloved Scottish home where Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, aged 96.
On display behind him, three photographs of the late Queen from different stages of her life, chosen by Charles, included a portrait of her as a very young child.
"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," said the King. "Her near-century was one of remarkable change and yet, through each passing decade, through every transformation, she remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served.
© Photo: BBC"Millions will remember her for moments of national significance; many others for a fleeting personal encounter, a smile, a kind word that lifted spirits…. or for that marvellous twinkle of the eye when sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life."
The King also renewed his "solemn pledge of duty and service" to the nation before signing off:
God bless you, darling Mama; you remain forever in our hearts and prayers.
The royal family will mark the day with a visit to the British Museum, where they will view the design recommendations for the Queen Elizabeth Memorial, before hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Princess Anne will also officially open The Queen Elizabeth II Garden in Regent's Park.
