REBECCA ENGLISH: The Princess of Wales spoke for the nation when she reminisced about the ‘wonderful memories’ of Her Majesty as Britain – and an emotional Royal Family – marked the first anniversary of her passing in solemn remembrance
The Princess of Wales spoke on behalf of the nation yesterday when she told well-wishers marking the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death: ‘We all have wonderful memories of her. We have to hold them.’
Her poignant words came as she and Prince William attended a memorial service at St David’s Cathedral in Wales, where they laid a bouquet of white roses in front of a portrait of the late monarch – a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – before bowing made before their heads in silent contemplation.
The moving solemnity of the occasion was in stark contrast to that of Prince Harry, who was photographed by a tourist as he secretly visited his grandmother’s grave at St George’s Chapel in Windsor yesterday morning, before flying out of the country around lunchtime .
In a sign of how deep the family rift now runs, he left without seeing his estranged brother, who was probably less than half a mile away at his home at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate around the time he visited, before embarking on a journey made. helicopter to Wales. He also did not take the time to see his father in Scotland.
Dressed casually – and looking slightly disheveled – in an open-necked shirt and trousers, the 38-year-old slipped through a side door and was taken to Queen Elizabeth’s final resting place by a member of the chapel staff while his bodyguard stood at a Range waited. Rover parked outside.
The Princess of Wales spoke on behalf of the nation yesterday as she commemorated the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death
Her poignant words came as she and Prince William attended a memorial service at St Davids Cathedral in Wales
He was then taken straight to Heathrow Airport, where he boarded a lunch flight to Dusseldorf to attend the Invictus Games. He will spend the week in a five-star hotel, where he will be accompanied by his wife Meghan, who has chosen not to go to Britain at all.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on Harry, but officials appeared at pains to suggest the visit was his own initiative. One said some members of the royal family had “find individual ways to pay their respects separately in the chapel this morning.”
The Mail understands this included the Duke of York and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who later attended a special evening song to mark King Charles’ accession to the throne.
The Queen was buried privately at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, built for her late father, after the public elements of her funeral concluded last year.
She lies next to her beloved husband, Prince Philip, who died in 2021, as well as her parents, King George and Queen Elizabeth, and the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret. Four floral arrangements, described as ‘family flowers’, lay on Queen Elizabeth’s gravestone yesterday.
The largest was a huge display in an urn at the back of the chapel, brought by the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, along with another from Andrew.
When asked which one belonged to Prince Harry, an aide said: ‘One of them must be. I hope.’
In Wales, William and Kate were enthusiastically received by the crowds, who stood in the heat for hours to watch and cheer for them.
In Wales, William and Kate were enthusiastically received by the crowds, who stood in the heat for hours to watch and cheer for them.
The princess was elegant in a burgundy coat by Eponine and hat by Sahar Millinery
The Princess of Wales speaks to young children during a visit to the RNLI lifeboat station in St Davids
After an apparently quick change to more casual wear, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Car-Y-Mor seaweed farm in St Davids yesterday
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive at St. David’s Cathedral
The princess was elegant in a burgundy coat by Eponine and hat by Sahar Millinery, a nice touch considering designer Sahar Freemantle was a scholar of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust.
She and William attended a moving service, peppered with memories, including a Henry Purcell anthem played at the Queen’s funeral. The Very Reverend Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, Dean of St David’s, said afterwards: ‘In many ways our job today was to give them space for their memory.’
Kate chatted to members of the 20-strong congregation about how she remembered the Queen with great affection, telling flying instructor Patricia Mawuli Porter: “We all have wonderful memories of her, we should hold on to them and cherish them.”
Mrs Porter, 35, from Haverfordwest, said afterwards: ‘It was lovely to talk to the Princess on a personal basis, she was like an old friend, she can talk to anyone.’
After an apparently quick change to more casual attire, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Car-Y-Mor seaweed farm in St Davids yesterday and then met members of the St Davids Lifeboat Station crew.
Kate was presented with a nosegay by Isla Evans-Kohler, four, the daughter of deputy helmsman Judd Kohler and crew member Ellen Evans.
She asked Isla, “Have you been in the lifeboat?” The little girl shook her head and her mother explained that she had been on the boat, but not on the water.