King Charles commemorates second anniversary of his mother’s death with Sunday service at Crathie Kirk – near the late Queen’s beloved Balmoral

King Charles marks the second anniversary of his mother’s death at Crathie Kirk, near the late monarch’s beloved Balmoral.

The 75-year-old royal appeared to be in good spirits as he and his wife were driven to church this afternoon for Sunday’s service.

For the occasion, he wore a charcoal grey suit, paired with a black and burgundy tie, while Queen Camilla, 76, opted for a red and green checked ensemble, complete with matching hat.

It is not known whether they will be accompanied by other family members. Earlier this summer, they were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Balmoral, where Charles and Camilla are staying this morning, was particularly adored by Queen Elizabeth and it was here that she spent her final hours.

Today marks two years since Elizabeth II died peacefully at the age of 96, after a reign of 70 years.

When Charles approached the royal family’s Balmoral estate in Scotland on September 8, 2022, he was the longest-reigning heir to the throne in British history.

While the Queen’s funeral on September 19 offered the nation – and the world – a chance to mourn our longest-serving monarch, there were moments during the historic service that reminded those watching that the day was, above all, about a family grieving the loss of a beloved family member.

In addition to the strict observance of age-old ceremonies, there were also many tender moments, showing a more human side of a family dealing with grief.

During a busy day, the Princess of Wales kept in close contact with her two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, gently touching her daughter at key moments, such as when she took her daughter’s hand as the family arrived at the abbey.

Elsewhere, the princess appeared to show genuine concern for her older brother Charles.

As the Queen’s four children stood in a line behind her coffin during the state funeral, Anne looked anxiously at her sibling, who looked overcome with grief.

It was also a particularly challenging year for King Charles, who announced his cancer diagnosis in early 2024, around the same time his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton, 42, shared her health struggles as a result of the disease.

He wore a charcoal grey suit for the occasion, paired with a black and burgundy tie, while Queen Camilla opted for a red and green tartan ensemble, complete with matching hat.

It is not known whether they will be joined by other family members, as the couple were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh earlier this summer.

In late August, the Princess of Wales appeared at Crathie Kirk, marking her and Charles’ reunion in public. It was the first time in months that the two had been photographed in the same place.

Their last joint effort was Trooping of the Colour in June. Since then, Kate has also appeared at the Wimbledon final in July and in a support video for Team GB at the Olympics in early August.

Still, it was undoubtedly a welcome change for Prince William’s wife and her father-in-law – who have a special bond, especially after they were both diagnosed with cancer around the same time – to catch up in the quiet, idyllic Balmoral.

It was recently announced that Kate would be joining the royal family at Balmoral in August, her longest trip since opening up about her health issues.

Since their marriage in 2011, she and the Prince of Wales have moved to the 50,000-acre estate in the Scottish Highlands every summer. However, some insiders feared the princess’s condition would be different this year.

Balmoral, where Charles and Camilla are staying this morning, was particularly beloved by the late Queen and is where she spent her final hours

Today marks two years since Elizabeth II died peacefully at the age of 96, after a reign of 70 years.

One of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s final acts was to welcome new Prime Minister Liz Truss and accept Boris Johnson’s resignation. The late Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with new Prime Minister Liz Truss on September 6, 2022.

While the Queen’s funeral on September 19 offered the nation – and the world – a chance to mourn our longest-serving monarch, there were moments during the historic service that reminded those watching that the day was, above all, about a family grieving the loss of a beloved family member.

Since announcing in March that she would undergo preventive chemotherapy, Kate has been splitting her time mainly between Adelaide Cottage, their home in Windsor, and Anmer Hall, their holiday home in Norfolk, which are about 200 kilometres apart.

In June, she told the public in an emotional message that she was “not out of the woods yet” and that she had “good days and bad days,” adding that her treatment would last “a few more months.”

She said that on her good days it was “a joy” to “spend personal time doing the things that give her energy and positivity.”

The annual party at Balmoral is a tradition for the Royal Family, where they can relax in the peaceful countryside.

Long walks and fishing are typical pastimes, with William and Kate enjoying cycling through the green surroundings. Kensington Palace declined to comment at the time.

Both the princess and the king will undoubtedly receive a stay of execution after a difficult year.

However, their health problems have also likely created a new bond between the royal and his beloved daughter-in-law.