King Charles has revealed why his late mother Queen Elizabeth II ‘chose’ to spend her final days at her ‘cherished’ Balmoral home in Scotland.
He fondly reminisced about her time there during a speech at Holyrood in Edinburgh to mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament – revealing how the country held a ‘uniquely special place in the hearts of my family’.
Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, which has been a royal residence since 1852.
Charles has now suggested that his mother intended the property to be where she would spend her life, following the death of husband Prince Philip in April 2021.
The king, Elizabeth’s eldest child and who was crowned in May last year, described the importance of Balmoral to her in his speech yesterday.
The late Queen Elizabeth II ‘cherished’ her home at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, her son King Charles has told the Scottish Parliament – she is seen there in September 1952.
The couple the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II are seen here in the grounds of Balmoral Castle with children (from left) Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Charles
Charles and Anne – seen here arriving ahead of their mother’s state funeral in September 2022 – have both spoken about how important Balmoral Castle was to the late Queen
He said: ‘My late mother especially cherished the time she spent at Balmoral, and it was there, in the most beloved place, where she chose to spend her final days.’
Traditionally she spent summer holidays at the castle and was there when she died, with Charles and her daughter Princess Anne by her side.
The cause of death was officially recorded as ‘old age’.
Flanked by his wife Queen Camilla, the King told the Scottish Parliament yesterday: ‘We are all, at the end of every day, united by our love for Scotland.
‘For its natural beauty, of course, but also for its strength of character, based as it is on the extraordinary diversity of its peoples, whose range of ideas, skills, energy, passions and often deeply held beliefs never ceases to inspire me.’
And he asked: ‘Who, I wonder, could not help but be moved by this complex Caledonian kaleidoscope?’
He also referred to the mace his mother presented to the Scottish Parliament 25 years ago after devolution.
He described it as engraved with “the qualities to which we all aspire and which represent the foundations of the relationship we share: wisdom, justice, compassion, integrity.”
Charles added: ‘Much has changed in our world in the intervening years, but the most Scottish of values have remained steadfast.
The late Queen and her husband Prince Philip are pictured here next to Balmoral’s flower walk
The couple are seen at Balmoral on their silver, 25th wedding anniversary in November 1972
The late Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire
She is seen here with children Anne (left) and Charles (right) in September 1952 at Balmoral
“We are often told that we live in an age of polarization and division. If so, then perhaps it is even more important, and not less, that these values – together with hope, civility and generosity of spirit – in the vital areas of representation, of political debate, of policy making and of discourse will never change . far from the heart of even the most difficult issues.’
His sister, the Princess Royal, has also said her mother felt happiest at Balmoral, but also seemed concerned that dying there would prove more problematic than if she were in London or Windsor.
Anne told a BBC documentary last year: ‘I think there was a moment when she felt like it would be harder if she died at Balmoral.
‘I think we tried to convince her that this should not be part of the decision-making process. So I hope in the end she felt like that was the right thing to do, because we did that too.”
While at Balmoral in September 2022, the Queen wore a checked dress as she said goodbye to Boris Johnson – and then welcomed Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister, just two days before Elizabeth II’s death.
The Queen had been at Balmoral since July after arriving on the royal train.
In his speech to the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Charles also praised sitting MSPs for their public service – adding that the institution had ‘flourished’ over the past quarter of a century.
He also urged people to come together to tackle the challenges faced by shared ‘inhabitants’ living on the same planet, especially climate change.
The King and Queen yesterday at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh
King Charles smiles as he talks to Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone
The King and Queen appeared touched by the warm welcome from Scots and tourists as they traveled a short distance by car to Scotland’s corridors of power.
The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay – as they are known in Scotland – were preceded by a procession of the Royal Honors of Scotland, also known as the Scottish Crown Jewels.
These jewels, the oldest in Britain, were accompanied by a guard of honor of young people representing twelve youth organisations, including Girlguiding Scotland, the Scottish Youth Parliament and Scouts Scotland.
Charles, 75, is expected to stay at Birkhall, his home on the Balmoral estate, until Wednesday before returning to London where he continues to be treated for cancer.