In a speech at the WellChild Awards ceremony in London on Thursday evening, the duke reflected on the events of 12 months ago when he was forced to miss the awards as he rushed to Balmoral in Aberdeenshire after his grandmother was taken ill.
The duke, a WellChild patron for 15 years, returned to the UK for the event, his first appearance in the UK since June.
He told the audience: “As you know, I was unable to attend the awards last year as my grandmother passed away.
“As you also probably know, she would have been the first person to insist that I still come to be with you all instead of going to her, and that’s precisely why I know exactly one year on that she is looking down on all of us tonight, happy we’re together, continuing to spotlight such an incredible community.”
The UK’s longest-serving monarch died on September 8 last year, aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
Queen Elizabeth II smiles while receiving the President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis and his wife Paola Cassis during an audience at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Thursday, April 28, 2022.
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Queen Elizabeth II looks at a fan as she views a display of memorabilia from her Golden and Platinum Jubilees in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle.
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Queen Elizabeth II is joined by one of her dogs, a Dorgi called Candy, as she views a display of memorabilia from her Golden and Platinum Jubilees in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle.
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Queen Elizabeth II presents the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry to Grace Nichols during a private audience at Windsor Castle.
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Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of York arrive at a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey in London.
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This new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II has been released by The Royal Windsor Horse Show to mark the occasion of her 96th birthday. They are Fell ponies and the one on the right (in The Queen’s left hand) is called Bybeck Nightingale and the one on the left is Bybeck Katie . The image was taken in March in Windsor
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Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Windsor.
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Queen Elizabeth II at Paddington station in London, to mark the completion of London’s Crossrail project.
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Queen Elizabeth II and the Earl of Wessex next to a ticket machine at Paddington station in London during a visit to mark the completion of London’s Crossrail project
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Queen Elizabeth II departs following the A Gallop Through History Platinum Jubilee celebration at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle.
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Queen Elizabeth II sitting in a buggy during a visit by members of the royal family to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022
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Queen Elizabeth II symbolically leads the lighting of the principal Jubilee beacon at Windsor Castle
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Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade
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Queen Elizabeth II stands as Prince Louis covers his ears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade
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The Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George and the Duke of Cambridge, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the end of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, on day four of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
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Queen Elizabeth II receives First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon during an audience at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, as part of her traditional trip to Scotland for Holyrood Week.
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The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland and Queen Elizabeth II attending the Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland (also known as the Royal Company of Archers) Reddendo Parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh
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Queen Elizabeth II with Jonathan Jones, Chair of Trustees, during a visit to officially open the new building at Thames Hospice,
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Queen Elizabeth II unveils a plaque during a visit to officially open the new building at Thames Hospice, Maidenhead, Berkshire
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Queen Elizabeth II waits in the Drawing Room before receiving Liz Truss for an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government.
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Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government.
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On Friday the nation will mark the first anniversary since her death.
Rishi Sunak paid tribute to the late Queen, praising her “incredible warmth”, wisdom and grace.
The Prime Minister said gratitude for her service and “extraordinary life of duty and dedication” continues to grow, a year on from her death aged 96.
He said he treasured his memories of meeting the then-monarch, particularly his private audience before presenting his first Budget as chancellor in 2020.
He was not in office at the time of the late Queen’s death, having lost the Tory leadership contest to Liz Truss who became prime minister at Balmoral in the monarch’s final official engagement, just two days before her death.
Mr Sunak said that “on the solemn anniversary” of her death “our thoughts are with His Majesty King Charles III and the whole royal family”.
He said: “With the perspective of a year, the scale of Her Late Majesty’s service only seems greater. Her devotion to the nations of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth only seems deeper.
“And our gratitude for such an extraordinary life of duty and dedication only continues to grow.
Police officers take positions ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II funeral
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Guests and officials begin to take their places prior to the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey
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The final members of the public pay their respects at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s orb and sceptre, lying in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster
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People wait along the route that the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II will be pulled on a gun carriage following her funeral service in Westminster Abbey
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People gather prior of the Queen Elizabeth II funeral
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Members of the public in The Mall, central London ahead of Queen Elizabeth II state funeral
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Mourners ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
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People gather on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth
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Police officers stand guard on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth
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A person sits on The Mall on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth
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Police officers are seen on The Mall, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth
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Police officers prepare on Horse Guards on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey
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Mourners ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
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Mourners wrapped in blankets ahead of the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
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Metropolitan Police Officers smile as they are seen walking in formation down The Mall ahead of the State Funeral Of Queen Elizabeth II
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People gather on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth,
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“I treasure my memories of those occasions when I met Her Late Majesty, in particular the private audience I had with her at Buckingham Palace before presenting my first Budget as chancellor.
“I was struck by her wisdom, by her incredible warmth and grace, but also her sharp wit.
“People across the UK – whether they had the good fortune to meet Her Late Majesty or not – will be reflecting today on what she meant to them and the example she set for us all. We will cherish those memories.”
Mr Sunak said the “sacred” bond between the country and the monarch endures under the King.
“So, while we continue to mourn Her Late Majesty’s passing, we should be proud that this remarkable legacy of service – and this remarkable bond – continues to grow today under the reign of His Majesty The King.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the queues to see the late Queen lying in state showed she “always enjoyed a special bond with her people”.
“It was a relationship built from her understanding that service of this great nation is the thread that unites sovereign and subject,” he said.
2016: Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the Prince’s Trust Centre in Kennington, London, to mark the 40th anniversary of the charity
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1953: Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
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1957: The Queen, in a gold lame dress, is seen in the Long Library at Sandringham shortly after making the traditional Christmas Day broadcast to the nation. On the desk are portraits of Prince Charles and Princess Anne. The Queen is holding the copy of ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’, from which she read a few lines during her message. The broadcast was televised this year for the first time and was carried by both the BBC and ITV. It was the 25th anniversary of the first radio message to the Commonwealth by her grandfather, King George V
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2007: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Broadlands for their Royal Wedding Diamond Anniversary
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1952: The new Queen, Elizabeth II (formerly Princess Elizabeth), returns to Clarence House, London, with the Duke of Edinburgh from London Airport after the sudden death of her father, King George VI. She succeeded the King on his death a day earlier
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1954: Prince Charles and Princess Anne stand with their parents, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their return from the Commonwealth tour
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1955: Watched by Lady Churchill, Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill bows low to Queen Elizabeth II as he welcomes her and the Duke of Edinburgh to 10 Downing Street for dinner
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1956: The Queen strolls through Windsor Great Park with Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and two of her corgies. The were there to watch the Duke of Edinburgh play polo
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1958: Miners see the Queen wearing white overalls, scarf and helmet and black gumboots during her visit to Rothes Colliery Fifeshire. It was the Queen;s first visit to a coal mine and she spent about half an hour underground visiting the coal face
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1959: Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor joined by Sugar, one of the Royal corgis
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1960: The Queen holding Prince Andrew during an outing in the grounds at Balmoral, Scotland, where the Royal Family are on holiday
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1961: Queen Elizabeth II and her son, the Prince of Wales, out riding at Windsor Castle
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1962: The Queen wears a warm leopard-skin coat on a very cold March day at the Sandown Park race meeting. With her is the Queen Mother. … Horse Racing – Sandown Par
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1963: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, wearing their Order of the Thistle robes, after the Order’s service in Edinburgh
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1964: Queen Elizabeth II leaving after the State Opening of Parliamen
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1965: The Royal Family in the gardens of Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire, as they celebrate the Queen’s 39th birthday. (l-r) The Queen, baby Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh
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1966: The World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium
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1967: Queen Elizabeth II at the garden party in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Services
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1968: The Royal Family in the grounds of Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire. Left to right: Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles (behind the Queen) and Prince Andrew
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1969: The Queen crowns her son, Prince Charles, as Prince of Wales during the investiture ceremony at Caernarfon castle
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1970: Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Minister Edward Heath and American President Richard Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon at Chequers, the official country residence of the Prime Minister in Buckinghamshir
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1971: Queen Elizabeth II leaving the King Edward VII Hospital for Officers after visiting Princess Anne. The Princess had an emergency operation for the removal of an ovarian cyst
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1972: The Queen in her study at Balmoral. … Royalty – The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh Celebrate Silver Weddin
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1973: Queen Elizabeth II sitting on a grassy bank with the corgis at Virginia Water to watch competitors, including Prince Philip, in the Marathon of the European Driving Championship, part of the Royal Windsor Horse Show
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1973: Queen Elizabeth II, with Chief Instructor, Small Arms Corp LT Col George Harvey, firing the last shot on a standard SA 80 rifle when she attended the centenary of the Army Rifle Association at Bisley as she turns 90 on the April 21st
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1974: Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she celebrated her 48th birthday at Windsor Castle
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1975: Queen Elizabeth II stands near an oak sapling which she planted in a garden of the Government Guesthouse in Tokyo. The oak sapling had been brought to Japan from Windsor Castle
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1976: Queen Elizabeth II on her 50th birthday with Prince Philip and their youngest son Prince Edward, 12, in the grounds of Windsor Castl
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1977: Queen Elizabeth II on a walkabout in Portsmouth during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great Britai
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1978: Queen Elizabeth II with a Jersey cow she was presented with at the Country Show at Le Petit Catelet, Saint John, Jersey, as she and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the island of Jersey, Channel Island
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1979: Queen Elizabeth II during a walkabout in Muscat while visiting Oman
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1980: Queen Elizabeth II with some of her corgis walking the Cross Country course during the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials
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1981: Queen Elizabeth II walking through the crowds at the Royal Ascot race meetin
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1982: Queen Elizabeth II taking photographs during her visit to the South Sea Islands of Tuvalu. Behind her is the Duke of Edinburgh
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1983: Queen Elizabeth II inspects the Guard of Honour at Jomo Kenyatta International Airpor
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1984: Queen Elizabeth II and Rt Rev John Denis Wakeling, the Bishop of Southwell, entering Southwell Minster amid cheering crowds, where she distributed Maundy Money to pensioner
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1985: Queen Elizabeth II takes the salute of the Household Guards regiments during the Trooping of the Colour ceremony in London, which marks the Queen’s official birthday
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1986: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Great Wall of China at the Bedaling Pass, 50 miles north-west of Beijing, on the third day of their State Visit to the country
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1987: The Queen makes her traditional Christmas Day address to the nation and the Commonwealth. The broadcast is produced by Sir David Attenborough (not pictured) for the second year running
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1988: The Duke of Edinburgh helps Queen Elizabeth II to alight from the new £120,000 Australia State Coach, Australia’s bicentennial gift, at the Houses of Parliament as they arrive for the State Opening
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1989: The Queen with former US president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy at Buckingham Palace where the Queen bestowed a knighthood on Mr Reagan. He was made an honorary Knight of Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. … Investitures and Award
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1990: Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
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1991:The Queen gestures to Ruud Lubbers, Prime Minister of the Netherlands and President of the EC Council of Ministers, at Buckingham Palace as the leaders of the G7 Summit countries gathered for a pre-dinner photo-call in the Music Room.The Duke of Edinburgh had been expected to join the leaders and fill the empty chair
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1992: Queen Elizabeth II surveys the scene at Windsor Castle following the fire
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1994: The Queen walks through the gravestones at Bayeux Cemetery after a D-day Commemoration service
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1995: South Africa’s President Nelson Mandela greets Queen Elizabeth II as she steps from the royal yacht Britannia in Cape Town at the official start of the her first visit to the country since 1947
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1996: The Queen lays a wreath at the gates of Dunblane Primary School accompanied by the Princess Royal. … The Queen with the Princess Royal lays flowers at Dunblane School
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1997: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, view the floral tributes to Diana, Princess of Wales, outside Buckingham Palace
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1998: The Queen, Colonel in Chief of the Corps of the Royal Engineers looks though a Theodolite during her visit to the 42 survey Engineer Group at Denison Barracks Hermitage
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1999: The Queen joined Mrs Susan McCarron, her ten-year-old son James and Housing Manager Liz McGinniss for tea in their home in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow
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2000: The Queen and the Queen Mother leave church by horse drawn carriage on the Sandringham Estate, Norfolk
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2001: Queen Elizabeth II during her visit, to Elstree Studios where the famous British soap opera EastEnders is filmed
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2002: Queen Elizabeth II enjoys a walk about, after visiting the Old Government House in Fredericton, New Brunswick during her two week Royal visit to Canada
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2003: HRH Queen Elizabeth II poses with the triumphant England squad during a reception at Buckingham Palace for the World Cup
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2004: Queen Elizabeth II peers round a corner during a visit to the Royal Albert Hall in London, marking the end of an 8 year restoration program. … Queen Elizabeth II visits Royal Albert Hall
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2005: The Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles leave St Georges Chapel in Windsor, followed by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II
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2006: Queen Elizabeth II sits in the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace in London as she looks at some of the cards which have been sent to her for her 80th birthday
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2008: Queen Elizabeth II, delivers a speech at the start of a state banquet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, unseen, at Windsor Castle in Windso
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2009: Queen Elizabeth II plants a tree as she visits Newmarket Animal Health Trus
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2010: The Duke of Edinburgh looks on (left) as Queen Elizabeth II talks with Pope Benedict XVI exchange gifts during an audience in the Morning Drawing Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburg
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2011: Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, where she laid a wreath next to the wall of the Armed Forces Memorial where the 2010 names are inscribed, after she attended a service of thanksgiving to mark the return of soldiers from a five-month tour of duty in Afghanistan’s Helmand province
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2012: The National Anthem is sung to Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee Concert
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2013: Queen Elizabeth II joins The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS) for a group photograph during her visit to Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Ken
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2014: Angelina Jolie is presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace
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2015: Queen Elizabeth II waves to British Royal Navy crew members performing a salute on the HMS Bulwark amphibious assault ship during a tour of the Grand Harbour in a traditional Maltese fishing boa
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2017: Queen Elizabeth II meets Quinn, the ‘skeleton’ horse as she listens to a briefing on the latest innovations in equine health as she visits the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at the Hyde Barracks, London
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2018: Queen Elizabeth II sits next to Anna Wintour (right) as they view Richard Quinn’s runway show before presenting him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design as she visits London Fashion Week’s BFC Show Space
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2019: Queen Elizabeth II welcomes newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson during an audience in Buckingham Palace, London, where she invited him to become Prime Minister and form a new governmen
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2020: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle ahead of his 99th birthday
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20021: Queen Elizabeth II takes her seat for the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire
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“So, as we reflect on her legacy again today, let us embrace that spirit of public service as our guide towards a better future.”
Queen Elizabeth II died after reigning for more than 70 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
The late Queen symbolised the stability of the nation, and most people had known no other monarch on the British throne.
Fears for her health dramatically escalated on September 8, 2022 when Buckingham Palace announced the monarch was under medical supervision at her Aberdeenshire residence and her doctors were concerned.
Over the next 11 days following her death, the London Bridge plans in the event of the sovereign’s death were meticulously put into place.
Queen Elizabeth II was honoured with processions, vigils, a lying in state, a grand state funeral in Westminster Abbey and a poignant committal service in Windsor.
One million people are estimated to have attended the public funeral procession in London.
The Queen’s state funeral on September 19 cost the Government £161.7 million. It was the first state funeral since Sir Winston Churchill’s in 1965.
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