King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to lead celebrations honoring the late Queen Elizabeth II on her 100th birthday later this month.
The King and Queen will visit the new Royal Collection Trust exhibition, “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style,” at The King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace on April 20. This exhibition, the largest ever featuring Elizabeth II’s fashion, will be open until October, showcasing over 300 pieces including dresses, hats, shoes, handbags, and even a rare pair of trousers from the former monarch’s collection. Nearly half of these items will be displayed publicly for the first time.
On April 21, the King will deliver a national address celebrating the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. Charles, aged 77, is expected to emphasize his mother’s inspirational impact on himself and the entire royal family. Later that day, Charles and Camilla, along with other family members, will review design proposals for the Queen Elizabeth Memorial at the British Museum.
The Princess Royal will inaugurate The Queen Elizabeth II Garden in The Regent’s Park, London, in the afternoon. Subsequently, the King and Queen, accompanied by other family members including the Prince and Princess of Wales, will host a reception at Buckingham Palace commemorating the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.
The reception will bring together representatives from charities and organizations associated with the late Queen during her 70-year reign. Queen Elizabeth II became Britain’s longest-serving monarch on September 9, 2015, surpassing the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
In 2022, the nation celebrated the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70-year reign. She peacefully passed away at her Balmoral residence in Scotland on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96.
In addition to the King’s leadership in the commemorations, various events will take place to honor Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign and cultural heritage. A national monument in St James’s Park in London, along with other memorial projects and cultural initiatives, has been announced. The winning design for the permanent national monument includes a statue of the Queen in a newly named civic area, Prince Philip Gate on Birdcage Walk, and a “family of gardens” with meandering paths and a unique glass unity bridge.
After the exclusive revelation by The Mirror on the monument plans, Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted its significance in providing a place for people to honor the late Queen and connect with shared history. The memorial bridge is inspired by the tiara Queen Elizabeth wore on her wedding day to Prince Philip in 1947.
The new bridge, near the bronze statues on the Mall, will replace the existing Blue Bridge in the park, serving as a reminder of the late Queen’s achievements during her 70-year reign. An exhibition titled ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ will run at the King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace until October 2026, showcasing the largest collection of the Queen’s outfits and personal items for the first time.
A new commemorative garden in Regent’s Park and special £5 coins issued by the Royal Mint will also honor her legacy. A royal source mentioned that the commemorations will be a celebration and an opportunity for people across the nations and the Commonwealth to reflect on the amazing life and legacy of the late queen.
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