Royal Family’s Most Moving Tributes to Queen Elizabeth II Since Her Death: Photo Memories, Tree Planting and More

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Royal Family’s Most Moving Tributes to Queen Elizabeth II Since Her Death: Photo Memories, Tree Planting and More

Never far from their hearts. The royal family has found subtle and heartwarming ways to honor Queen Elizabeth II after her death. King Charles III, who ascended the throne after his late mother’s passing in September 2022, mentioned Elizabeth in his royal address that same month. “It is my most sorrowful duty to announce you to the death of my beloved mother, the queen. I know how deeply you, the entire nation — and I think I may say the whole world — sympathize with me in the irreparable loss we have all suffered,” he said at the time, while speaking to the accession council at St James’ Palace. “It is the greatest consolation to me to know of the sympathy expressed by so many to my sister [Princess Anne] and my brothers [Prince Andrew and Prince Edward] and that such overwhelming affection and support should be extended to our whole family in our loss.” The sovereign added: “My mother’s reign was unequaled in its duration, its dedication and its devotion.” The late queen’s many loved ones — including grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry — were in attendance during her public and private funerals. While the family has moved forward with their respective duties, they haven’t stopped remembering Elizabeth along the way. Princess Kate revealed in September 2022 that shortly after the late monarch’s passing her relatives witnessed multiple rainbows over Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which is where she died at age 96. [jwplayer Ge13Zqps-zhNYySv2] “In Scotland, how many rainbows turned up?” the Prince of Wales reportedly asked his wife when the pair met with volunteers and operational staff who assisted in the queen’s funeral preparations at Windsor Guildhall. “You hardly ever see rainbows up there, but there were five.” The Princess of Wales — who shares Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with her husband — replied: “Her Majesty was looking down on us.” Two months later, Kate vowed to honor Elizabeth when she put on her second annual holiday concert in December 2022. Buckingham Palace and ITV News revealed via a press release in November 2022 that the late monarch’s biggest strengths, “including empathy, compassion and support for others,” would be highlighted during the program. When the Royal Carols: Together at Christmas event came to fruition in December 2022, Kate made good on her promise. A film showing Elizabeth’s ability to share the Christmas spirit during her reign played for the concertgoers. There was also a message of dedication to the U.K.’s longest reigning monarch in the program, reminding attendees of her “compassion and faith” were driving forces in putting together the service. Scroll down to see more of the royal family’s sweet tributes to Queen Elizabeth II:

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Photographic Memory

The king showed his love for his late parents in September 2022 with a black-and-white portrait of both the late queen and Prince Philip in his office. The photo could be seen sitting behind him in a social media post as Charles was hard at work sorting through the “Red Box” full of government papers.

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Wildlife Legacy

In October 2022, William gave his late grandmother a shout-out in his first speech since her passing.

“Our natural world is one of our greatest assets,” he said during the United for Wildlife Global Summit in London. “It is a lesson I learned from a young age, from my father and my grandfather, both committed naturalists in their own right, and also from my much-missed grandmother, who cared so much for the natural world.”

The Duke of Cambridge continued: “In times of loss, it is a comfort to honor those we miss through the work we do. And I take great comfort then from the progress we are making to end the illegal wildlife trade.”

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Keeping the Corgis Safe

The Duke and Duchess of York have taken on the role of caregivers for the queen’s two corgis, which they previously gifted the monarch, following her death.

In October 2022, Sarah Ferguson told The Telegraph that it was a “big honor” to be taking care of the dogs. “They all balance out,” the duchess joked, referencing how Muick and Sandy have joined the pair’s five Norfolk terriers. “The carpet moves as I move but I’ve got used to it now.”

William assured fans in September 2022 that the late ruler’s two pups were being “looked after fine,” telling onlookers via Sky News that they have “a good home.”

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Camilla’s Tiara and Pendant

Queen Consort Camilla paid homage to her late mother-in-law on two occasions in November 2022. “I cannot begin without paying tribute to my dear mother-in-law, Her late Majesty, who is much in our thoughts today and who is so greatly missed by us all,” she said while attending a royal reception for those who entered the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. “Throughout her remarkable reign, its vision to improve the lives and prospects of all Commonwealth citizens remained, as you know, very close to her heart.”

Camilla continued: “Over the past few months, my husband and I have drawn immense comfort from the messages of condolence that we have received, and continue to receive, from the four corners of the world. They have reminded us that the written word has a unique ability to connect, to heal, to reassure and to offer hope, even in the midst of grief.”

One week later, the royal stepped out wearing the late monarch’s bejeweled Belgian Sapphire Tiara for Charles’ first state banquet. Camilla topped off her look with a pendant that had a photo of a young Elizabeth from her early days as the U.K. ruler.

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Winter Concert Dedication

As planned, Kate paid tribute to her late grandmother-in-law during the December 2022 Royal Carols: Together at Christmas concert. "This carol service is dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and to all those who are sadly no longer with us,” a message inside the programs read. “Her Late Majesty's strongly held values of duty, compassion and faith have guided the creation of this service.”

William, for his part, read a portion of Elizabeth’s Christmas broadcast from 2012 to the attendees. "At Christmas, I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story," he said quoting the late royal’s address from a decade prior. "A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar. They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child. From that day on he has inspired people to commit themselves to the best interests of others. This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son 'to serve, not to be served.' He restored love and service to the center of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ."

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Paddington Bear Decorations

During the December 2022 Royal Carols: Together at Christmas event, the Christmas trees were decorated with ornaments that were reminiscent of the queen. The items included red bows, mini Paddington Bears and Paddington Bear-painted balls.

Elizabeth became linked with the famous childhood character after Paddington Bear she appeared in a skit with him during her July 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebration. After her death, more than 1,000 Paddingtons were left outside Buckingham Palace for the queen and were later donated to a children’s hospital.

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Kate Plants a Cherry Tree

The princess helped plant a cherry tree in December 2022 in the Dean’s Yard at Westminster Abbey to mark the memory of her majesty. The tree came from the Duchy of Cornwall’s estate, which currently belongs to William, who is the present Duke of Cornwall in addition to his other titles.

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Christmas Wishes

Kate honored her late grandmother-in-law in a December 2022 video ahead of her Royal Carols: Together At Christmas broadcast. "Her Majesty leaves with us an incredible legacy and one that has deeply inspired many of us," she said in the clip, which was uploaded via Instagram.

The princess also shared what Elizabeth loved most about the holiday season: "Her Majesty held Christmas close to her heart, as a time that brought people together and reminded us of the importance of faith, friendship and family, and to show empathy and compassion."

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A King’s Speech

“I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel of St. George at Windsor Castle, so close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is laid to rest with my dear father,” Charles said in his first Christmas Day broadcast in December 2022. “I am reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and myself and I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family.”

The sovereign continued: “Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition. … In the much-loved carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem,’ we sing of how ‘in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light.’ My mother’s belief in the power of that light was an essential part of her faith in God, but also her faith in people — and it is one which I share with my whole heart.”

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A Special Relationship

“The other day I was walking along and there was a big picture of the queen and I actually thought she was looking at me,” Ferguson said during a March 2023 appearance on Live With Kelly and Ryan. “[We were] very close. I put it like she was more my mother than my mother because Mum went to run off with a very good-looking Argentine when I was about 14, and that’s when the queen [was first] in my life because [of] polo and things like that. Then, she became my mother-in-law [after I married Andrew] and she was always there with that wonderful hand, that you could never see, behind your back. It was the support, that’s what the nation felt [and] that’s what the world felt.”