On Friday, September 8, the King officially commemorated the first year of his reign by remembering his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles III made his first public statement as King 34 minutes after the late Queen’s death was reported.
He described his mother’s death as “a moment of great sadness.”
The Privy Council officially proclaimed His Majesty as King Charles III during his historic Accession Council on September 10, as plans for Queen Elizabeth II’s burial were being finalized.
The late Queen’s state funeral was held at Westminster Abbey nine days later, followed by a committal service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
According to PA News Agency, Charles has had 161 engagements since becoming King, including visits to all four nations of the United Kingdom and attendance at dozens of occasions.
Take a look back at some of Charles’ big milestones from the last 365 days as TSZ Newz honors the first year of his reign.
His First Christmas Broadcast
In a pre-recorded address from St George’s Chapel in Windsor, which aired on Christmas Day, the King offered a poignant homage to his late mother.
He said: “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.”
It was only three months after the death of the late Queen.
He continued: “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.
“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. 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.”
His First State Visit
The King’s first state visit to Germany in March was deemed a success, with Charles delivering the first address by a British monarch – mostly in German – during a Bundestag session.
A journey to France before their German leg was supposed to be Charles and Camilla’s first official state visit, but it was canceled at the last minute due to nationwide rioting over pension reforms.
The couple’s postponed state visit to Paris and Bordeaux will now take place from September 20 to 22.
First Easter
The King and Queen led the royals at the Easter Sunday church service in Windsor, which included appearances by some of the family’s youngest members, including the Prince and Princess of Wales’ three children and Mike and Zara Tindall’s daughters.
The First Official Portrait as King and Queen
Buckingham Palace released the first official photos of Charles and Camilla to commemorate their reign a week before the coronation.
Hugo Burnand, their wedding photographer, captured the photographs in the Palace’s blue drawing room, with one showing the King and Queen coordinating in blue and standing side by side in front of a portrait of King George V created shortly after his coronation in June 1911.
Two further photographs showed Charles and Camilla sitting apart.
Coronation
In May, the King and Queen were jointly coronated at Westminster Abbey in front of a 2,500-strong congregation, while over 20 million Britons watched the service on television.
His First Trooping the Color As Monarch
In June, the King had the first birthday parade of his reign, which included Princess Anne, Prince William, and Prince Edward on horseback.
It was the first time a monarch rode a horse since Queen Elizabeth II rode her beloved horse, Burmese, in 1986.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla, Princess of Wales, and Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis sat in a carriage and watched the proceedings.
The King was joined on the palace balcony by senior working royals to watch the flypast.
First Summer at Balmoral
The King and Queen began their summer stay at Balmoral Castle in August, and they have hosted various members of the royal family there.
Among their visitors were the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke of York.
The couple also attended their first Braemar Gathering Highland Games of their reign, and as is customary, they invited Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murthy.
