Queen Elizabeth - The African Mirror

May

2023

By MICHAEL HOLDEN, KATE HOLTON and ANDREW MACASKILL

King Charles III crowned in ceremony blending history and change

KING Charles III was anointed and crowned in Britain's biggest ceremonial event for seven decades, a display of pomp and pageantry that sought to marry 1,000 years of history with a monarchy fit for a new era. In front of a congregation including about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, slowly placed the 360-year-old St Edward's Crown on Charles' head as he sat upon a 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey. During a historic and solemn two-hour service, which dates back to the time of King William the Conqueror…

May

2023

By JEEVAN RAVINDRAN and NATALIE THOMAS

Excitement and apathy ahead of King Charles’ coronation

WORLD

DOZENS of royal fans have begun camping out in central London ahead of King Charles' coronation on Saturday, but while they and millions more are anticipating the historic event with excitement, at least as many say they do not care. The coronation, whose origins date back 1,000 years, will be the biggest ceremonial event since that staged for Charles' mother Queen Elizabeth in 1953, with a display of pageantry and a huge military procession. For some Britons, it is a once-in-a-lifetime event. For others, it is a welcome occasion only because it provides a day off work with an extra holiday on Monday.…

May

2023

By MICHAEL HOLDEN and SARAH MILLS

King Charles settles into life as monarch, after long wait

WORLD

AFTER waiting longer than any British heir to become monarch, King Charles has quietly settled into his new role with little of the drama some commentators had expected, but with family divisions and some fundamental issues still looming. The 74-year-old Charles, who will be formally crowned on Saturday, was the oldest sovereign to take the throne in a lineage that dates back 1,000 years when he succeeded his hugely popular mother Queen Elizabeth after her death last September. She had reigned for 70 years. Since then, while the new king has given glimpses of future changes to the institution, the man who was known…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Queen “delighted”, British royals celebrate Meghan and Harry’s new baby

NEWS

Queen Elizabeth is delighted and Prince Charles has sent his congratulations and best wishes. This is how Buckingham Palace celebrated the latest addition to the family, baby Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, the second child of Britain's Duchess of Sussex and husband Prince Harry. The daughter has been named after Queen Elizabeth and his late mother Princess Diana. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted at the news.” Prince Charles, Harry’s father, and his wife Camilla said: Congratulations…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Queen Elizabeth touched by tributes to husband as she marks 95th birthday

WORLD

MICHAEL HOLDEN BRITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth said she had been deeply touched by the tributes paid to her husband Prince Philip, in her first public remarks since his death earlier this month and as she marks her first birthday without him in 73 years. Prince Philip, whom Elizabeth married in 1947, died on April 9 aged 99 and the royals paid their final respects to the family's patriarch at a funeral on Saturday at Windsor Castle. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the queen sat alone during the sombre service for Philip, whom she had previously described as her "strength and stay" during…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Queen shows strength as Philip is laid to rest

WORLD

ANDREW MacASKILL and GUY FAULCONBRIDGE QUEEN Elizabeth and her family paid their last respects to Prince Philip at a funeral that celebrated his naval past, his international heritage and seven decades of service in which he helped guide the queen through repeated crises. Elizabeth, dressed in black and in a white trimmed black mask, stood alone as her husband of 73 years was lowered into the Royal Vault in a service attended by senior royals including heir Prince Charles and his sons Princes William and Harry. The queen was placed alone in the ceremony at St George's Chapel with her…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

No admiral outfits: UK royals to eschew military uniforms for Philip’s funeral

WORLD

BEN MAKORI BRITAIN’S senior royals will eschew tradition and wear morning suits rather than military uniforms for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip, in an attempt to prevent embarrassment for Princes Andrew and Harry. Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died aged 99 last week and his funeral - a ceremonial royal funeral rather than a state funeral - will be held entirely at Windsor Castle on Saturday. The service will feature much of the original planning made by the prince himself, but has had to be scaled back and modified because of restrictions brought in to curb…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Husband’s death ‘left a huge void’ in Queen’s life

WORLD

PAUL SANDLE and KATE HOLTON THE death of Britain's Prince Philip has deprived the nation of its grandfather and left a huge void for his wife of 73 years, Queen Elizabeth, the couple's second son said yesterday. Prince Andrew described Philip as a "remarkable man" after he left a private service in Windsor, where his father died on Friday at the age of 99. "It's a great loss," he said. "I think the way I would put it is we've lost almost the grandfather of the nation." He said the family was rallying around his 94-year-old mother, adding she was…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Harry to attend Prince Philip’s funeral on April 17

WORLD

BRITAIN’S Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband who died on Friday aged 99, will have a ceremonial funeral on Saturday, April 17 without any public access or public procession, Buckingham Palace said. Following are details about the funeral. THE FUNERAL The funeral will take place at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle at 1500 local time on April 17. "It will be what's known as a ceremonial royal funeral," a Buckingham Palace spokesman said. "The plans for the funeral are very much in line with the Duke of Edinburgh's own personal wishes." There will be no public access, no public processions…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

41 gun salute in 41 minutes to honour Prince Philip

WORLD

NATALIE THOMAS The British Royal Navy warships today led a worldwide gun salute in honour of Prince Philip, as tributes flooded in for a man who was a pillar of strength for Queen Elizabeth during her 69-year reign. Flowers were piled high outside royal residences as sombre mourners paid their respects to the 99-year-old prince who had spent more than seven decades at the heart of the British monarchy. "We're all weeping with you, Ma'am," read the front page of the Sun tabloid, while its rival the Daily Mail ran a 144-page tribute to Philip, who died on Friday at…