September 8 marks one year since Queen Elizabeth's death. Photo / Getty Images
September 8 marks one year since Queen Elizabeth's death. Photo / Getty Images
This week marks the first anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
On September 8, 2022, the world witnessed the end of an era when the Queen died at her beloved Balmoral estate in Scotland at the age of 96, after a 70-year reign. Ten days of mourning followed as plans for her state funeral were unveiled and her children and grandchildren gathered to farewell their beloved mother and “Gan Gan”.
Though the monarchy she represented has at times been a cause of controversy and conflict, there was no doubt how much the Queen herself was loved by her family, by her people and the world.
But in the months since her death, we’ve seen royal family scandals laid bare in books, podcasts and Netflix shows, a shake-up of royal titles and roles as the new King pares back the monarchy, and a year of firsts without the Queen, from birthdays to events in the royal calendar.
So, here’s a look back at the first year without the Queen as King Charles stepped into the role of monarch - and at where the rest of the royals are now.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pictured with their family on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the Trooping the Colour in 2012. Photo / AP
The Queen’s funeral
Thousands queued to get a glimpse of the Queen’s coffin during her lying in state, including David Beckham, who lined up for 12 hours. As crowds of people took to the streets of London to witness her state funeral on September 19 last year, it’s estimated around four billion people could have tuned in to watch the proceedings unfold.
Members of the royal family were photographed looking sombre as they arrived at Westminster Abbey, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Princess Charlotte was heard telling her older brother Prince George “you need to bow” as the Queen’s coffin passed them by and the new King Charles held back tears.
Heads of state, religious leaders and members of the royal family took part in the funeral service, followed by a smaller committal inside St George’s Chapel at Windsor during which the Queen was laid to rest alongside her parents, her sister Margaret and her husband Prince Philip.
The shorter ceremony was in line with Charles’ plans to “slim down” the monarchy as several royal titles and responsibilities were reassigned. As Charles became king, Camilla, formerly Duchess of Cornwall became Queen Consort. Prince William became the Prince of Wales and his wife Kate Middleton became the Princess of Wales, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children Archie and Lilibet gained the titles of Prince and Princess as they moved up the line of succession.
Harry has shared private details about the issues within his family. Photo / Netflix
It landed on Netflix in early December last year and quickly made headlines, breaking the streaming platform’s record for its biggest documentary debut less than a week after the first three episodes aired.
The Queen was known for her heartfelt Christmas messages each year - and last December, King Charles had the tough job of following that act. In his address, he honoured his late mother and wished everyone “peace, happiness and everlasting light”.
“I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family,” he said.
“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.”
Prince Harry releases Spare, gives explosive interviews
Prince Harry’s long-awaited memoir Spare landed on shelves ahead of its release date in January this year when it accidentally went on sale early in Spain - and countless media outlets quickly picked up leaked extracts from the book.
Soon everyone had their hands on a copy and readers were left shocked over the revelations inside, from details of Harry’s life growing up and losing his mother Diana, to physical fights with Prince William, frosty texts between Meghan Markle and Princess Kate, and casting Queen Consort Camilla as the “evil stepmother”.
The royals gathered - including Prince Harry, who travelled to the coronation on his own - to take part in the service that saw Charles anointed and crowned alongside Queen Camilla. The day wasn’t without its moments of drama - anti-monarchist protestors were arrested ahead of the coronation, Prince Andrew was booed when he arrived at the Abbey, and Harry rushed off to Heathrow Airport immediately after the ceremony.
The next day the Coronation Concert took place, featuring performances by Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Take That and Andrea Bocelli. The third day of coronation celebrations featured the nationwide Big Help Out and Big Lunch, encouraging people throughout the country to volunteer and share a meal together.
Princess Anne, Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Kate, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at the Trooping the Colour in June 2023. Photo / AP
First Trooping the Colour without the Queen
The annual Trooping the Colour celebration took place for the first time without the Queen in June this year. The event traditionally marks the sovereign’s birthday, and this year marked the first time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were left off the guest list.
He answered questions in court as he alleged that Mirror publications had hacked phones, bugged vehicles and used other illegal methods to gather information about him.
And in just a couple of days, the royals will gather to mourn a year after her passing. A spokesperson for the royal family confirmed there won’t be a public appearance to mark the bittersweet occasion. Buckingham Palace insider Richard Fitzwilliams added: “The whole nation will pause, reflect and remember a truly amazing reign, but it won’t be done in a formal way. There are no public events planned.”
Instead, King Charles and Queen Camilla will spend the day at Balmoral - the Queen’s beloved estate, where she spent summers and where she died - in private as they remember her life and legacy.
