A SON'S SORROW

His Majesty openly shared the grief he felt losing his dear 'Mama' and 'Papa'

For most of his life, Charles has been waiting to fulfil his destiny as monarch, knowing that when he did, it would be because he’d lost a beloved parent.

When Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle on September 8 last year, her eldest son instantly became the new sovereign. At 73, Charles had to come to grips with being King and the responsibilities that entailed, while dealing with the immense grief.

The transition was something he achieved with dignity, launching himself into a series of engagements as sovereign, including formally being proclaimed as King in an Accession Council ceremony at St James’s Palace and standing vigil alongside his mother’s coffin. But it was clear that his heart was breaking.