King marks mother's death at Balmoral church service

King Charles paid tribute to his beloved mother as he attended a commemorative church service in Balmoral on the second anniversary of the late Queen's death. Charles and Queen Camilla joined the congregation at Crathie Kirk yesterday for a "poignant" service for Queen Elizabeth II, who died peacefully at Balmoral at the age of 96 on 8 September 2022.

- ATHENA STAVROU

A small crowd gathered to see the King arrive at the church, as he sat in the back seat of the maroon state Bentley with Camilla at his side at 11.25am. Camilla, dressed in a green jacket with red and green tartan lapels and a green hat decorated with a feather, smiled at awaiting photographers and camera crews as she held her handbag on her lap.

The King, who had a pink flower in the lapel of his charcoal grey jacket, was seen adjusting his cuffs as he prepared for the service. The late Queen was a regular and devout worshiper at the tiny granite Crathie Kirk on Royal Deeside. Yesterday’s service was led by Rev Kenneth MacKenzie, who ministered the late Queen in her final days and supported the royal family following her death.

Guest preacher at the divine service, the Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, described the anniversary as “particularly significant and poignant for the royal family” as he described how the King was “very well known and liked” in the local community around Balmoral and is “very much part of it” – just like the late Queen.