William says late Queen would be ‘proud mum’ at coronation concert | UK News
Prince William told his newly crowned father that the late Queen Elizabeth II would be a “very proud mother” in a speech at the coronation concert.
The heir to the throne took the stage tonight after a barnstorming performance by Lionel Richie and paid tribute to King Charles as he looked on.
Reflecting on his father’s influence during his own time as Prince of Wales – a title Charles has held longer than any other in British history – he said: “Pa, we’re all so proud of you.”
Highlighting the King’s work on environmental issues, William said: “He was warning us of the risks to the health of our planet long before it was a common problem.”
He also praised the work of the Prince’s Trust, adding: “It has helped over a million young people, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to achieve their aspirations.”
William continued, “Perhaps most important of all is that my father always understood that people of all faiths, all backgrounds and all communities deserve to be celebrated and supported.”
His argument in support of diversity was particularly notable following his brother Prince Harry’s allegations in a Netflix documentary earlier this year.
The Duke of Sussex claimed there was a “huge level of unconscious bias” in the royal family after he and his wife Meghan alleged racism in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Speaking at the coronation concert, the Prince of Wales commemorated the late Queen, saying: “As my grandmother said when she was crowned, coronations are a declaration of our hopes for the future.
“And I know she’s up there, keeping a loving eye on us. And she would be a very proud mother.
“As grand as celebrations are, at the heart of the pageant is a simple message: service.”
His speech was observed by his wife Kate and children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Coronation of King Charles III. At latest
The historic coronation of Her Majesties King Charles III. and Queen Camilla took place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday May 6 – the festivities continued into Bank Holiday Monday.
For the latest royal updates, visit Metro.co.uk’s dedicated Coronations page.
The king was accompanied by Queen Camilla, and other royals including Zara and Mike Tindall and Prince Edward were also in attendance.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, Visit our news page.