The Prince of Wales was cheered by a 20,000-strong crowd as he pays tribute to the late British monarch and grandmother in his speech at his father's coronation concert.
- May 8, 2023
AceShowbiz - Prince William paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth at his dad's coronation concert. The Prince of Wales was cheered by a 20,000-strong crowd as he took to the stage on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle on Sunday, May 7, before saying he knew his grandmother, who died in September aged 96, was "up there, fondly keeping an eye on us".
Describing the newly-crowned king as his "Pa" after his coronation on Saturday, May 6, the 40-year-old royal also echoed his dad’s pledge to "serve" the public. His full speech, in which he joked about Lionel Richie's hit "All Night Long", is here.
William said, "Good evening, Your Majesties. Good evening, Windsor! A huge thank you to everyone for making this such a special evening. I want to say a few words about my father, and why I believe this weekend is so important. But don't worry, unlike Lionel, I won't go on all night long. 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, fondly keeping an eye on us. She would be a proud mother."
"For all that celebrations are magnificent, at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message: Service. My father's first words on entering Westminster Abbey yesterday were a pledge of service. It was a pledge to continue to serve. Because for over 50 years, in every corner of the U.K., across the Commonwealth and around the world, he has dedicated himself to serve others, both current and future generations, and those whose memory must not be neglected. Take the natural world. He warned us of the risks to our planet's health long before it was an everyday issue. Or the Prince's Trust," he continued.
The father of three added, "It has supported over a million young people, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to realise their ambitions. And, perhaps most importantly of all, my father has always understood that people of all faiths, all backgrounds, and all communities, deserve to be celebrated and supported. Pa, we are all so proud of you. I also want to express my pride and gratitude for the millions of people who serve, in the forces, in classrooms, hospital wards and local communities. I wish I could mention you all. Your service inspires us, And tonight we celebrate you too. I commit myself to serve you all. King, Country and Commonwealth. God Save The King!"
