Prince William and Catherine to lead national tribute to Queen for anniversary of her death

In an unexpected turn of events, Prince William and his wife will deliver a national tribute to the Queen – not King Charles and Queen Camilla. See why.

Prince William and Catherine will lead tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II on the first anniversary of her death.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will deliver a public message honouring the life and legacy of the monarch, who passed away on September 8 last year aged 96.

However King Charles, 74, will be absent – instead marking the anniversary “quietly and privately” at Balmoral in Scotland.

Details on how William and Kate’s address will be delivered are still being finalised but the statement is expected to recognise the outpouring of emotion from across the world following the monarch’s death.

Prince William and Catherine are expected to make a public statement to mark the first anniversary of the Queen’s death. Picture: AFP

“Her Majesty’s passing was an event that truly ­signified the end of an era. The Royal Family has been in ­transition since then and following the Coronation and conclusion of the summer holidays, there will be an expectation to see what is next,” a royal source said, according to the Mirror.

Meanwhile, Palace officials said the King will spend the anniversary “quietly and privately, just as the late Queen did to mark her own father’s passing”.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will mark the anniversary in private. Picture: Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth stayed at Sandringham in Norfolk until after the ­anniversary of George VI’s death, on February 6, following the Christmas break.

Members of the royal family may attend public engagements around the late Queen’s anniversary, however, at this point Palace sources said there were “no plans” for any public event or private family gathering attended by all of them.

The late Queen Elizabeth would usually have her family in Balmoral Castle and would extend the invite to the prime minister at the time, a tradition King Charles is expected to continue.

The King, who this month began his summer in Scotland, will receive family members to Balmoral as well as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who will stay at the estate with his family.

It was reported that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were denied an invite to Balmoral last week, as relations between the Duke of Sussex and his dad worsened.

King Charles is also expected to travel to France soon for a state visit that was postponed due to riots.