King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid tribute to their late mothers in a touching U.K. Mothers Day post.
The royal family shared throwback photos of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Camilla’s mom, Rosalind Shand, via Instagram on Sunday, March 30.
“Wishing all mothers, and those who are missing theirs today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday,” the post’s caption read.
The first photo was of “a young Prince Charles (now The King) and Princess Anne attend[ing] the Royal Windsor Horse Show with The late Queen Elizabeth in 1956,” the caption continued.
The second image was of the queen’s late mother, Shand, who died in 1994, holding her eldest grandson and Camilla’s son, Tom Parker-Bowles, when he was a baby.
King Charles Remembers Queen Elizabeth on 1st Mother’s Day Since Her Death
Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 in September 2022 at Balmoral. Charles, 76, subsequently became monarch and was officially sworn in at the royal coronation in May 2023.
“The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” a statement from Charles following Elizabeth’s death read. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
Charles has recently faced his own health battles as he continues treatment for an unspecified type of cancer. He was hospitalized this week after experiencing “temporary side effects” from his ongoing treatment “that required a short period of observation in hospital,” a palace spokesperson said on Thursday, March 27.
The king departed his Clarence House residence in London on Friday, March 28, following the brief hospital stay, Buckingham Palace confirmed to Us Weekly. He waved to onlookers as he departed for Highgrove — the royal family’s country estate in Gloucestershire, England — Chris Ship, royal editor at the U.K.’s ITV News, reported.
Kate Shares Previously Unseen Family Photo With 3 Kids on UK Mother’s Day
His daughter-in-law, Princess Kate Middleton, also battled cancer over the last year, but announced in January that she’s currently in remission.
“As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead,” the princess wrote in a social media post at the time.
Kate, 43, also shared a tribute on Mother’s Day, posting a reel celebrating her family’s “sanctuary.”
“Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary,” the Princess of Wales wrote via Instagram Sunday. “This Mother’s Day, let us celebrate Mother Nature and recognize how our bond with the natural world can help not only nurture our inner selves, but remind us too of the role we play within the rich tapestry of life. C.”