William says late Queen would be ‘very proud mother’ at Coronation Concert

'I know she's up there, fondly keeping an eye on us.'

Prince William told his newly crowned dad 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 to the stage this evening after a barnstorming performance from Lionel Richie, and paid tribute to King Charles as he watched on.

Reflecting on his father’s impact during his own time as Prince of Wales – a title Charles held for longer than anyone else in British history – he said: ‘Pa, we are all so proud of you.’

William highlighted the King’s work on environmental issues, saying: ‘He warned us of the risks to our planet’s health long before it was an everyday issue.’

He also praised the work of the Prince’s Trust, adding: ‘It has supported over a million young people, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to realise their ambitions.’

William continued: ‘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.’

His point about supporting diversity was particularly notable in the wake of allegations made by his brother, Prince Harry, in a Netflix documentary earlier this year.

The Duke of Sussex claimed that there was a ‘huge level of unconscious bias’ in the Royal Family, following on from claims of racism made by him and his wife Meghan in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

In his speech at the coronation concert, the Prince of Wales drew on the memory of 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, fondly keeping an eye on us. And she would be a very proud mother.

‘For all that celebrations are magnificent, at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message: service.’

His address was watched by his wife Kate and kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

The King was joined by Queen Camilla, and other royals including Zara and Mike Tindall and Prince Edward were also in attendance.

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