Catherine and William join King at special Buckingham Palace reception but George, Charlotte and Louis absent

Svar Nanan-Sen
Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:44:31 +0000

Buckingham Palace's Marble Hall served as the setting for a special reception hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla, commemorating what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday.

The gathering brought together centenarians marking their own milestone birthdays alongside representatives from organisations the late monarch supported throughout her reign.

Among those in attendance were delegates from Cancer Research UK, the British Red Cross Society, the Jockey Club, the Royal Kennel Club and the Army Benevolent Fund – all patronages close to the late Queen's heart.

In a touching gesture, King Charles personally handed centenary cards to the centenarians present as a birthday cake was served.

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Prince William and the Princess of Wales also attended the special reception but Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were absent.

Earlier today, the King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the British Museum today alongside the Prime Minister to examine the completed design for the national memorial honouring the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Lord Janvrin, who chairs the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee, was among those present for the occasion.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were shown a scale model of the memorial by its designer, Lord Norman Foster, during their time in the Reading Room.

A short film showcasing design elements was also screened for the King and Queen, who additionally viewed various artwork displays related to the project.

The King and Queen encountered the trio of artists commissioned to produce sculptures for the memorial site: Martin Jennings, Yinka Shonibare and Karen Newman, who presented maquettes of their planned works.

These small-scale models, along with Lord Foster's memorial design, will be available for public viewing at the British Museum.

King Charles and Prince William separately held discussions with leadership from the Queen Elizabeth Trust, including its Chair and Interim Chief Executive.

The visit concluded with a reception in the Great Hall, where the King and Queen met representatives from organisations throughout the United Kingdom that have played a role in bringing the memorial projects to fruition.

Today, Buckingham Palace released a deeply personal speech from the King honouring what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday.

The heartfelt message, filmed at Balmoral Castle's Library during early April, marks the beginning of a day filled with commemorative activities across London.

The recording from the Scottish royal residence carries particular significance, given Balmoral's importance to the late Queen, who spent her final days there before her death in September 2022.

In his address, the King described the occasion as a moment for his family to "reflect on the life and loss of a Sovereign who meant so much to us all and to celebrate anew the many blessings of her memory."

King Charles concluded by renewing "my own solemn pledge of duty and service to you all," adding: "God bless you, darling Mama; you remain forever in our hearts and prayers."