London prepares for the Royal funeral.
The Queen and Royal Family are in mourning for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother who died on March 30th. They will remain in official mourning until 19 April. The regular schedule of Royal engagements has been cancelled during the period of mourning.
Prince Charles pays tribute to The Queen Mother
Prince Charles went on television yesterday to make a moving tribute to the grandmother he adored. Speaking from his home at Highgrove in Gloucestershire he spoke of The Queen Mother's influence upon both his own and other people's lives. Here is a full transcript of his tribute:
"I know what my darling grandmother meant to so many other people. She literally enriched their lives and she was the original life enhancer, whether publicly or privately, whoever she was with. And, in many ways, she had become an institution in her own right; a presence in the nation and in other realms and territories beyond these shores.
She was at once indomitable, somehow timeless, able to span the generations; wise, loving, and an utterly irresistible mischievousness of spirit. An immensely strong character, combined with a unique natural grace, and an infectious optimism about life itself. Above all, she understood the British character and her heart belonged to this ancient land and its equally indomitable and humorous inhabitants, whom she served with panache, style and unswerving dignity for very nearly 80 years.
I know, too, what she meant to my whole family, particularly the Queen, to whom she was such a stalwart and sensitive support when my grandfather died, when he was only two and a half years older than I am now. For me, she meant everything and I had dreaded, dreaded this moment along with, I know, countless others. Somehow, I never thought it would come. She seemed gloriously unstoppable and, since I was a child, I adored her. Her houses were always filled with an atmosphere of fun, laughter and affection, and I learnt so much from her of immense value to my life.
Apart from anything else, she wrote such sparklingly wonderful letters and her turn of phrase could be utterly memorable. Above all, she saw the funny side of life and we laughed until we cried. Oh, how I shall miss her laugh and wonderful wisdom born of so much experience and an innate sensitivity to life. She was quite simply the most magical grandmother you could possibly have, and I was utterly devoted to her.
Her departure has left an irreplaceable chasm in countless lives but, thank God, we are all the richer for the sheer joy of her presence and
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