The Queen has brought tears to the eyes of many as she recited a touching speech to her son Prince Charles on his 70th birthday.
Speaking at a special birthday gathering at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday evening, Her Majesty spoke of the joy in raising Charles and how happy she was to celebrate the occasion. The royal said how much of a privilege it was to propose a toast to her son and see him reach 70 — just as her own mother had for her.
“It means that you have lived long enough to see your child grow up. It is rather like – to use an analogy I am certain will find favour – planting a tree and being able to watch it grow,” she said to the crowd of family and friends.
“My mother saw me turn 70, of course. And she was heard to observe that 70 is exactly the age when the number of candles on your cake finally exceeds the amount of breath you have to blow them out.”
The 92-year-old was very much the proud mother as she described her son’s achievements and the joy her and husband Prince Phillip have had in watching him grow into a wonderful man.
She also made mention of his loving wife Camilla and her role in his life.
“Over his 70 years, Philip and I have seen Charles become a champion of conservation and the arts, a great charitable leader — a dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history — and a wonderful father,” she said.
“Most of all, sustained by his wife Camilla, he is his own man, passionate and creative.
“So this toast is to wish a happy birthday to my son, in every respect a duchy original. To you Charles. To the Prince of Wales.”
Along with the tear-jerking speech, the royal family also released a series of adorable photos of Charles as a youngster alongside his beautiful mother.
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In one of the photos, the prince can be seen sitting in a cot as a doting Queen Elizabeth II watches over him with complete adoration.
“This photograph was taken in the grounds of Windlesham Moor, country home in Surrey, in 1949 when Prince Charles was around 8 months old,” the Instagram post read.
The second, an equally beautiful photo of the Queen and Charles showed the pair looking out the window of Buckingham Palace on Prince Charles’ fourth birthday.
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The photos and the Queen’s speech have received a lot of attention from royal fans who left their own well wishes for the prince on his birthday.
“I love her speech… it was a Mamas speech. She is truly proud of her son,” one person commented.
Another comment read: “So sweet to think she truly has watched her children grow to an age most parents don’t. Happy birthday!”
A third added: “What a beautiful gift to still have your mother with you when you turn 70. Happiest of birthdays to Prince Charles!”
A glowing picture of Charles and Camilla was also uploaded to Instagram ahead of his 70th birthday celebrations at Buckingham Palace.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqLUxJ4AEn5/
An array of other royals including Prince Harry and Prince William, Meghan, Catherine and Princess Eugenie were also in attendance, while the late Princess Diana was also remembered in a video montage shared on the palace’s social media pages.
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