King Charles III of Britain expressed his gratitude to the public for their support during his first year as monarch on the one-year anniversary of the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. In a statement released on Friday, the 74-year-old king spoke fondly of his mother's life and public service, expressing deep gratitude for the love and support shown to him and his wife, Camilla, as they strive to be of service to the nation.

The commemorative events for this occasion remained low-key, with King Charles spending time at his Scottish Highland estate of Balmoral and attending private prayers and a moment of reflection at Crathie Kirk, the late queen's place of worship.

Queen Elizabeth II, who had reigned for a record-breaking 70 years, passed away at the age of 96 at Balmoral after a period of declining health. Interestingly, she never publicly marked her accession, as it coincided with the anniversary of her father's death, King George VI, in 1952.

The Princess of Wales spoke for the nation yesterday as she told wellwishers marking the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s passing. https://t.co/e0BCbfVlPj pic.twitter.com/6SHIpmf2b5

— PerthNow (@perthnow) September 9, 2023

To mark King Charles III's accession, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a ceremonial 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, and the Honourable Artillery Company fired a 62-gun salute from the Tower of London. Both regiments had previously been involved in salutes for the late queen's death and the proclamation of Charles's reign.

Prince William, the king's eldest son and heir, along with his wife, Catherine, commemorated the anniversary with a private service at St Davids Cathedral in west Wales. The death of Queen Elizabeth II was a momentous event in British life, as she had been the only monarch and head of state that most Britons had ever known.

Tens of thousands of people queued for hours to pay their respects to the queen as her flag-shrouded coffin lay in state in Westminster Hall. The streets of London and the route to Windsor Castle were packed with people for the state funeral, which was televised worldwide.

The queen was laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip, her parents, and the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret. The British government announced earlier this week that a national memorial for Queen Elizabeth II will be commissioned in the future.

As for King Charles III's first year on the throne, opinions in London varied. Some believed that he had made the right decision by not implementing sweeping reforms too soon. Joanne Hughes, 61, expressed confidence in the king's ability to bring about change. However, there were also individuals, like nursing student Mimi Jaffer-Clarke, who felt indifferent towards the new king and the monarchy as a whole, suggesting that the monarchy could be facing a decline.

Overall, the first year of King Charles III's reign has been marked by gratitude, reflection, and differing opinions about the future of the monarchy. As the nation commemorates the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, it remains to be seen how King Charles III's reign will unfold and what it will mean for the British monarchy and its relationship with the younger generation.