Set 5. Royal family

Article 1.

My darling mama, an example to so many

By Richard Palmer, Royal Correspondent

Prince Charles paid tribute to his "darling Mama" in a message to the nation on her 80th birthday last night.

The heir to the throne recalled she kissed him goodnight before her Coronation – while wearing her Crown so that she could get used to the weight.

In the radio and TV broadcast, Charles wished his mother the "happiest of happy birthdays" and praised her "remarkable steadfastness and fortitude".

Charles, 57, thanked the Queen for the "many wonderful qualities which she has brought to almost an entire lifetime of*service and dedica­tion".

He has sometimes blamed her onerous duties for giving him less time with her than many sons have enjoyed with their mothers, and for creating a distance in his relationship with his parents. But no son could have been prouder yesterday.

Devotion. In the message, recorded at Birkhall in Scotland, he spoke about the separation from his parents as a child while they were away on overseas tours in the 1950s and his joy at being reunited with them.

Describing himself as a "proud and loving son", Charles heralded the Queen as an example of service and devotion to duty in a rapidly changing world.

"There is no doubt that the world in which my mother grew up and, indeed, the world in which she first became Queen has changed beyond all recognition," he said.

"But during all those years she has shown the most remarkable steadfastness and fortitude, always remaining a figure of reassuring calm and dependability – an example to so many of service, duty and devotion in a world of sometimes bewildering change and disorientation.

"For very nearly 60 of those 80 years she has been my darling Mama and my sentiments today are those of a proud and loving son who hopes that you will join with me in wishing the Queen the happiest of happy birthdays, together with the fervent prayer that there will be countless memorable returns of the day."

Charles said he found it hard to believe the Queen had turned 80. "As a child, I can just remember my great grandmother, Queen Mary, at 80. Then I recall so well the 80th birthday of my grandmother in 1980," he said.

"Now I find it hard to believe my own mother, the Queen, is today celebrating her 80th birthday, and it gives me enormous pride to be able to con­gratulate her publicly in this way, and to thank her on behalf of us all for the many wonderful qualities which she has brought to almost an entire lifetime of service and dedication to her country, to her family, to the realms and to the countries of the Commonwealth."

He added: "It is hard to believe that my grandfather, King George VI, was the same age as I am now when he died and that my mother succeeded him when so young – the same age, in fact, as my sons are now."

A day earlier, Prince Andrew had memorably recalled his own childhood memories, describing how his mother comforted him after his boyish scrapes and how they watched Doctor Who together in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle.

Last night it was Charles's turn to provide a moving tribute.

He spoke about his recollections of the Coronation and the build-up to the big day.

Charles, who was four at the time of the Coronation, said: "And then I have vivid memories of the Coronation – of my mother coming to say goodnight to my sister and me while wearing the Crown so that she could get used to its weight on her head before the Coronation ceremony."

He recalled how thousands of people gathered in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, chanting: "We want The Queen".

And last night he was able to pay an even more personal tribute to his mother by hosting a dinner for her at Kew Palace attended by 26 members of the Royal Family.

Daily Express, Saturday April 22, 2006

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