Charles and his 'darling Mama': Queen Elizabeth and the King's relationship in pictures to mark the late monarch's birthday

Queen Elizabeth and her heir, now King Charles, pictured at various moments throughout their life together. (Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth and her heir, now King Charles, pictured at various moments throughout their life together. (Getty Images)

Tomorrow, April 21, would have been Queen Elizabeth's 97th birthday. The late monarch sadly passed away in September at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, aged 96.

We're yet to learn how the Royal Family plan to mark the occasion, but no doubt the day will offer an opportunity for her eldest son, King Charles III to reflect on his relationship with his "darling mama".

Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Charles, on 14 November 1948 at Buckingham Palace, when she was 22 years old.

As her first born, eldest son and therefore heir to the throne, Her Majesty always had a special bond with Charles.

Back in 2018, on the then Prince Charles' 70th Birthday, Elizabeth delivered a powerful speech in celebration of her son's special day, which offered a hint at the strength of their relationship.

On the same day, the late Queen described her son as “passionate”, “creative” and as “a duchy original,” as she raised a toast to her heir in front of family, friends and members of European royalty at Buckingham Palace.

Read more: King Charles follows late Queen and Meghan's lead with nod to Commonwealth countries on coronation day

“It is a privilege for any mother to be able to propose a toast to her son on his 70th birthday,” she said. “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.

"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 continued. “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," she concluded.

Watch: King Charles ‘has £600m fortune' that makes him richer than Queen Elizabeth

And in his first address to the nation as King, the new monarch paid tribute to his "darling Mama" describing her “profound personal commitment” to the nation throughout her 70-year reign.

“To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you,” he said. “Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years.”

From enjoying cherished childhood moments together at home at Buckingham Palace, to sharing a joke at much-loved events and offering support at more sombre official engagements, the mother/son duo have shared many very special memories over the years.

Here's a look back over some of their most heartwarming pictures together.

Picture of Elizabeth bouncing a newborn King Charles on her knee, in 1948. (Getty Images)
Elizabeth bounces a newborn King Charles on her knee, in 1948. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Picture of Queen Elizabeth holding her first born son on his Christening in 1948. (Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth holds her first born son on his Christening in 1948. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Elizabeth pictured with a baby Charles in 1949. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Elizabeth with a baby Charles in 1949. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Queen Elizabeth II helping Prince Charles with a camera in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, Scotland, 28th September 1952. (Photo by Lisa Sheridan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth helping Prince Charles with a camera in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, Scotland, 28 September 1952. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Elizabeth and a young Charles watch a procession, during the visit of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, from the wall of Clarence House, in November 1950. (Getty Images)
Elizabeth and a young Charles watching a procession, during the visit of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, from the wall of Clarence House, in November 1950. (Getty Images) (Getty)
The Queen laughs as her son plays in his toy car while at Balmoral in 1952.  (Photo by Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Elizabeth laughs as her son plays in his toy car while at Balmoral in 1952. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Prince Charles and his mother looking out of a window at Balmoral in 1952. (Photo by Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Prince Charles and his mother looking out of a window at Balmoral in 1952. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Queen Elizabeth with her eldest son at Windsor Great Park, during a polo match in 1956. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth with her eldest son at Windsor Great Park, during a polo match in 1956. (Getty Images) (Getty)
A youthful Prince Charles and his mother pictured together at their Windsor home in 1969. (Getty Images)
A youthful Prince Charles and his mother pictured together at their Windsor home in 1969. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Elizabeth crowns her son Charles, Prince of Wales, during his investiture ceremony at Caernarvon Castle in July 1969. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Elizabeth crowns her son Charles, Prince of Wales, during his investiture ceremony at Caernarvon Castle in July 1969. (Getty Images) (Getty)
The then Prince Charles plants a kiss on his mother's hand after she presented him with a prize at a polo match in Windsor. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
The then Prince Charles plants a kiss on his mother's hand after she presented him with a prize at a polo match in Windsor in 1985. (Getty Images) (Getty)
The pair laugh as they watch competitors during the Braemar Gathering in September 2006. (Getty Images)
The pair laugh as they watch competitors during the Braemar Gathering in September 2006. (Getty Images) (Getty)
The mother and son duo study one of the first copies of 'Queen Elizabeth the Queen mother, the official biography', in September, 2009. (Getty Images)
The mother and son duo study one of the first copies of 'Queen Elizabeth the Queen mother, the official biography', in September, 2009. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Elizabeth presents her son with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour during a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show on May 18, 2009. (Getty Images)
Elizabeth presents her son with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour during a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show on May 18, 2009. (Getty Images) (Getty)
The mother and son laugh whilst watching the children's sack race as they attend the 2012 Braemar Highland Gathering. (Photo by Indigo/Getty Images)
The mother and son laugh whilst watching the children's sack race as they attend the 2012 Braemar Highland Gathering. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Charles kisses his mother on the cheek at the funeral of Patricia Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma on June 27, 2017. (Getty Images)
Charles kisses his mother on the cheek at the funeral of Patricia Knatchbull, Countess Mountbatten of Burma on June 27, 2017. (Getty Images) (Getty)
A then Prince Charles supports his mother during the State Opening of Parliament in October 2019. (Photo by Victoria Jones - WPA Pool / Getty Images)
A then Prince Charles supports his mother during the State Opening of Parliament in October 2019. (Getty Images) (Getty)
The pair watch a special flypast from Buckingham Palace balcony following Elizabeth's Birthday Parade as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations, in London on June 2, 2022. (Getty Images)
The pair watch a special flypast from Buckingham Palace balcony following Elizabeth's Birthday Parade as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations, in London on June 2, 2022. (Getty Images) (Getty)
Elizabeth and Charles attend the Royal Company of Archers Reddendo Parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on June 30, 2022 in Edinburgh on July 1, 2022. (Getty Images)
Elizabeth and Charles attend the Royal Company of Archers Reddendo Parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on June 30, 2022 in Edinburgh on July 1, 2022. (Getty Images) (Getty)
In what appears to be the last image of the duo together, they appear after an Audience at Windsor Castle, Berkshire on July 12, 2022. (PA Images)
In what appears to be the last image of the duo together, they appear after an Audience at Windsor Castle, Berkshire on July 12, 2022. (PA Images) (PA)

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