King Charles Speaks Publicly with Stunning Speech One Day After Release of Moving, Personally Signed Statement

the king always knows what to say

Published Sep 28, 2024

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3:02pm

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It's been a big week for the United Kingdom. First, Prince Harry, Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice all convened in New York City for the annual Climate Week summit, where they were supporting various organizations, including Princess Eugenie's The Anti-Slavery Collective and Prince Harry's The Archewell Foundation.

Then, news broke that Dame Maggie Smith (of Harry Potter and Downton Abbey fame) passed away at age 89 on September 27. That all coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament. Whew.

king charles scottish parliament speech maggie smith

@theroyalfamily on Instagram

King Charles, stalwart that he is, was of course hard at work. He penned a personal note on Instagram Stories, writing, "My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dame Maggie Smith. As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances and her warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage." He signed it, "Charles R."

Smith died in a London hospital on Friday, per The Associated Press. After starting her career in the '50s, she went on to win two Academy Awards (Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress), four BAFTAs, a Tony, three Emmys, a Golden Globe and a slew of other nominations.

After offering his condolences, the King then sped to Scotland, where he attended the 25th anniversary of the Scottish parliament and gave a moving speech. In July 1999, King Charles had accompanied his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, to the official opening of the parliament.

"We are all, at the end of each day, united by our love of Scotland," he said in his address. "Because of its natural beauty, of course, but also because of its strength of character, based as it is on the extraordinary diversity of its peoples, whose range of ideas, skills, energy, passions, and frequently deeply-held beliefs, never cease to inspire me. From the central belt, to the North Highlands, across the islands, in Ayrshire, in the Borders, the cities, towns, and villages, or the coastal communities, who, I wonder, could not fail to be moved by this complex Caledonian Kaleidoscope?"

What fitting tributes, King Charles.

Clara Stein

Freelance PureWow Editor

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