King and Camilla visit Crathie Kirk on the second anniversary of the Queen's death

The King visits a church near Balmoral to pray and remember the second anniversary of the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Two years after Charles' accession to the throne, in late summer, Charles and Queen Camilla arrived for Sunday service at the tiny granite Crathie Kirk in Royal Deeside, where the late Queen was a regular and devout churchgoer.

The King could be seen in the back seat of the maroon Bentley with the window slightly open, with Camilla by his side, as they made their way to their place of worship at 11:25am.

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The vehicle drove slowly up the short driveway, past the traditional red telephone box that stands on the corner.

Camilla, dressed in a green jacket with red and green tartan lapels and a green hat decorated with a feather, smiled at the waiting photographers and camera crews while holding her handbag on her lap.

The King, wearing a pink flower on the lapel of his grey jacket, was seen adjusting his cuffs as he prepared for his moving service.

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The 75-year-old king was staying at his estate in Aberdeenshire in the Highlands, where the late queen passed away peacefully on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96.

His second year as ruler was a personal challenge and marked by a double blow to his health: the diagnosis of cancer in himself and in his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales.

Tributes were paid to the late Queen on the occasion of the anniversary, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praising the “70 glorious years of her reign”.

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“Today marks the second anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II,” Sir Keir said in a message posted on social media.

“The late Queen’s commitment to Britain and the Commonwealth taught us that the value of service endures, no matter what challenges our country faces.

“During her 70 glorious years of rule, she was at the heart of the life of this nation. Today we honor her memory.”

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The day of the King's accession to the throne is a deeply personal occasion, as it marks both the historic beginning of his reign as Charles III and the sad loss of his beloved mother.

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