Description
The first Gibraltar coin featuring the effigy of a King.
On the 8th of September 2022, our beloved Queen Elizabeth II passed away and a new King came to the British throne. Unlike his mother, who unexpectedly became Queen at just 25 when her father, King George VI died suddenly, the now 74-year-old Prince Charles has spent his entire life in preparation to wear the crown.
His Majesty said of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, that she remained ‘as constant as the north star’ and united the nation through an unparalleled reign with devotion and dedication to our service. It is hard to imagine life without her as the head of our nation, she will always remain a part of our lives. After 70 years of the country singing the same anthem, the people of Britain will once again sing the national anthem “God Save the King”.
In his first address as monarch, King Charles III paid tribute to his late mother and said, “Throughout her life, Her Majesty The Queen, my beloved mother, was an inspiration, an example to me and to all my family. As The Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.”
Therefore, it is fitting to pay a final tribute to Her Majesty whilst also marking the beginning of the new Carolean era, especially as The Queen expressed her desire that her son, Charles to carry on her life’s work. In a speech given at the official opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, she said, “It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations and will decide that one day The Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.”
