King Charles and Queen Camilla unveil heartfelt memorial to Queen Elizabeth II following Princess Kate’s poignant return to duty
Buckingham Palace has shared a deeply emotional update as King Charles and Queen Camilla paid a touching tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II during their Royal Week engagements in Scotland.
On Wednesday, July 3, Their Majesties unveiled a simple yet moving black slate memorial stone at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh — the same place where Queen Elizabeth II lay in rest following her passing at Balmoral in 2022. The stone bears the Scottish Crown, the ER cypher, and the key dates commemorating her final moments in Scotland.
In a statement posted on the royal family’s official Instagram, the Palace noted:
“Today, The King and Queen unveiled a Memorial Stone dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Her late Majesty’s deep affection for Scotland and its people was well-known, in particular her love of the Scottish Highlands.”
The tribute, described as both solemn and personal, came just hours after Princess Catherine made headlines with her surprise public appearance at Colchester Hospital’s cancer wellbeing centre — her first outing in weeks. The Princess reflected on the emotional toll of treatment and the challenges of recovery, a moment that struck a chord with the public.
Meanwhile in Scotland, King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Royal Week continued with a stop in Kirkcaldy, where they marked the 100th anniversary of the town’s war memorial amid rainy weather.
The Royal Week, also known as Holyrood Week, is an annual tradition during which the monarch spends time in Scotland carrying out engagements that celebrate Scottish culture, community, and history. It began this year with the symbolic Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, officially welcoming the King to Edinburgh.
Only Charles and Camilla were present at the memorial unveiling, but their quiet presence and heartfelt tribute made a powerful impression — one that echoed through the halls of the cathedral and across the nation.
