King Charles Pays Touching Tribute to Queen Elizabeth in Photo Honoring Mother’s Day

BRAEMAR, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 02: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend the 2017 Braemar Highland Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on September 2, 2017 in Braemar, Scotland. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)

King Charles III paid a touching tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, with a sweet photo marking Mother’s Day, which the U.K. is celebrating this year on March 10.

The decades-old throwback photo shows the king back when he was the Prince of Wales. Charles appears to be dressed for a polo match, wearing a white pair of pants paired with a white T-shirt that features a single stripe down its back and on both sleeves. He kisses his mother’s hand as she beams at him on the field. A blurry crowd of onlookers can be seen gathered behind them.

“Wishing all Mothers, and those who are missing their Mums today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday,” the king said in his caption for the photo, which was posted on the royal family’s Instagram account. A pink flower emoji was added at the end of the caption.

Many Instagram users praised the photo chosen for the king’s Mother’s Day tribute, with one writing that “it shows that no matter who you are, There is always love and respect for you mother.”

Others celebrated the “beautiful photo” and said the queen will be “forever in our hearts.”

Some suggested that the king may be missing his late mother “more than ever” in the wake of his recent cancer diagnosis, which was discovered after he underwent surgery for treatment of an enlarged prostate. Though Buckingham Palace has not identified the type of cancer that King Charles is battling, officials said he began “a schedule of regular treatments” on Feb. 5.

The king ascended the throne following Queen Elizabeth’s death at 96 on September 8, 2022. She ruled as queen for more than 70 years, making her Britain’s longest-serving monarch.

Charles was coronated on May 6, 2023. A few months later, he recognized the one-year anniversary of his mother’s death with a statement shared by Buckingham Palace that said in part, “We recall with great affection her long life, devoted service and all she meant to so many of us.”

Next: Queen Elizabeth II’s Final Moments Shared by Private Secretary