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King Charles Leaves Personal Note On Queen Elizabeth's Coffin

The new monarch's message brought to mind the "for mummy" left by William and Harry on flowers for Diana's funeral.
Ron Dicker
By 

General Assignment Reporter, HuffPost

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King Charles III left a touching note on the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as people around the world mourned with him during her funeral on Monday.

“In loving and devoted memory. Charles R,” the message read, evoking other personal sentiments left by the royals to say farewell to family.

The “R” that Charles signed off means “rex,” which is Latin for “king.” The queen used to sign “Elizabeth R,” with the “R” standing for “regina,” or “queen” in Latin.

The bouquet atop Queen Elizabeth's coffin was sourced from royal households and chosen by Prince Charles.
The bouquet atop Queen Elizabeth's coffin was sourced from royal households and chosen by Prince Charles.
Christopher Furlong via Getty Images

The note reminded mourners of the heartbreaking note Prince William and Prince Harry left “for mummy” on the flowers for the late Princess Diana at her 1997 funeral. The note struck a powerful chord with crowds at the time (and made Meghan Markle, then 16, cry).

Last year, Elizabeth left a goodbye missive for her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, signing it with her childhood nickname Lilibet.

Elizabeth died Sept. 8 at age 96, leaving the throne to Charles.

Britain's King Charles III walks behind the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.
Britain's King Charles III walks behind the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.
BEN STANSALL via Getty Images

He referred to her as his “darling mama” and in his first speech after her death spoke warmly of her long reign.

“Throughout her life, her majesty the queen ― my beloved mother ― was an inspiration and example to me and to all my family, and we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother,” he said.

Charles picked out the bouquet on which his note rested, according to Buckingham Palace, which added that the flowers were sourced from royal households. The myrtle in the arrangement reportedly descended from plant growth from Elizabeth’s wedding bouquet.

King Charles teared up as “God Save the King” played with his mother’s coffin in front of him.

His note had already said it all.

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The Princess of Wales follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard.
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King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince William, and Prince Harry follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.
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People embrace during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
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King Charles III looks emotional at the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth.
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Yeoman of the Guard at Westminster Abbey ahead of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia arrive at Westminster Abbey in London.
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Guests arrive for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey.
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President Joe Biden arrives at Westminster Abbey.
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Coldstream Guards ahead of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Sep. 19.
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Invited guests arriving at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
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A marching band performs ahead of the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II.
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Media members are seen as the funeral procession arrives at Westminster Abbey in London on Sep. 19.
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Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern arrives.
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Members of the public attend along the Procession Route in London.
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French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron arrive at the state funeral.
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King Charles III and Princess Anne attend the state funeral for their mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
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British Prime Minister Liz Truss takes her seat for the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Former Prime Ministers Gordon Brown and Tony Blair arrive at Westminster Abbey.
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King Charles III arrives with Princess Anne, Prince William, and Prince Harry for the funeral.
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrives at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Prince George, Camilla, Queen Consort and the Princess of Wales arrive at Westminster Abbey.
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Prince William and Prince Harry walked side-by-side at Queen Elizabeth's funeral procession to Westminster Abbey, alongside their cousin, Peter Phillips.
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The Duchess of Sussex sits in a car as she attends Queen Elizabeth state funeral and burial.
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Princess Charlotte of Wales arrives at Westminster Abbey.
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The Duke of Sussex stands next to King Charles III, Princess Anne and Prince William as they salute.
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The Duchess of Sussex during the state funeral.
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Gentlemen at Arms, the Queen's bodyguard takes part in the state funeral service.
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The Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Sussex, Prince George and Princess Charlotte arrive at the funeral.
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The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince George arrive.
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Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Princess Beatrice, during the state funeral.
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top is carried into Westminster Abbey.
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Peter Phillips, and Zara and Mike Tindall attend the state funeral service.
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The Wales family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey.
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Members of the royal family walk behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as they leave the state funeral.
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A Bearer Party of The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.
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The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried out of the Westminster Abbey followed by King Charles III.
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The Duchess of Sussex and Camilla, Queen Consort during the state funeral.
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The royals during the state funeral.
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The Prince of Wales follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre.
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Prince William and Prince Harry outside of Westminster Abbey on Sep.19.
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The Duchess of Sussex, Camilla, Queen Consort, Prince George, the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte look at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in a Royal Standard and adorned with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre.
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Members of the public react on The Long Walk.
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Military personnel parade as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II is carried following her funeral service in Westminster Abbey.
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Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice of York are driven behind the procession of the coffin towards Buckingham Palace following the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
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The procession heads down the Mall towards Wellington Arch following the state funeral.
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The Bearer Party transfer the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, into the state hearse at Wellington Arch following the state funeral.
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The hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth is escorted along the Long Walk towards Windsor castle in the funeral procession, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth.
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King Charles III salutes as he and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort make their way by car to Windsor.
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Prince William, Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex, King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, and Princess Beatrice observe the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is transferred from the gun carriage to the hearse at Wellington Arch.
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King Charles, Camilla, Queen Consort, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince William look at members of the Bearer Party transferring the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Princess Charlotte of Wales cries next to the Princess of Wales, Prince George and Camilla, Queen Consort at Wellington Arch after the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Royal Navy sailors escort the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy, at Wellington Arch in London.
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King Charles III and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex.
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Flowers on the hearse carrying the coffin of the queen.
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The queen's corgis, Muick and Sandy, are walked inside Windsor Castle on Sep. 19 ahead of the committal service for Queen Elizabeth II.
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The Duke of Sussex, Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence walk at Windsor Castle on the way to the committal service.
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A marching band walks along Albert Road in Windsor, England ahead of the committal service for the late monarch.
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The cortege carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives outside Windsor Castle.
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The cortege carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives outside Windsor Castle.
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King Charles III places the Queen's Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the coffin at the committal service.
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A mourner cries during the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II.
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The queen's grandchildren, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, attend the committal service for Queen Elizabeth II in St George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle.
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A Royal Guard stands guard.
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