“I know she is up there fondly keeping an eye on us and she would be a very proud mother,” said the Prince of Wales at the event held on the grounds of Windsor Castle. He added that his grandmother had called coronations a “declaration of our hopes for the future.”
The coronation concert capped a day of street parties and community lunch events across the UK in celebration of King Charles III.
The concert line-up was certainly fit for a King, featuring global superstars, classical music maestros and an eclectic mix of celebrity faces, from Tom Cruise to “The Muppets’” very own Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
William kicked off his speech on a humorous note, making a promise to the crowd that, unlike singer Lionel Richie, who performed at the event, he wouldn’t “go on all night long” with his address.
Instead, William said he simply wanted to “say a few words about my father and why I believe this weekend is so important.”
He went on to pay a heartfelt tribute to the King, outlining his commitment to service over the years.
“For all that celebrations are magnificent, at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message: Service. My father’s first words on entering Westminster Abbey yesterday were a pledge of service,” Prince William remarked.
“It was a pledge to continue to serve. Because for over 50 years, in every corner of the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world, he [King Charles] has dedicated himself to serve others, both current and future generations, and those whose memory must not be neglected,” the prince continued.
William highlighted the King’s commitment to environmental causes, saying the King “warned us of the risks to our planet’s health long before it was an everyday issue.”
He also commended the King’s charitable contributions through his foundation, the Prince’s Trust, which William said “has supported over a million young people, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to realize their ambitions.”
“Pa, we are all so proud of you,” the prince said, addressing the King directly.
Prince William wrapped up his brief speech by thanking the “millions of people who serve in the forces, in classrooms, hospital wards and local communities,” giving his own pledge to “serve [them] all.”
King Charles III was crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, and well-wishers packed the streets of the British capital.
After the service, the King and selected members of the royal family made the customary appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony, but a flypast of military aircraft was scaled back due to bad weather.
Police arrested dozens of people during the coronation, after controversially promising a “robust” approach to protesters.
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/AP
Britain's King Charles III
poses for a portrait in Buckingham Palace's Throne Room dressed in full regalia. He is wearing the Robe of Estate and the Imperial State Crown while holding the Sovereign's Orb and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
A storefront window in London is decorated with framed photographs and a painting of the King on Thursday.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Westminster staff and police take cover from the rain on Friday.
Toby Melville/Pool/Reuters
The King meets well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace during a walkabout on Friday.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
A royal fan sleeps along the procession route on Friday.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
People travel into London on Saturday to be a part of the historic day.
Toby Hancock/CNN
Preparations are made on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
A child has paint applied to his face while waiting for the procession.
Marco Bertoorello/AFP/Getty Images
Members of the Coldstream Guards march on the procession route before the coronation.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
People wait on the procession route ahead of the coronation.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
Troops march in London ahead of the coronation ceremony.
Toby Hancock/CNN
The King's carriage leaves Buckingham Palace before the coronation.
Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters
Order-of-service booklets are seen at Westminster Abbey as guests arrive for the coronation.
Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images
Members of the public look out onto Parliament Square ahead of the coronation.
Marko Djurica/Retuers
A boy watches guards march on the streets in front of Big Ben.
Niall Carson/PA Images/Getty Images
The King and Queen travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach as they make their short journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
People line the procession route in London.
Henry Nicholls/Reuters
Jill Biden, first lady of the United States, arrives at Westminster Abbey. Biden,
who led the US delegation, traveled with her granddaughter Finnegan Biden.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
The procession takes place in London before the coronation.
Gareth Cattermole/Pool/Reuters
Charles McQuillan/Pool/Reuters
Royal Navy sailors stand at attention on the Mall in London.
Andrew Matthews/PA/AP
Musicians perform at Westminster Abbey before the coronation ceremony.
Gareth Cattermole/Pool/Reuters
Singer Lionel Richie poses for a selfie at Westminster Abbey.
Toby Melville/PA/AP
Prince George, second from left, stands with other pages of honor at Westminster Abbey.
Andrew Milligan/PA/AP
Prince Harry, right, arrives at Westminster Abbey along with Princess Beatrice, one of the King's nieces, and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Harry accepted the invitation to his father's coronation but was without his wife, Meghan, who stayed back in California with the couple's two children.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
The King and Queen travel to Westminstger Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
Henry Nicholls/Reuters
The King is seen near his grandson Prince George, one of his pages of honor.
Andrew Matthews/PA/AP
Prince Harry enters Westminster Abbey.
Richard Pohle/Pool/AP
Former British prime ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss sit with their partners.
Dan Charity/Pool/AP
Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, two of the King's grandchildren, arrive for the coronation.
Phil Noble/Pool/Getty Images
Prince William, Harry's brother, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales,
arrive for the coronation with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte.
Ben Birchall/PA/AP
The King enters Westminster Abbey for his coronation.
Andrew Matthews/Pool/Reuters
The King arrives at Westminster Abbey for his coronation.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
People watch the ceremony on a screen in Hyde Park.
Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters
The King and Queen
entered the Abbey to the strains of "I was glad," the stirring coronation anthem written by Hubert Parry for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. It has been sung at all coronations since then.
Yui Mok/Pool/Reuters
The King and Queen take part in the coronation ceremony.
Richard Pohle/Pool/AP
Prince Harry looks around Westminster Abbey from his spot in the third row. He is a non-working royal and did not perform any duties during the ceremony.
Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters
Guests watch the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters
The St. Edward's Crown is carried inside Westminster Abbey.
Victoria Jones/Pool/Reuters
The King holds a sword during the ceremony.
Yui Mok/Pool/Reuters
Prince Louis points out something to his sister, Princess Charlotte, during the ceremony. They are flanked by their parents, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
Royal fan Ben Weller reacts as he watches the coronation on a screen in London's Hyde Park.
Jonathan Brady/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
This was the only time Charles will ever wear St. Edward's Crown, as it is reserved for the coronation of a new monarch.
Andrew Matthews/Pool/AP
The King wears the St. Edward's Crown during his coronation.
Yui Mok/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
The King's son Prince William, the heir apparent to the throne, kisses his father on the cheek during the ceremony.
Yui Mok/Pool/AP
British lawmaker Penny Mordaunt carries the Sword of State during the coronation. She was involved in the ceremony because as the current Leader of the House of Commons, she is also the Lord President of the Privy Council — a body formed of senior politicians who act as the monarch's official advisers.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
People in London's Piccadilly Circus walk past a giant screen showing an image of the King during the coronation ceremony.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Charles and Camilla walk out of Westminster Abbey.
Ben Stansall/Pool/Reuters
The King greets multifaith leaders on his way out of Westminster Abbey.
Toby Melville/Pool/AP
The Queen walks toward the Gold State Coach after leaving Westminster Abbey.
Toby Melville/Pool/Getty Images
Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey after the ceremony. He did not join members of his family to ride in an impressive procession back to the palace. Instead, he got into a car alone and departed the abbey shortly after the service had ended.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
Troops march in London for the King's coronation. On their way back to Buckingham Palace, the King and Queen were accompanied by a huge parade of soldiers, musicians and horses.
Toby Hancock/CNN
The King and Queen travel to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Carl Court/Pool/AP
The Gold State Coach carries the King and Queen back to Buckingham Palace.
Sebastien Bozon/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
A horse, apparently spooked, rears back into a crowd and
crashes into a barrier during the procession. The animal was quickly brought back under control.
Toby Hancock/CNN
Prince William heads back to Buckingham Palace with Catherine and their three children: Louis, George and Charlotte.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
Military groups take part in the parade from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
The Gold State Coach that carried the King and Queen
is incredibly heavy, weighing 4 tons. Because of its weight, it can travel only at a walking pace.
Peter Byrne/Pool/AP
The King and Queen arrive at the palace to receive a
royal salute from members of the military.
Andreea Alexandru/AP
The Red Arrows, the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force, fly over Buckingham Palace as members of the public watch nearby.
Hannah McKay/Reuters
Some members of the royal family appear on the palace balcony after the coronation. From left are Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh; Princess Charlotte; Princess Anne; Catherine, Princess of Wales; Prince Louis; Prince William; and Oliver Cholmondeley.
Toby Hancock/CNN
The crowd outside Buckingham Palace watches the Red Arrows fly by as the royals stand on the balcony.
Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images
The King's eldest grandson, Prince George, stands on the palace balcony between two other boys who like him served as pages of honor for the coronation: Oliver Cholmondeley, left, and Nicholas Barclay.
Chris Jackson/Pool/AP
The King and Queen wave to people from the palace balcony.
Leon Neal/Pool/AP
The King and Queen look at each other on the balcony. They gave an
encore wave to the crowd after initially going back inside.
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/AP
The King and Queen pose for a portrait flanked by "working royals" — members of the family who carry out official duties on behalf of the monarch.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
Musicians play while people take part in the "Coronation Big Lunch" in London on Sunday. Thousands of community events took place across the country to
commemorate the King's coronation.
Jordan Pettitt/PA/AP
US first lady Jill Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speak during a "Coronation Big Lunch" event on Downing Street.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Sylvia Daw leaves her cottage to celebrate in Alfriston, England.
Leon Neal/PA/AP
Princess Anne, the King's sister, presents a young girl with a commemorative tin of old coins during celebrations in Swindon, England.
Leon Neal/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
The crowd inside the Windsor Castle grounds waves flags as Sunday's "Coronation Concert" gets underway.
Abbie Trayler-Smith for CNN
A child sleeps on a makeshift throne at a street party in London's Brixton district.
Yui Mok/Pool/Reuters
Lionel Richie performs on the castle grounds. He performed his hit songs "Easy" and "All Night Long (All Night)."
Leon Neal/Pool/Reuters
Katy Perry dedicated her song "Firework" to King Charles.
Mark Large/Pool/Reuters
From left, Prince William, Queen Camilla, King Charles and Baroness Patricia Scotland attend the concert.
Chris Jackson/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of '90s British pop group Take That perform backed by military drummers.
Yui Mok/Pool/Getty Images
Prince William speaks on stage. "I want to say a few words about my father, and why I believe this weekend is so important," he said. "But don't worry, unlike Lionel, I won't go on all night long."
Carl Recine/Reuters
The Blackpool Tower in England is illuminated to mark the King's coronation.