Prince William Gets Emotional Over The Queen In First Speech Since Her Death

William, Prince of Wales, is still mourning the loss of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8. The queen, 96, died "peacefully" at her home at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, according to a statement from the palace that was shared on Instagram. A few weeks later, the queen's cause of death was confirmed as "old age," according to a document published by National Records of Scotland (via People). 

Following her death, the queen's eldest son Charles became king. The line of succession moved up, with William becoming the Prince of Wales and his wife, the first Princess of Wales since Princess Diana. That said, William and Kate's roles within the royal family have grown and both will take on additional responsibilities along with their new titles. In his first speech as king, Charles said that William and Kate will "continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the center ground, where vital help can be given," according to CBS News. 

And while the monarchy will continue on with its matriarch, it's clear that the queen's impact on her family will not soon be forgotten. In fact, in William's first speech as the Prince of Wales, he got emotional talking about his grandmother.

William, Prince of Wales, was on-hand at the United for Wildlife Global Summit on Tuesday, October 4, where he gave his first speech in his new role. "Our natural world is one of our greatest assets," William said, according to People magazine. "It is a lesson I learnt from a young age, from my father and grandfather, both committed naturalists in their own right, and also from my much-missed grandmother, who cared so much for the natural world," he continued, adding, "in times of loss, it is a comfort to honor those we miss through the work we do. I take great comfort then from the progress we are making to end the illegal wildlife trade."

William was incredibly close to his grandmother, who was not only an incredible leader and a role model for him, but also a source of love and comfort. Queen Elizabeth was there for William and his younger brother Prince Harry when their mother died in 1997. After the queen's death, William was sure to mention that he was mourning the loss of a loved one — someone who was close to him. "I...have lost a grandmother. And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen's wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade," he shared in a statement posted on Twitter.