William, Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne, paid tribute to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in a statement released on Saturday by Kensington Palace and reproduced in full by PA Media/dpa, Agerpres cites.

“On Thursday the world lost an extraordinary leader whose commitment to country, kingdom and Commonwealth was absolute. So much will be said in the coming days about the significance of his historic reign.

True, I lost my grandmother. And while I will mourn her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful.

I took advantage of the queen’s wisdom and reassurance until my fifth decade of life. My wife has benefited from her guidance and support for 20 years. My three children had the opportunity to spend the holidays with her and create memories that will last a lifetime.

He was by my side in the happiest moments. And he was with me in the saddest days of my life. I knew this day would come, but it would be a while before the reality of life without Grandma became truly real.

I thank him for the kindness he has shown to my family and me. And I thank him on behalf of my generation for an example of commitment and dignity in public life that was from another era, but which has always been relevant to us all.

My grandmother used to say that pain is the price we pay for love. All the sadness we feel in the coming weeks will be a testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary Queen.

I will honor his memory by supporting my father, the king, in any way I can.” – said William.

• Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning sovereign and a powerful presence on the world stage for 70 years, died on Thursday after her health deteriorated. Her son Charles was officially proclaimed king by the Council of Succession on Saturday in a historic ceremony at St James’s Palace.