BBC Breakfast host Roger Johnson paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II during Sunday's live broadcast, as the nation prepares to mark the centenary of her birth. Appearing solo on the red sofa, Johnson announced the establishment of a new charity dedicated to honouring the late Queen's legacy of public service.
The Queen Elizabeth Trust, backed by a one-off government payment of £40 million, will focus on restoring shared spaces and bringing communities back to life. King Charles III will serve as the charity's patron, reflecting his mother's lifelong commitment to public service.
Speaking on the programme, BBC Senior Royal Correspondent Daniela Relph noted that the late Queen would have turned 100 on April 21. She said: "This week, Queen Elizabeth II would have been 100 years old. On Tuesday, her family will remember her at a number of events. The creation of the Queen Elizabeth Trust has been inspired by the late Queen's commitment to public service."
Relph added that the trust's focus will be on restoring areas at the heart of communities, including underused buildings and green spaces.
In a separate development, Buckingham Palace announced that historian and author Dr Anna Keay has been commissioned by the King to write the official authorised biography of Queen Elizabeth II. Dr Keay will have access to the Royal Family and the late Queen's personal and official papers, and expressed her gratitude for being entrusted with the task.
To mark the centenary, BBC One and iPlayer will air "Queen Elizabeth II: Her Story, Our Century" at 9pm tonight. The programme uses archive footage and interviews to explore the late Queen's life and the sweeping changes in Britain during her reign.
