Charles: I miss Queen Mother

Charles put on a brave face for the cameras

The Prince of Wales has admitted publicly that he is missing his grandmother "more than I can possibly say".

In his first official public appearance since the Queen Mother's funeral last week he said how touched he was by the "extraordinary outpouring of affection and devotion" from all walks of life.

Handing out business awards to young entrepreneurs at a St James's Palace ceremony, the Prince said: "The saddest thing for me is not being able to go and talk to her afterwards about something like this.

"She always took a huge interest in the things I was trying to do."

The Prince was speaking after a tribute to the Queen Mother from Fred Goodwin, chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, which was sponsoring his Prince's Trust business awards.

Charles's grief at the funeral was all too evident

Prince Charles said: "I just wanted to say how hugely touched I was by Fred Goodwin's kind words about my beloved grandmother, who I know had such a remarkable effect on so many people, all over the world not just in this country, and it was so wonderful to see such an extraordinary outpouring of affection and devotion over the past 10 days to two weeks.

"I know she would have been deeply touched to say the least, and more than anything proud of this country."

His appearance marked the end of his grieving retreat at Balmoral in Scotland, where he flew one week ago, after the funeral.

He continued: "We would have a good laugh, which was always important.

Her memory will live on in people's hearts for a very long time

Prince Charles

"I shall miss her more than I could possibly say and I'm so grateful to so many people who have written in and shown such incredible sympathy, and said so many marvellous things.

"As far as I'm concerned, I know her memory will live on in so many people's hearts for a very long time to come."

The awards ceremony, for your entrepreneurs who have built businesses with the help of loans from the Prince's Trust, was one of a few official engagements not cancelled during the period of official court mourning, which ends this Friday.

Later on Wednesday, the Prince of Wales also presented actors, architects, celebrities and business personalities with OBEs at an investiture at Buckingham Palace.