Bidding Adieu to Britain's Longest-Reigning Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II (96)
Queen Elizabeth II, whose rein took Britain from the age of steam to the era of the smartphone and oversaw the largely peaceful breakup of an empire that once spanned the world, has demised. She was 96.
She passed away peacefully at her estate in Balmoral, Scotland, on the afternoon of Sept. 8, as per a statement from Buckingham Palace.
Succeeding the throne in 1952, Elizabeth led the UK through a time of political convulsion. She started her reign as head of an empire, though in decline. By the time of her death, the future of the UK itself was in suspicion, with recurrent calls for independence in Scotland and Britain's exit from the European Union directing to renewed tension in Northern Ireland.
Elizabeth became the UK's longest-serving monarch in 2015 when she surpassed the record of Queen Victoria, who had ruled from 1837 to 1901. The partner Elizabeth described as her "strength and stay," Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years, died in April 2021, at 99.
Her eldest son, Charles, succeeds her on the throne as King Charles III.
"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother," he stated. "I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country."
World leaders’ tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
Presidents, Prime Ministers, monarchs, and leaders worldwide have paid tribute to the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II, many reflecting on a 70-year reign that encompassed some of the most turbulent and decisive moments in modern British and world history.
PM Narendra Modi remembered his "memorable" meetings with Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 and 2018, expressing he would "never forget her warmth and kindness."
"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a stalwart of our times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. She personified dignity and decency in public life. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and people of UK in this sad hour," he said.
The US president, Joe Biden, and the first lady, Jill Biden, said: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era.”
In a world of constant change, they added, she had been “a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her.”
The Bidens also cited that the Queen – “a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy” – had “endured the dangers and deprivations of a world war alongside the British people and rallied them during the devastation of a global pandemic to look to better days ahead.”
Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin extended his condolences to King Charles for the “irreparable loss” of his mother, saying the Queen had “rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage”.
He further said, “I wish you courage and resilience in the face of this difficult, irreparable loss. May I ask you to pass on sincere condolences and support to members of the royal family and the entire people of Great Britain.”
Ireland’s president, Michael D Higgins, described the late monarch as “a remarkable friend of Ireland” as he offered his condolences to the royal family.
“Her Majesty served the British people with exceptional dignity,” he said. “Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as Queen, which will hold a unique place in British history.”
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, entitled the Queen “a constant presence in our lives” and said his compatriots would always “remember and cherish Her Majesty’s wisdom, compassion, and warmth”.
‘The Queen loved France, which loved her back’. Minutes after the Queen’s death was proclaimed, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, posted a simple picture of the Queen on his Twitter account, unaccompanied by any words.
In a consequent message, he wrote: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century.
The president of Pakistan, Arif Alvi, proffered his “sincere condolences to the royal family, the government, and the people of Great Britain on the sad demise of Queen Elizabeth II, the second longest-reigning monarch in the history of Great Britain”.
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, offered Britain’s royal family “heartfelt and deep sympathies”, her spokesperson said. The leader of the former British colony “offered her deep condolences and expressed her sorrow at the death of Queen Elizabeth II”.
The Bangladeshi president, M Abdul Hamid, the ceremonial head of state, “expressed profound shock and sorrow” and “conveyed deepest sympathy” to the royal family, the state-run BSS news agency said.
Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, said he was saddened to learn of Queen Elizabeth’s death and sent his deepest condolences to the royal family and the people and government of the UK.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, said flags would fly at half-mast and arrangements would be made for a state memorial service. “I know that I speak for people across New Zealand in offering our deepest sympathy to members of the royal family at the passing of the Queen,” said Ardern. “To us she was a much-admired and respected monarch, to them she was a mother and grandmother.”
The Queen’s death also elicited tributes from former world leaders. Barack and Michelle Obama celebrated a reign “defined by grace, elegance, and a tireless work ethic, defying the odds and expectations placed on women of her generation”.
Obama’s successor, Donald Trump, stated the monarch’s “historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain”, while the former US president George W Bush called the late queen “a woman of great intellect, charm, and wit”, and said Americans had always appreciated her “strong and steadfast friendship”.
As night fell through Europe on Thursday, the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, announced the lights of the Eiffel Tower would be switched off in tribute to the Queen.
