The UK and the world bid farewell to Queen Elizabeth II

The announcement was slow in coming. The news circulated very early that Elizabeth II was in a worrying medical condition. But after her death was confirmed, the reactions inside and outside the UK were almost instantaneous.

Just two days ago the monarch had received the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, the third to hold that position during the reign of Elizabeth II. It was Truss herself who addressed the nation in front of 10 Downing Street and acknowledged that the queen was a role model for her leadership.

“We are ushering in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country, exactly as His Majesty would have wished by pronouncing the words God Save the King,” said the premiere.

But the messages of recognition and condolences to the royal family came from all kinds of ideological currents. The opposition leader head of the Labor Party, Keir Starmer, sentenced through his Twitter account: “Today we mourn the death of a remarkable sovereign.”

Queen Elizabeth was the UK’s longest-serving monarch, witnessing the arrival of fifteen prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss.

And his predecessor, Boris Johnson, whose mandate marked one of the last historical milestones that the queen experienced, the ‘Brexit’, also ruled on his death. “She seemed so timeless and so wonderful that I’m afraid we had come to believe, as children, that she would go on and on,” he said. ex-premier.

At the same time, other UK leaders remembered the queen. So did Nicola Sturgeon, the chief minister of Scotland. “The death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth is a deeply sad moment for the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world. Her life was one of extraordinary dedication and service”, she sentenced.

The same was done by Mark Drakeford, chief minister of Wales, who expressed his sadness at the death and assured that Elizabeth II “strongly defended the values ​​and traditions of the British monarchy.”

Condolences from the Commonwealth

The figure of Queen Elizabeth II was essential for the unity and continuity of the Commonwealth. The group of 54 nations shared values ​​that materialized in the image of the monarch, who dedicated herself to strengthening those ties.

Although not all nations have the queen as their head of state, the last to break the bond was Barbados in 2021. Elizabeth sought to maintain a cordial and close relationship with each of its members.

On the day of her death, many remember her role: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a stalwart of our time (…) She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and her people. She personified dignity and decency in public life,” said India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave a speech in which he assured that the sovereign was “one of my favorite people in the world” and concluded: “I will miss her very much.”

Messages also arrived from the African continent. Ghanaian President Nanan Akufo-Addo said, “The Ghanaian people have fond memories of the two visits he made to Ghana during his reign, and on both occasions we remember the kindness, elegance, style and joy that contributed to the performance of their duties.

Europe bids farewell to Queen Elizabeth II

European leaders rushed to deliver their farewell messages to Queen Elizabeth II. French President Emmanuel Macron said on his Twitter account that “Her Majesty Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the continuity and unity of the British nation for more than 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has made a lasting impression on her country and her century.”

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, also did so: “My condolences to the entire royal family, the Government and the citizens of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth for the death of Queen Elizabeth II. A world-renowned figure, witness and author of British and European history.”

For her part, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recognized the importance of the monarch for European unity. She “she witnessed war and reconciliation in Europe and beyond, and the profound transformations of our planet and our societies.”

Queen Elizabeth II lived through World War II and came to the throne shortly after its end. Because of this, Von der Leyen added that the monarch “was a beacon of continuity throughout these changes, while showing a serenity and dedication that gave strength to many. May she rest in peace.”

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The messages cross the Atlantic

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean there were also pronouncements. US President Joe Biden assured in a joint statement with his wife, Jill Biden, that “in a world in constant change, she was a constant presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who never knew their country. without her”.

Also from the United States, former President Barack Obama said that “time and time again, we were impressed by his warmth, the way he put people at ease and how he brought his considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.”

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