Britain’s ‘saddest day’: tributes to Queen pour in
Global leaders praise ‘steady grace’ and ‘warmth’ of monarch who ‘defined an era’
King Charles III has led tributes to his “beloved mother”, describing her passing as a “moment of great sadness” for him and his family that would be “deeply felt” around the world.
Liz Truss said Queen Elizabeth II was “the rock on which modern Britain was built”. Britain “is the great country it is today because of her”, the new prime minister continued in a statement from Downing Street.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said the country would “always treasure Queen Elizabeth II’s life of service and devotion to our nation and the Commonwealth”. House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said Her Majesty had “exercised a calm and steadying influence over our country”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Boris Johnson said that the passing yesterday of “Elizabeth the Great” marked Britain’s “saddest day” and that “wave after wave of grief is rolling across the world”.
“In the hearts of every one of us there is an ache at the passing of the Queen, a deep and personal sense of loss,” added the former Tory leader in his tribute to the monarch, who accepted his resignation as PM on Tuesday.
That sentiment was echoed by the “spiritual leader to the Church of England of which the monarch is supreme governor”, the BBC reported. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby expressed his “profound sadness” and said his “prayers are with the King and the Royal Family”.
Leaders from across the world joined in paying tribute to the monarch and her “remarkable reign”, said Sky News. Emmanuel Macron recalled “a kind-hearted Queen” who was “a friend of France”. Joe Biden described her as “more than a monarch”, saying she “defined an era”.
Canada’s Justin Trudeau said that “in a complicated world, her steady grace and resolve brought comfort to us all”.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Queen's “empathy and ability to connect with every passing generation, while remaining rooted in the tradition that truly mattered to her, was an example of true leadership”.
China’s Xi Jinping said “her passing is a great loss to the British people”, while India’s PM Narendra Modi tweeted that he would “never forget her warmth and kindness”.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Church of England's legacy of slavery
The Explainer Should the CofE offer financial redress for its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade?
By The Week UK Published
-
Baffin Island: looking for narwhal in Arctic Canada
The Week Recommends An exploration of this island between mainland Canada and Greenland is ideal for the adventurous at heart
By The Week UK Published
-
Sudan's year of civil war: 'the world has turned its back'
Talking Point
By The Week UK Published
-
Modern royal scandals from around the world
The Explainer From Spain to the UAE, royal families have often been besieged by negative events
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
King Charles at 75: how the monarch has made his mark
Talking Point 'Modernising monarch' puts change on hold in first year in favour of stability and continuity
By The Week UK Published
-
Royal family website attacked by Russian hackers
Speed Read Pro-Kremlin group claim responsibility just two weeks after King Charles condemns invasion of Ukraine
By The Week Staff Published
-
What have we learned in King Charles’s first year?
Today's Big Question The monarch is ‘stamping his personality’ on the role and is definitely not a ‘caretaker’, says Palace source
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
What would the UK be like without a monarchy?
Today's Big Question The British public still broadly favours the royals but support is waning among younger people
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet Published
-
Pros and cons of British colonial reparations
feature Should the U.K. be forced to pay for its historic subjugations?
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Coronation protests: did the Met overreact?
Talking Point 52 arrests were a ‘direct attack on freedom of speech’ said some commentators
By The Week Staff Published
-
The highlights and lowlights from King’s coronation weekend
feature Music, mischief and Penny Mordaunt widely praised, while Met Police arresting protesters provokes criticism
By Harriet Marsden Published