London, Europe Brief News – British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Friday said the death of Queen Elizabeth II had caused a “heartfelt outpouring of grief” in Britain and around the world.
Speaking earlier, at the start of a special session of Parliament paying tribute to the Queen, Truss called the monarch “the nation’s greatest diplomat” and said her devotion to duty was an example to everyone.
“On the death of her father, King George VI, Winston Churchill (the then prime minister) said the news had stilled the clatter and traffic of 20th century life in many lands. Now, 70 years later, in the tumult of the 21st century, life has paused again. Her late majesty, Queen Elizabeth II was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. She was the rock on which modern Britain was built,” Truss said.
The prime minister was officially appointed by the Queen on Tuesday, just two days before her death.
Truss said at the meeting, “she generously shared with me her deep experience of government, even in those last days”.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hailed a “Queen of courage and valour” and laid a white rose in front of Elizabeth II’s portrait at the British Embassy in Paris, where he signed the book of condolences for the late sovereign.
“Here, in Paris which she loved so much, as well as everywhere in France, the grief of our compatriots is immense,” he wrote in the register, as seen by AFP.
“For 70 years, Elizabeth II was a Queen of courage and valour, a friend of France. We are by your side,” he added, alongside the British ambassador Menna Rawlings.
The president, dressed in a black suit, then laid a rose in front of a portrait of the Queen before bowing.
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.”
The Bidens also noted 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 added: “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.”
President Xi Jinping of China expressed his “sincere sympathies to the British government and people” in a statement released through state media.
“Xi Jinping, representing the Chinese government and the Chinese people, as well as in his own name, expresses deep condolences,” the statement said. “Her passing is a great loss to the British people.”
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, called 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 state funeral is expected to take place in Westminster Abbey with huge crowds gathering in central London on September 19. The queen’s coffin will be taken to Windsor Castle for a televised committal service at St George’s Chapel.
