February 8, 2025

Secretary-General António Guterres expressed on Thursday, his deep sadness at the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

As the UK’s longest-living and longest-reigning Head of State, the 96-year-old Queen is widely admired for her “grace, dignity and dedication to the world,” she said in a statement.

“He was a reassuring presence over decades of great change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth”.

‘Good friend’ of the Organization

Queen Elizabeth II is a “good friend of the United Nations”, he said, recalling that he had visited the New York Headquarters twice, more than fifty years apart.

“He is deeply committed to many humanitarian and environmental causes and spoke passionately to delegates at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow,” the UN chief recalled.

“I want to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II for her unwavering, lifelong dedication to serving her people.”

‘Devotion and leadership’

Mr. Guterres extends his sincere condolences to his bereaved family, the Government and people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the wider Commonwealth of Nations.

“The world will long remember his devotion and leadership,” he concluded.

Last days in Scotland

Queen Elizabeth II died at the estate known as Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which served as a royal summer retreat.

Last year, he handed over some royal duties to his eldest son, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, including presiding over the state opening of Parliament in May. This is the first time since 1963 that the Queen did not attend the ceremony.

The Queen is passing through a vulnerable moment politically following the recent resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. New Prime Minister Liz Truss traveled on Tuesday to the royal castle in Scotland, to formally ask to form a government.

He became the 15th prime minister to hold the post during the queen’s reign – the first being Winston Churchill.

Life of a queen

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne after the death of her father King George VI on 6 February 1952, aged just 25.

He was crowned in June the following year.

In February, the UK began a series of celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of her service to the British Commonwealth.

Throughout her tenure, the Monarch served as Britain’s living link to World War II, presided over an adjustment to the post-colonial era and saw the country through what some called “a bitter divorce” from in the European Union during Brexit.

Farewell

Following the announcement of his death, crowds outside Buckingham Palace continued to grow as others braved the heavy rain at Balmoral.

The royal family’s official website went offline immediately after her death but posted that the queen died peacefully.

It added that his son Charles and his wife Camilla, the King and Queen Consort, “will stay at Balmoral tonight and return to London tomorrow”.

According to the news media, there will be 10 days of mourning before his funeral.

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