It was with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September. This is a profound national loss.
Her Majesty set the standard of what is expected of those in public life.
On her 21st birthday, the Queen declared she would devote her whole life, whether long or short, to serving her people; a promise that she kept.
The image of the lone monarch obeying coronavirus restrictions at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral provided much-needed reassurance that we were all in it together, all following the same rules.
The Queen will also be remembered for her great compassion, and her ability to express the collective grief felt by all following national tragedies such as Aberfan, Dunblane, and the Grenfell Tower fire.
While we mourn the passing of Her Majesty, I was proud to see councils across the country providing so many opportunities for our communities to pay their respects locally.
“I was proud to see councils across the country providing so many opportunities for our communities to pay their respects locally”
Councils opened public and virtual books of condolence and arranged areas for floral tributes to be displayed.
I am sure councils will continue to find ways to bring people together to celebrate the Queen’s selfless devotion to our country and the Commonwealth.
As Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said in his own tribute in Parliament: “Our Elizabethan age may now be over, but her legacy will live on forever. And as the children of that era, it falls upon us to take that legacy forward.”
As His Majesty King Charles III begins his reign, I send him my deepest sympathy for the loss of his mother.
Every council conducted a proclamation ceremony to announce the new King, and I have no doubt he will follow the inspiring example set by his mother.
All of us in local government will give him our very best wishes as he takes on this great responsibility, and will be proud to serve him.
May our Queen rest in peace. God save the King.