By Barnabas Esiet.
People across the world are grieving the death of Britain’s longest-reigning queen, Elizabeth II, as World leaders and public figures react to her demise.
According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, The Queen of England died peacefully at her residence in Scotland,
She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, as she took the throne in 1952 at the age of 25.
Her eldest son King Charles III, is expected to succeed the late queen.
Reacting to her exit, UN Secretary-Genera,l Antonio Guterres said Queen Elizabeth was widely admired.
“As the United Kingdom’s longest-lived and longest-reigning head of state, Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired for her grace, dignity and dedication around the world. She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change,” Guterres said.
In a statement, the White House expressed deep sympathies, noting the queen was a leading ally of the United States.
“Our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the queen (and) to the people of the United Kingdom,” said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.
EU leaders also expressed regret at the death of the queen. “Once called ‘Elizabeth the Steadfast’, she never failed to show us the importance of lasting values in a modern world with her service and commitment,” EU council president Charles Michel tweeted.
President Emmanuel Macron and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed grief over the death of the queen.
A statement issued by King Charles III on the death of his mother, reads: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.”
Analysts say Queen Elizabeth’s major achievement during her long reign was preserving the popularity of the British monarchy despite political, social and cultural change that threatened to outdate the throne.
Some describe her reign as a “golden age” suggestive of that of her predecessor, Elizabeth I, who ruled England 400 years ago during a period of growing power and cultural rebirth while others say the late queen’s impact on the nation was less than that of her progenitor.
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