As the bells at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral rang out for the first time since Sir Winston Churchill’s death 27 years ago, public figures around the world paid their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf said the “grand old lady” had “served Britain with humour and elegance to the end”. US president George Bush, recalled the Queen Mother as “a pillar of strength and inspiration to many people all over the world” while UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said she had “won a special place in the hearts of countless people”.
Prime Minister Tony Blair was one of the first to honour the 101-year-old with words of praise. “During her long extraordinary life, her grace, her sense of duty and her remarkable zest for life made her loved and admired by people of all ages and backgrounds, revered within our borders and beyond,” he said.
Wartime entertainer Dame Vera Lynn paid a fond remembrance to the Queen Mother, whom she first met during World War II. A Forties pin-up nicknamed the “forces’ sweetheart” during the war, the We’ll Meet Again singer talked about the unique qualities that endeared the Queen Mum to the public. “I think what was so special about her was that she really loved people,” she said. “She spoke to you… and this warmth came out.”
Lady Margaret Thatcher remembered the Queen Mum as “an extraordinary person”. “Her death is more than a source of grief to the royal family,” she said. “It is an irreplaceable loss to the whole nation.”
Former Prime Minister John Major summed up the thoughts of many when he expressed his sentiments: “Our country is the richer for her life and the poorer at her death.”
Parliament will be recalled on Wednesday for a special session of the Commons and the Lords, with Tony Blair scheduled to lead tributes to the late centenarian. Flags on all public buildings will be flown at half mast until midnight on April 9, the day of the funeral.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
