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Liz Truss hails Queen as ‘the rock on which modern Britain was built’ in heartfelt tribute
LIZ Truss paid an emotional tribute to Her Majesty tonight - saying she was ";the rock on which modern Britain was built".
The new PM, who was only appointed by the late monarch on Tuesday, addressed the nation in a heartfelt message this evening.
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In a sombre statement, Buckingham Palace today confirmed Her Majesty Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history, had passed away - making her son, Charles, King.
Ms Truss was the 96-year-old Queen's 15th and final PM of her record 70-year reign.
She said the nation would "come together" now to support each other and remember her after the "devastating" news.
And she also revealed the new monarch would be referred to as King Charles III, ending her speech with the words not heard by a PM for 70 years: "God save the King".
Ms Truss said: "The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.
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"Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.
"Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.
"Britain is the great country it is today because of her."
The new PM hailed her for providing us with the "stability and the strength that we needed" and said she had been a "personal inspiration" to her.
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She added: "She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure.
"She was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world."
The PM was told of her death at 4.30pm today.
She has spoken to Charles, the King, and will chair an operational meeting for ministers at 9pm.
The Queen's passing comes as...
- King Charles told of his 'greatest' sadness as he paid tribute to his mother
- The Queen went from a shy daddy's girl to a hero who dedicated her life to the country
- The Union flag flew at half mast as the devastating news was announced
- Prince Charles has now become King Charles III
- Prince Harry was pictured holding his head as he travelled to Balmoral to be with his family
- Crowds have gathered at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral to pay tribute to the Queen
Boris Johnson, who was PM until a few days ago, gave a statement tonight too - saying it was the "country's saddest day".
Mr Johnson said there was an "ache" in the hearts of "every one of us" at the passing of Her Majesty and "wave after wave of grief" was rolling across the world.
He said: "She seemed so timeless and so wonderful that I am afraid we had come to believe, like children, that she would just go on and on.
"We grieve for Elizabeth the Great, the longest serving and in many ways the finest monarch in our history."
The Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, paid his own tribute to Her Majesty.
He said: “Today, we mourn the passing of a remarkable sovereign.
“It is a deep, private loss for the Royal Family and all our thoughts are with them at this time. The nation shares in their grief.
“We will always treasure Queen Elizabeth II’s life of service and devotion to our nation and the Commonwealth; our longest-serving and greatest monarch.
“Above the clashes of politics, she stood not for what the nation fought over, but what it agreed upon. As Britain changed rapidly around her, this dedication became the still point of our turning world.
“So as our great Elizabethan era comes to an end, we will honour the late Queen’s memory by keeping alive the values of public service she embodied.
“For seventy years, Queen Elizabeth II stood as the head of our country. But, in spirit, she stood amongst us.”
Theresa May said it was the honour of her life to serve the Queen, who “was our constant throughout this entire Elizabethan era”.
Mrs May, who had weekly audiences with her between 2016 and 2019 while leader, said: “Her Majesty devoted herself unreservedly to a life of service.
“She was respected and admired not only by her own people but far beyond our family of nations.”
“On the 75th anniversary of VE Day, Her Majesty reminded us to ‘never give up, never despair’.
“It was an address that captured not just the national spirit but Queen Elizabeth’s spirit. A sense of quiet determination, of courage and faith, and of hope in the future.”
The Commons is expected to sit on Saturday and possibly even Sunday, while all other business will be scrapped.
The new PM, Liz Truss, will not be able to make any major announcements for the next ten days as the Government goes into an official mourning period.
Visits, press releases and new policy announcements will all be binned, like in an election period.
It may mean Ms Truss' emergency budget - pencilled in for later this month - will have to be postponed.
But any vital information - like yesterday's energy bills announcement - can still be conveyed to the public.
The new PM will likely swear allegiance to the new King in the next few days, alongside the rest of the Privy Council.
Buckingham Palace said tonight: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
The UK was immediately plunged into a state of mourning, with plans for her funeral and a national day of remembrance to be announced in the coming days.
Her passing comes after Prince Charles and Prince William raced to be by the Queen’s side after doctors confirmed they were “concerned” for her health.
Prior to her death the monarch was said by Buckingham Palace to be “comfortable” at Balmoral, where she remained under medical supervision.
The tireless monarch always put her sense of duty to the UK first, and carried on with engagements just four days after the death of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in April 2021.
The love felt for her by Brits was clear in June when she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee marking 70 incredible years on the throne.
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Her Majesty beamed as royal fans erupted in applause as she entered the balcony at Buckingham Palace to kick off the four-day Bank Holiday.
It came after the Queen made a number of surprise appearances leading up to the celebrations - including at the opening of her namesake new Tube line in May.
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PM statement in full
We are all devastated by the news we have just heard from Balmoral.
The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.
Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.
Britain is the great country it is today because of her.
She ascended the throne just after the Second World War.
She championed the development of the Commonwealth - from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world.
We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation.
Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed. She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure.
She has been our longest-ever reigning monarch. It is an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.
Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.
In return, she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.
She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all.
Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th Prime Minister.
Throughout her life she has visited more than 100 countries and she has touched the lives of millions around the world.
In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends… ….across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world… …to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service.
It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy.
Today the Crown passes - as it is has done for more than a thousand years - to our new monarch, our new head of state: His Majesty King Charles III.
With the King’s family, we mourn the loss of his mother. And as we mourn, we must come together as a people to support him.
To help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all.
We offer him our loyalty and devotion just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long.
And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country, - exactly as Her Majesty would have wished - by saying the words… God save the King.
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