Queen Elizabeth dies: World leaders, celebrities remember the monarch
Queen Elizabeth II: What you need to know The Queen is the 40th monarch since William the Conqueror became King of England in 1066. (NCD)
ByLauren Silver, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
World leaders past and present, including presidents Jimmy Carter, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, honored Queen Elizabeth II after her death Thursday.
In a statement, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era. In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known her country without her.” In the statement, the couple said they “look forward to continuing a close friendship with The King and The Queen Consort.”
In a post on Truth Social, former President Donald Trump said: “Melania and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. … Queen Elizabeth’s historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain. Her leadership and enduring diplomacy secured and advanced alliances with the United States and countries around the world. … Melania and I will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was — there was nobody like her!”
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn offered their condolences, saying, “Her dignity, graciousness, and sense of duty have been an inspiration, and we join the millions around the world in mourning a remarkable leader.”
In a statement, former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle said, “through periods of prosperity and stagnation — from the moon landing to the digital age — she served as a beacon of hope and stability for the people of the United Kingdom and the world. … Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us. Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity. Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.”
Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who left office this week, said in a statement: “This is our country’s saddest day. In the hearts of every one of us there is an ache at the passing of our Queen, a deep and personal sense of loss — far more intense, perhaps, than we expected. … 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.”
In a statement on Twitter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, “It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the Ukrainian people, we extend sincere condolences to the Royal Family, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the 🇺🇦 people, we extend sincere condolences to the @RoyalFamily, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister tweeted that the queen “was a constant presence in our lives.”
“Her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our history,” Trudeau wrote.
It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.
The President of Estonia, Alar Karis, remembered the monarch in a statement, saying, “She understood the changing world and inspired us to embrace change. Her steadfast dedication to her country and people is deeply admired. Her wise, balanced, warm and affectionate attitude towards everyone has been a constant source of inspiration.”
I am deeply saddened and offer my heartfelt condolences to the @RoyalFamily and the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The memory of the Queen Elizabeth II will last forever. pic.twitter.com/MCyJNDtYzG
FA, the governing body of football in the U.K., sent their condolences to the royal family on Twitter.
The European Space Agency remembered Queen Elizabeth II, saying, “Her Majesty witnessed the dawn of the space age, meeting astronauts from Neil Armstrong to Britain’s own Tim Peake.”
ESA is saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Her Majesty witnessed the dawn of the space age, meeting astronauts from Neil Armstrong, to Britain’s own Tim Peake, who gifted her with the union flag patch from his spacewalk during the Principia mission https://t.co/MwjAHzF1MY
Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar for playing Queen Elizabeth II in the movie “The Queen” in 2006, said, ‘I am proud to be an Elizabethan. We mourn a woman, who, with or without the crown, was the epitome of nobility.”
Musician Elton John said on Twitter, “Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She was an inspiring presence to be around and led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth. Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly.”
Ozzy Osbourne said on Twitter, “I mourn with my country the passing of our greatest Queen. With a heavy heart I say it is devastating the thought of England without Queen Elizabeth II.”
I mourn with my country the passing of our greatest Queen. With a heavy heart I say it is devastating the thought of England without Queen Elizabeth II pic.twitter.com/JZYXGRz2hb
The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger said, “For my whole life her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has always been there. In my childhood I can recall watching her wedding highlights on TV. I remember her as a beautiful young lady, to the much beloved grandmother of the nation. My deepest sympathies are with the royal family.”
For my whole life Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has always been there. In my childhood I can recall watching her wedding highlights on TV. I remember her as a beautiful young lady, to the much beloved grandmother of the nation. My deepest sympathies are with the Royal family. pic.twitter.com/3JLILZDKwK
Even fictional characters joined in the remembrances. Paddington Bear, a fixture of British children’s literature, said simply on Twitter, “Thank you Ma’am, for everything.”
Hamilton, currently playing in London’s West End, shared their condolences with the royals, saying, “Everyone at Hamilton is deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen and we offer our sincere condolences to the Royal Family. We join together with the people of the United Kingdom and around the world in mourning her loss.”
Even smaller organizations remembered the monarch for her powerful impact. The Mammal Society posted on Twitter, “We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.”
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II ❤️ https://t.co/O3xVxDd4p5
Soccer great Pele said that Elizabeth’s “deeds have marked generations.”
“This legacy will last forever.”
I have been a great admirer of Queen Elizabeth II since the first time I saw her in person, in 1968, when she came to Brazil to witness our love for football and experienced the magic of a packed Maracanã.
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world India Rodgers, 3, lays flowers outside the British Embassy after the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced on September 8, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world US President Joe Biden signs a condolences book with First Lady Jill Biden while paying respects following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, at the British embassy in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world The Empire State Building in New York City lit up in purple and sparkled in silver n tribute to Queen Elizabeth II who died on Thursday at the age of 96, ending the longest reign of any British monarch, in New York on September 8, 2022. (Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world The lights of the Eiffel Tower are turned off in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022, in Paris. (Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world A sign adorns the steps to Parliament House on September 9, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Sam Tabone/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world A sign adorns the steps to Parliament House on September 9, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Sam Tabone/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Administrator of the State of NSW Andrew Bell carry floral tributes for Queen Elizabeth II at Government House on September 9, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world Floral tributes for Queen Elizabeth II are seen at Government House on September 9, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, watched by the Governor-General's husband Dr. Richard Davies, marks the death of Queen Elizabeth II by signing the official condolence book at parliament on September 9, 2022, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Lynn Grieveson/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world Flags on the Harbour Bridge fly at half mast on September 9, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world A billboard paying tribute to the life of Queen Elizabeth II is pictured on a central city street corner on September 9, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world Members of a ballet company lay flowers outside the British embassy following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, in Tokyo on September 9, 2022. (YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world A woman arrives with flowers outside the British High Commission gate to mourn the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Singapore on September 9, 2022. (ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II mourned around the world A sign is seen in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her death was announced on September 8, 2022, in Toronto, Ontario. (Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
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Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1936: Princess Elizabeth sitting on a garden seat with two corgi dogs at her home on 145 Piccadilly, London, in July 1936. (Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1936: Princess Elizabeth walks one of her corgi dogs in London's Hyde Park in 1936. (London Express/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1944: Princess Elizabeth holding Sue, a corgi pup, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on May 30, 1944. (Lisa Sheridan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1945: Princess Elizabeth, standing by an Auxiliary Territorial Service first aid truck wearing an officer's uniform. (Keystone/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1947: Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip leaving Westminister Abbey after their royal wedding on Nov. 20, 1947. (Frank Scherschel/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1947: Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, with her husband Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, after their marriage on Nov. 20, 1947. (Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1951: Princess Elizabeth of England represents the King at a colorful trooping ceremony on June 7, 1951. (Bettmann via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1952: Queen Elizabeth II of England at Balmoral Castle with one of her corgis on Sept. 28, 1952. (Bettmann via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1953: Queen Elizabeth II wearing a gown designed by Norman Hartnell for her coronation ceremony on June 4, 1953. (Central Press/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1960: The queen mother (left) with young Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II at Princess Margaret's wedding at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, 1960. (Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1965: Queen Elizabeth II arrives in Munich on an official visit to West Germany on May 27, 1965. (Paul Schutzer/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1967: The queen during the 1967 State Opening of Parliament. (Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1967: London, Liverpool Street Station, Queen Elizabeth Ii And Her Dog Gorgie In January 1967. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1968: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend a service for the Order of St. Michael and St. George at St. Paul's Cathedral, London, on July 24, 1968. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1968: Queen Elizabeth at Liverpool Street Station with two of her pet corgis on Feb. 8, 1968. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1970: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles radiantly during a picture-taking session in the salon at Sandringham House on Feb. 4, 1970. Her pet dog looks up at her. (Bettmann via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1970: Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to New Zealand in March 1970. (William Lovelace/Daily Express/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1972: Queen Elizabeth II with her dogs in her study in 1972. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1972: Queen Elizabeth II with her dogs at Liverpool Street Station in London on Dec. 28, 1972. (Peter King/Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1974: Queen Elizabeth ll arrives at Aberdeen Airport with her corgis to start her holidays in Balmoral, Scotland, in 1974. (Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1976: Queen Elizabeth II with one of her favorite dogs at the Badminton Horse Trials in April 1976. (Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1977: Queen Elizabeth II poses for a silver jubilee portrait in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace on Feb. 6, 1977. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1978: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England with the Imperial State Crown. (NBCU Photo Bank)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years Circa 1980: Queen Elizabeth II relaxes at Sandringham with her corgis. (Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years Circa 1980: Queen Elizabeth II, wearing a green coat and matching hat, laughing as she attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show, held at Home Park in Windsor, Berkshire, England, Great Britain, circa 1980. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1980: Queen Elizabeth II at a banquet during an official visit to Switzerland. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1982: The queen and Prince Philip chatting during the Royal Windsor Horse Show on the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 16, 1982. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1987: The queen in the green room at Windsor Castle on Nov. 20, 1987. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 1992: Queen Elizabeth II wearing a formal evening dress for a banquet on board the Royal Yacht Britannia during her visit to France on June 11, 1992. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2004: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II delivers her speech in the chamber of the House of Lords, Westminster, in London on Nov. 23, 2004. Security was the key theme of the queen's speech. (KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2006: Queen Elizabeth ll wears the Imperial State Crown at the state opening of Parliament on Nov. 15, 2006, in London. (Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2008: Queen Elizabeth ll attends a state banquet at Brdo Castle on the first day of a state visit to Slovenia on October 21, 2008, in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Pool/Anwar Hussein/WireImage)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2008: Queen Elizabeth II attends a state banquet at the Philharmonic Hall on the first day of a tour of Slovakia on October 23, 2008, in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2010: Queen Elizabeth II leaves the Venue Cymru Arena after a visit on April 27, 2010, in Llandudno, Wales. The queen and Duke of Edinburgh are on a two-day visit to North Wales. (Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2015: Queen Elizabeth II meets guests during a state banquet at the Schloss Bellevue Palace on the second day of a four-day state visit on June 24, 2015, in Berlin. (Chris Jackson - WPA Rota/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2015: Queen Elizabeth II prepares to greet Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev at Buckingham Palace on November 4, 2015, in London. (Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2016: Queen Elizabeth II tours Queen Mother Square on October 27, 2016, in Poundbury, Dorset. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2018: Queen Elizabeth II and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit Chester Town Hall on June 14, 2018, in Chester, England. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2018: Queen Elizabeth II during the state banquet in Buckingham Palace on October 23, 2018, in London, United Kingdom. (Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2019: Queen Elizabeth II watches her hoses Lancer IV and Tower Bridge compete at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Home Park on May 8, 2019, in Windsor, England. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2019: Queen Elizabeth II attends the Order of the Garter service at St. George's Chapel on June 17, 2019, in Windsor, England. (Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2019: Queen Elizabeth II attends the Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2019, in Ascot, England. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2019: Queen Elizabeth II and Charles, Prince of Wales, attend the state opening of Parliament in the House of Lords chamber on December 19, 2019, in London. (Paul Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2019: Queen Elizabeth II talks to guests at an evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace on December 11, 2019, in London. (Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2020: Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the headquarters of MI5 at Thames House on February 25, 2020, in London. MI5 is the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency. (Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2020: Queen Elizabeth II rides Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old fell pony, in Windsor Home Park in May 2020 in Windsor, England. (Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2020: In this photo illustration, Anne, Princess Royal, and Queen Elizabeth II speak to carers via video call to mark Carers Week 2020 on June 11, 2020, in London. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2020: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks with staff during a visit to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down science park on October 15, 2020, near Salisbury, England. (Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2020: Queen Elizabeth II (left) talks with Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as they wait to thank local volunteers and key workers for the work they are doing during the coronavirus pandemic and over Christmas in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle on December 8, 2020, in Windsor, England. (Glyn Kirk - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2021: In this undated image released on March 7, 2021, Queen Elizabeth II signs her annual Commonwealth Day Message in St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle, to mark Commonwealth Day, in Windsor, England. (Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2021: Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the Royal Australian Air Force Memorial on March 31, 2021, near Egham, England. (Steve Reigate - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2021: Queen Elizabeth II follows Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's coffin during his funeral at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021, in Windsor, England. (Paul Edwards-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2021: Queen Elizabeth II watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, into St. George’s Chapel by the pallbearers during his funeral at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021, in Windsor, United Kingdom. (Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2021: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, right, walks with U.S. President Joe Biden during his visit to Windsor Castle, near London, on Sunday, June 13, 2021. (Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2021: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greet guests at a reception for the Global Investment Summit in Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, Pool)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2022: In this photo released by Royal Windsor Horse Show on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, and taken in March 2022, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photo with her Fell ponies Bybeck Nightingale, right, and Bybeck Katie on the grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor. (henrydallalphotography.com/Royal Windsor Horse Show via AP)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2022: Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade the Trooping the Colour parade on June 2, 2022, in London. (Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Queen Elizabeth II through the years 2022: Queen Elizabeth greets newly elected leader of the Conservative Party Liz Truss as she arrives at Balmoral Castle for an audience where she will be invited to become Prime Minister and form a new government on September 6, 2022, in Aberdeen, Scotland. (Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images)