tv BBC News Special BBC News September 9, 2022 10:00am-12:59pm BST
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the death of his mother. woke interviews in the uk and around the world as we bring a second day of special coverage following the death of queen elizabeth ii. britain's longest serving monarch. why flags are flying at half mast on landmark buildings around the uk and the common law. in the last hour, buckingham palace has announced a period of royal morning which will be observed until seven days after the queen's funeral, which will be confirmed the date of in due course. we will bring you the latest reaction from balmoral to buckingham palace and across the world. we're also looking ahead a day of events marking the death of been elizabeth and preparing for the state funeral.
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today king charles iii will travel to london with his wife camilla, now queen consort. the king will hold an audience with the prime minister, liz truss. parliament will gather at noon for mps to pay their respects to the queen. also, at midday, bell's will tell in tribute to the queen at westminster abbey, and windsor castle among other places across the nation. at 1pm, gun salutes will be fired in hyde park, edinburgh castle and elsewhere. there will be 96 rounds fired, one for each year of the queen's lie. later today the king is to make his first televised address to the nation. it will be his first address, of course, as head of state. and let me show you this image we have just received from aberdeen airport. that is prince harry boarding a plane to london. he
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arrived at balmoral at approximately 8p in last night and leftjust after eight this morning. —— 8pm last night. our royal correspondent daniela relph has been looking back at the final days and weeks of the queen's life. the final images we have — queen elizabeth ii still carrying out duties into herfinal days. on tuesday, at balmoral, she welcomed the new prime minister. these photos, the record of her last official engagement — bringing to an end seven decades of service. yesterday afternoon at aberdeen airport, several senior members of the royal family arrived to be with the queen. the duke of cambridge drove the duke of york, and earl and countess of wessex to balmoral. prince charles, the new king, was already there with his wife, and his sister princess anne. harry, the duke of sussex, arrived separately later in the evening.
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here in the uk this week with his wife for a number of charity events, meghan, the duchess of sussex, did not accompany him to scotland. at 6:30, in a statement ofjust 26 words, buckingham palace announced the queen had died peacefully earlier in the afternoon. as is tradition, the statement was attached to the palace gates by two footmen, as tributes to britain's longest—reigning monarch began. queen elizabeth ii was the rock on which modern britain was built. our country has grown and flourished under her reign. she was the very spirit of great britain, and that spirit will endure. she has been our longest—ever—reigning monarch. it's an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years. and with the passing of the second elizabethan age, we usher in a new era
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in the magnificent history of our great country — exactly as her majesty would have wished — by saying the words "god save the king". and heartfelt words, too, from the leader of the opposition. for the vast majority of us, the late queen has been simply the queen. the only queen. above all else, our queen. as we mourn her loss, we should also treasure her life. our longest—serving and greatest—ever monarch. above the clashes of politics, she stood not for what the nation fought over, but what it agreed upon. cheering cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's last royal engagements was injuly — with her daughter, princess anne, opening a new state—of—the—art hospice in berkshire. but these kinds of visits had become rare over the past year, as the queen relied on her walking
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stick, her mobility compromised. the royal household had tried to adapt, to keep her active and visible. a golf buggy at the chelsea flower show helped the queen stay comfortable. but she had become noticeably thinner and frailer — something that severely limited her involvement in her own platinum jubilee. although her sense of fun as part of those celebrations was undiminished. perhaps you would like a marmalade sandwich. i always keep one for emergencies. so do i. i keep mine in here. happy jubilee, ma'am. and thank you — for everything. that's very kind. now, as we remember and reflect, the royalfamily enters a period of mourning.
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a state funeral is expected within the next two weeks. it will be a period of time when aspects of national life are put on hold. daniela relph, bbc news. the queen's coffin will lie in state in westminster hall, allowing members of the public to pay their own personal respects. as news of the queen's death spread around the world, many people have continued to pay their respects to the monarch considered to be the face of britain for the past 70 years. bells toll the bells of sydney town hall in australia tolled 96 times, one for each year of her life. and in the japanese capital tokyo, mourners laid flowers outside the british embassy. world leaders have also been paying their tributes. here's canadian prime
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ministerjustin trudeau. it is with the deepest of sorrow that we learn today of the passing of her majesty, queen elizabeth ii. she was our queen for almost half of canada's existence, and she had an obvious, deep and abiding love and affection for canadians. my colleague annita mcveigh is at the queen's estate at balmoral in scotland. that is a course where the queen passed away yesterday. we know that prince harry, is on his way back to london? , , , ., , london? clyde, yes, that is right. he left balmoral— london? clyde, yes, that is right. he left balmoral a _ london? clyde, yes, that is right. he left balmoral a little _ london? clyde, yes, that is right. he left balmoral a little while - london? clyde, yes, that is right. he left balmoral a little while ago and i believe he is at aberdeen airport as we speak on his return
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journey to london. as far as we are aware, the rest of the royal family, the immediate royal family, who travel to be with the queen yesterday at balmoral, they are still here, but we do expect the new king, as we must get used to saying, to leave here along with the queen consort, camilla, a little later today to return to london where he will have many duties to undertake, while mourning the loss of his mother. this is a place that she loved so well. she spent many periods during her childhood here, part of her honeymoon here, and holidayed here at balmoral every summer. and this morning we have seen a steady, growing stream of people coming with floral tributes. i had a little look at some of those earlier. one simply said amazing lady, god bless. another had the words, just "thanks", another had the robbie burns poem, my heart is in the highlands, attached to the
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bouquet of flowers. let's move on to what we know about the movements of the royal family with our royal correspondent sarah campbell who is with me. what do we know about the royals who are still here at balmoral and what their movements might be? balmoral and what their movements miaht be? , balmoral and what their movements miuhtbe? , , . ., might be? yesterday, it became clear that something _ might be? yesterday, it became clear that something was _ might be? yesterday, it became clear that something was very _ might be? yesterday, it became clear that something was very serious - that something was very serious because — that something was very serious because members of the royal family rushed _ because members of the royal family rushed to _ because members of the royal family rushed to be here yesterday. prince charles _ rushed to be here yesterday. prince charles and — rushed to be here yesterday. prince charles and princess and the princess— charles and princess and the princess royal were already in scotland — princess royal were already in scotland on engagement so they were here relatively quickly, then a private — here relatively quickly, then a private jet arrived with prince william, _ private jet arrived with prince william, who is now the heir to the throne, _ william, who is now the heir to the throne, with— william, who is now the heir to the throne, with the earl and countess of wessex, — throne, with the earl and countess of wessex, and also with andrew the duke of— of wessex, and also with andrew the duke of york, so that meant all of her childrerr— duke of york, so that meant all of her children were here, and prince william, _ her children were here, and prince william, and later in the evening yesterday, prince harry arrived. as far as _ yesterday, prince harry arrived. as far as prince — yesterday, prince harry arrived. as far as prince harry, besoyen leaving round _ far as prince harry, besoyen leaving round about— far as prince harry, besoyen leaving round about eight o'clock, just after— round about eight o'clock, just after eight o'clock this morning. all of— after eight o'clock this morning. all of the — after eight o'clock this morning. all of the rest of the royals are there _ all of the rest of the royals are
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there and _ all of the rest of the royals are there and one must imagine it has been _ there and one must imagine it has been incredibly sad evening for them, — been incredibly sad evening for them, and notjust them but the staff— them, and notjust them but the staff and — them, and notjust them but the staff and the people here at balmoral who have known the queen for such— balmoral who have known the queen for such a _ balmoral who have known the queen for such a long time and work for the queen— for such a long time and work for the queen for such a long time, so this is— the queen for such a long time, so this is very— the queen for such a long time, so this is very much a period of grieving _ this is very much a period of grieving. as we have been saying this morning, when the queen died, kin- this morning, when the queen died, king charles iii immediately acceded to the _ king charles iii immediately acceded to the throne, and with that comes the roles— to the throne, and with that comes the roles and responsibility and part of— the roles and responsibility and part of that, in effect, is leading the process going forward now, so he will he _ the process going forward now, so he will be returning to london with a new queen consort, and that process -ets new queen consort, and that process gets under— new queen consort, and that process gets under way. new queen consort, and that process gets under way-— gets under way. what details are emer: in: gets under way. what details are emerging about _ gets under way. what details are emerging about that _ gets under way. what details are emerging about that process, . gets under way. what details are l emerging about that process, what lies ahead in the next days or weeks? , ., ., , , ., weeks? there will be an address from him latertoday. _ weeks? there will be an address from him later today, a _ weeks? there will be an address from him later today, a service _ weeks? there will be an address from him later today, a service at - weeks? there will be an address from him later today, a service at st - him later today, a service at st paul's— him later today, a service at st paul's cathedral, we have had the first e-mail— paul's cathedral, we have had the first e—mail from buckingham palace and all— first e—mail from buckingham palace and all of— first e—mail from buckingham palace and all of these details which have been _ and all of these details which have been long — and all of these details which have been long in the planning, they will need to— been long in the planning, they will need to be — been long in the planning, they will need to be finalised and signed off
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by the _ need to be finalised and signed off by the new king so now they have started _ by the new king so now they have started to — by the new king so now they have started to be published and over the coming _ started to be published and over the coming days we will have the trickle of information which will tell us exactly— of information which will tell us exactly what we can expect. just after _ exactly what we can expect. just after nine — exactly what we can expect. just after nine o'clock this morning we had an— after nine o'clock this morning we had an e—mailfrom after nine o'clock this morning we had an e—mail from buckingham palace which _ had an e—mail from buckingham palace which outlined details to do with the morning and condolence arrangements at the royal residences. saying following the death _ residences. saying following the death of— residences. saying following the death of her majesty the queen, it is his _ death of her majesty the queen, it is his majesty the king's wish that a period _ is his majesty the king's wish that a period of— is his majesty the king's wish that a period of royal morning will be observed — a period of royal morning will be observed from now until seven days after the _ observed from now until seven days after the queen was mike bruno, and the data _ after the queen was mike bruno, and the data that you know will be released — the data that you know will be released at some point, it has not been _ released at some point, it has not been released yet and, royal morning is not _ been released yet and, royal morning is not the _ been released yet and, royal morning is not the same as national mourning, so that will be observed by members of the royal family, royal— by members of the royal family, royal household staff, and some representatives of the military. there _ representatives of the military. there are — representatives of the military. there are details about flags at royal _ there are details about flags at royal residences which will remain at half— royal residences which will remain at half mast, the royal gun salutes will happen at one o'clock today and will happen atone o'clock today and royal— will happen at one o'clock today and royal parks, there will be the
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closure — royal parks, there will be the closure of royal residences, and floral— closure of royal residences, and floral tributes, because obviously, lots of _ floral tributes, because obviously, lots of people here, at buckingham palace _ lots of people here, at buckingham palace and — lots of people here, at buckingham palace and windsor castle, are leaving — palace and windsor castle, are leaving flowers, and the details of where _ leaving flowers, and the details of where they should leave them, and where _ where they should leave them, and where they— where they should leave them, and where they might be taken to. and on books _ where they might be taken to. and on books of— where they might be taken to. and on books of condolence, around official books _ books of condolence, around official books of _ books of condolence, around official books of condolence, around official books of condolence, actual physical books _ books of condolence, actual physical books of _ books of condolence, actual physical books of condolence, actual physical books of condolence at royal residences, but if you go on to the royal— residences, but if you go on to the royal website, there is already an online _ royal website, there is already an online book of condolence where many people _ online book of condolence where many people will— online book of condolence where many people will want to leave their thoughts with the passing of the queen — thoughts with the passing of the queen. . ~' ,, , . thoughts with the passing of the queen. ., ,, , . ., queen. thank you very much, sarah cambell, queen. thank you very much, sarah campbell. aaron — queen. thank you very much, sarah campbell, aaron royle _ queen. thank you very much, sarah i campbell, aaron royle corresponding. i can see in the background —— our royal correspondent. prince harry left here shortly after eight o'clock this morning. i'm joined now by our reporter ian mcinnes, who's at scotland's aberdeen airport for us.
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has prince harry's plain set off for london yet?— london yet? you can see on the runway preparing _ london yet? you can see on the runway preparing to _ london yet? you can see on the runway preparing to leave, - london yet? you can see on the runway preparing to leave, you| london yet? you can see on the i runway preparing to leave, you can hear the _ runway preparing to leave, you can hear the usual noise of aircraft here, _ hear the usual noise of aircraft here, but— hear the usual noise of aircraft here, but we have seen prince harry arrived, _ here, but we have seen prince harry arrived, taking into the airport and he boarded — arrived, taking into the airport and he boarded that flight ready to make his way— he boarded that flight ready to make his way down to heathrow. it is on the apron— his way down to heathrow. it is on the apron as — his way down to heathrow. it is on the apron as we speakjust now preparing — the apron as we speakjust now preparing to head towards london heathrow — preparing to head towards london heathrow. it is only 12 hours since he arrived — heathrow. it is only 12 hours since he arrived here. it was a busy day at the _ he arrived here. it was a busy day at the airport yesterday, with many senior— at the airport yesterday, with many senior royals coming here, as news broke _ senior royals coming here, as news broke of— senior royals coming here, as news broke of the — senior royals coming here, as news broke of the queen's health, and we do expect it to be a busy day to come. — do expect it to be a busy day to come. as— do expect it to be a busy day to come, as we prepare for the new king to be _ come, as we prepare for the new king to be here, _ come, as we prepare for the new king to be here, and make his way to london — to be here, and make his way to london from the airport.- to be here, and make his way to london from the airport. thank you for that update, _ london from the airport. thank you for that update, ian. _ london from the airport. thank you for that update, ian. in _ london from the airport. thank you for that update, ian. in scotland i for that update, ian. in scotland and around the uk and in many places around the world, tributes will continue to be paid to mark the passing of queen elizabeth ii, the
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end of her long reign, and here in scotland, in aberdeen, church bells will ring at noon as well as in churches all around the uk and at one o'clock, when there is gun salutes take place at edinburgh castle, 96 rounds will be fired at ten second intervals around —— one round for every year of queen elizabeth's life. here at balmoral, people will be coming in a steady stream through the day. aberdeenshire council have laid on shuttle buses to bring people from towns like braemar and ballater, the queen love to attend the braemar games but was unable to do that this year, to bring people here to the gates of balmoral, to pay their respects, and to leave tributes to the queen. of course we are looking out for a point at which the new king leaves balmoral, with the queen consort, camilla, a little later on today, and extraordinary to think
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that we are less than 24—hour is into hearing that news from the queen's doctors yesterday that they were worried about her health, the concern is growing with the news that members of the royal family were travelling here to be with her, and so, her eldest son arrived as prince charles. he will leave today as king charles iii. morning his mother but taking on the huge responsibilities of the monarch. —— mourning his mother. brute responsibilities of the monarch. -- mourning his mother.— mourning his mother. we will stay with the pictures _ mourning his mother. we will stay with the pictures of _ mourning his mother. we will stay with the pictures of people - mourning his mother. we will stayj with the pictures of people leaving candles, cards, flowers, messages of condolence and individual tokens of affection for the only monarch that many of those people, frankly, have known. and this scene is replicated at windsor castle, of course, the queen's favourite and main residence, but also at buckingham
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palace, and i think we can now go they to talk to my colleague jane hill, who is standing by. london cabbies, they all part they vehicles on the mall last night in silent tribute and we know that, despite the rain, people have been turning up the rain, people have been turning up still and, just paint a picture of the scene for us today where you are. . ., , ., , are. the crowds have been continuing to crow are. the crowds have been continuing to grow over — are. the crowds have been continuing to grow over the _ are. the crowds have been continuing to grow over the last _ are. the crowds have been continuing to grow over the last few _ are. the crowds have been continuing to grow over the last few hours, - to grow over the last few hours, clive. we have been here since early this morning. at that pointjust a handful of people as you might expect, but in the last couple of hours, my goodness, really, very many people deep, if you look at the railings, they are. just as you are reflecting at balmoral, so many flowers now already. it is a beautiful site in many ways. a sad one, as well. a poignant one. and
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what is so striking is that there are two distinct things going on at buckingham palace here today. on the side where i'm standing, very noisy, because there is scaffolding, planes being put up, barry has been put up for an element of crowd control, because that nod to the formalities that will come in the coming hours and days —— barriers have been put up. if you stand at the palace itself and read over the flowers, cards and messages attached to them, i was there about an hour and a half ago, and it was almost silent, almost, certainly very quiet. many people taking photos as you might expect, but equally lots of people standing quietly, some of them just looking at the floor, thinking, taking it in, absorbing that change of history that we are all now witnessing and living through. there were men and women in tears, and
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people of all generations, and much earlier this morning on bbc news, we spoke to three generations of our family that had got up at liam, because the little girl had to go to school, and she had late written a letter to the royal family to say sorry that they were all sad, and she wanted to leave that here, on her way to school this morning. and thatjust her way to school this morning. and that just gives you her way to school this morning. and thatjust gives you a sense of what we are going to see throughout the day here, at buckingham palace, and, i guess, throughout many days to come. as you pointed out, there were thousands of people out here exactly where i'm standing late last night in the rain, and our correspondent tim moffat was talking to some of them. —— our correspondent, tim muffett, has been speaking to some of them: an event we all knew would come one day. but for so many, one that is so profoundly sad. it's heartbreaking. absolutely heartbreaking. what did she mean to you?
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the queen means everything to me, like my mum means to me. she was a fantastic lady. she'll always be a fantastic lady. she'll always be a part of my life forever. and i'll never forget her. she meant a lot to me. for someone my age, i've got quite old grandparents — they were born in 1917 and '22 — so she was part of their lives, too. so, talking to them, they knew her growing up and she takes a thread back to that sort of era. and now i hear people talking about a king and a coronation, and it puts conversations i had with them in my head of when they would talk about a king, a coronation. so it feels very strange to have this person that's been the head of everything in my life...go. the mcgrath family are from dublin, and are on holiday in london. well, our two countries have been so close over so many centuries and we've had a tough past,
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but it goes without saying that she was an iconic woman and a role model for women of all ages and all colours and beliefs. and my mum has been a fan of the queen for so many years. she was a fan of her integrity and... she's very sad. yeah. we shed a tear today. throughout her reign, queen elizabeth ii was unwavering in her dedication to her role as monarch. and for so many people here tonight, it is vital to honour and respect the role she played in our national story. it's very important. the queen has done so much for us for the past 70 years, and i think that it's our kind of duty as the british people and just generally to show our respect for someone who served us for 70 years. she means. . .family.
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like, since my boyhood, childhood, while i was in bangladesh, i saw her through the tv. i really do feel emotional. and, as a muslim, i prayed for her after my prayer today. we all knew this day would come one day. yeah. and yet it still feels shocking and it still feels profound, doesn't it? yes. how are you feeling? i think she's a kind of mother figure to everyone _ and ijust... she was so... she sighs i can't really put it into words. as a nation, we're mourning the loss of the queen, - but for the king and his family, - you know, they have lost their mum, their grandmother, - their great—grandmother. and so that's really sad for them. you know, we have to remember that she was their family. - the reign of king charles iii has begun. but for many, the reign of queen elizabeth ii
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will never be forgotten. tim muffett, bbc news, at buckingham palace. many of the cards and messages that i was reading that are attached to the flowers on the railings echoed much of what we heard, there. if you had to distill all of those cards they would in essence just say "thank you". many of them making reference to the fact that the queen was always there. one card said, you are the only monarch i have ever known, i really thought you were invincible, and i think we will see a lot more of those sentiments echoed today. from now from here at buckingham palace, back to you, clive. , ., ,., clive. jane hill there, reporting for us. clive. jane hill there, reporting for us and _ clive. jane hill there, reporting for us. and tim _ clive. jane hill there, reporting for us. and tim muffett - clive. jane hill there, reporting l for us. and tim muffett summing clive. jane hill there, reporting - for us. and tim muffett summing up the thoughts of people who, throughout the evening were down at buckingham palace paying their
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respects to the departed monarch. and of course they will be paying their respects as well at westminster today, and nick eardley is at downing street. both houses of parliament will be sitting with mps and peers able to pay their respects. and peers able to pay their re5pects-— and peers able to pay their resects. , , ., , respects. yes, they are. the cabinet has 'ust respects. yes, they are. the cabinet has just been _ respects. yes, they are. the cabinet hasjust been meeting _ respects. yes, they are. the cabinet hasjust been meeting to _ respects. yes, they are. the cabinet hasjust been meeting to pay - respects. yes, they are. the cabinet hasjust been meeting to pay its - respects. yes, they are. the cabinet| hasjust been meeting to pay its own has just been meeting to pay its own respects to queen elizabeth ii as you say. this afternoon mps and members of the house of lords will be doing the same, into tomorrow, when senior members of parliament will also be able to take an oath to the new king. it has been quite remarkable week here. when you think of some of the political turbulence we have seen over the past few years, one of the few signs of continuity has been the queen, there weekly audiences, that she had the prime ministers for so many decades,
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and it has been really interesting listening to some of the accounts that senior politicians have been giving of the time they spent with queen elizabeth over the past few hours. we have heard in particular from former prime ministers. the may was saying this morning that the queen was incredibly knowledgeable at those meetings, always well read on the issues of the day, she paid a lot of attention to the papers that she got from the government. and we never get the exact details of those meetings, because they are supposed to be private, they are confidential, but sirjohn major, anotherformer prime confidential, but sirjohn major, another former prime minister, confidential, but sirjohn major, anotherformer prime minister, did give a bit of an insight into what went on behind those closed doors in those meetings with her majesty, when he said that they were often full of humour and amusement. it is one of those things you often hear from politicians who spent time with the queen, that's they felt she was someone who gave them quite a lot of
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guidance and support in their political roles. of course, constitutionally, she stood above politics, but there was always that sense that she was there to support prime ministers. and if you want a sense ofjust how long queen elizabeth was part of our national life, it is incredible to think that the person who lived in there when she became queen was winston churchill, herfirst prime she became queen was winston churchill, her first prime minister. there have been another 1a since, 15 in total, and one of the last thing is the queen did as monarch was to meet liz truss on tuesday at balmoral to approve her new cabinet and ministerial appointments, and those cabinet ministers have been meeting here this morning to pay tribute to her majesty. there will be many more tributes over the next few days. be many more tributes over the next few da s. , . , be many more tributes over the next few da s. , .,, ., ., be many more tributes over the next fewda s. , ., ., ., .,. few days. this was not a monarch, the queen. _ few days. this was not a monarch, the queen, who _ few days. this was not a monarch, the queen, who was _ few days. this was not a monarch, the queen, who was disengaged. l few days. this was not a monarch, i the queen, who was disengaged. she
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took her constitutional duty very seriously and read all those papers that were presented to her, in the red box. now, of course, liz truss will be dealing with king charles iii, and it will be a weekly audience with him that she will have. abs. audience with him that she will have. �* , . . audience with him that she will have. . , . ., ., ., have. a big change for both of them, actuall . have. a big change for both of them, actually- this — have. a big change for both of them, actually. this is _ have. a big change for both of them, actually. this is the _ have. a big change for both of them, actually. this is the first _ have. a big change for both of them, actually. this is the first time - have. a big change for both of them, actually. this is the first time in i actually. this is the first time in history that the prime minister and the monarch have both changed in such a short period of time. i suppose it is a sense of how historic this week really is, that sense of a new prime minister in downing street, a new monarch soon and buckingham palace, as well. and there was always, as i say, that sense that the queen was someone who gave great council to help prime ministers and privy councillors, and other senior politicians who matter
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—— great counsel. borisjohnson when he was still prime minister paid tribute to the queen ahead of the platinum jubilee. tribute to the queen ahead of the platinumjubilee. he tribute to the queen ahead of the platinum jubilee. he talked about the level of detail that she went into, she had incredible recall for things that had been happening, events around the world, and also things like capitals of obscure countries that maybe would not always come to mind. the queen always come to mind. the queen always had them in her mind. at the time, mrjohnson reflected on the fact that the queen has really seen it all. when she came into her period as monarch, the second world war was a not so distant memory, the nhs was in its infancy, and she has been through huge political change in the uk, be that the troubles in northern ireland, up to the good friday agreement and devolution in
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the uk, the entry, and exit, from the uk, the entry, and exit, from the european union, right up until the european union, right up until the recent covid pandemic and the economic challenges the country is facing at the moment. the queen, although she was not at the forefront of politics, she was always in the background of those huge, historic, political moments, and there will be a big change, yes, for the royals, but also, for the way that downing street operates, to be speaking to the new monarch, that weekly audience to be with king charles iii rather than queen elizabeth ii. the first time in 70 years that a monarch will be meeting someone other than queen elizabeth to have those conversations about daily life and political change in the uk. ., daily life and political change in theuk. ., the uk. political correspondent, nick eardley. — the uk. political correspondent, nick eardley, reporting - the uk. political correspondent, nick eardley, reporting live i the uk. political correspondent, | nick eardley, reporting live from downing street. the queen was of
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course the constitutional monarch leading australia and i am joined by the former australian prime minister kevin rudd here in studio. thank you for being with us. we have heard a lot about the queen's sense of humour. i want to start with that. i spoke to sirjohn major last night he was talking about her devilish, impish sense of humour, and just take us back to the last time you actually met the queen. it take us back to the last time you actually met the queen.- take us back to the last time you actually met the queen. it was after i left actually met the queen. it was after i left office- — actually met the queen. it was after i left office- i _ actually met the queen. it was after i left office. i was _ actually met the queen. it was after i left office. i was here _ actually met the queen. it was after i left office. i was here in _ actually met the queen. it was after i left office. i was here in london i i left office. i was here in london and i was on the international advisory board of chatham house in london and the queen was there with prince philip opening a new extension to chatham house so there was a small reception for a few of us afterwards, and she said to me, in her own disarming way, hello, what are you doing here? to which i said, well, ma'am, last time i looked it was still a free country,
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and prince philip came up and said, since you left office, are you in exile are something? and i said, no, your royal highness, the last exile was when your forebears sense of us to australia as criminals! she laughed and whacked him on the soldier and don't mind him! it is lovel to soldier and don't mind him! it is lovely to hear _ soldier and don't mind him! it is lovely to hear the _ soldier and don't mind him! it is lovely to hear the stories coming out now, about the queen because of course there are so them in any —— solemnity to the occasion, she has passed away, she was 96, we now have a new king, but her importance in ensuring the relevance of the commonwealth has been incredible, over the 70 years of her reign. many conversations i had with her majesty over the years, the one enduring thing from these conversations was her passion for the commonwealth. and notjust because of its historical thread,
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notjust because of its forceful continuity, but because she saw it as part of the fabric of international democracy. so, we had many conversations about problems emerging, countries unnamed, where democratic processes were under challenge and what to do about them. and i remember assuming for a period the chairperson ship of the commonwealth because we had to get over a problem in sri lanka at the time. this was an enduring passion of hers. i think all members of the commonwealth owe her a debt of gratitude. but commonwealth owe her a debt of cratitude. �* ., , �* , gratitude. but it wasn't 'ust because she i gratitude. but it wasn't 'ust because she was i gratitude. but it wasn't 'ust because she was the i gratitude. but it wasn't just - because she was the constitutional head of these countries, was it also because she believed in these countries working together and countries working together and countries working together in general would promote the cause of peace, strength and stability. and
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felt that the commonwealth was such an important institu creative land, honest, rugged and creative land, and the australians who occupy that land. she visited every single state, every territory, there was a deep affection she had for that particular country.— deep affection she had for that particular country. yes, and it was reciprocated _ particular country. yes, and it was reciprocated in — particular country. yes, and it was reciprocated in australia. - particular country. yes, and it was reciprocated in australia. i'm i particular country. yes, and it wasj reciprocated in australia. i'm from rural queensland so as a kid growing up rural queensland so as a kid growing up i remember going to a slight night as you did in the 60s when your aunt would throw these slides onto the wall which was of the queen's 53rd royal visit. but for people like her, this was part of continuity and being part of a wider family. so, australians across the board, republicans, monarchists, the
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affection for this extraordinary woman was genuine and deep. here you would say she was the country's matriarch, we thought she was our nana. it was felt here.— nana. it was felt here. absolutely. we've heard _ nana. it was felt here. absolutely. we've heard there _ nana. it was felt here. absolutely. we've heard there was _ nana. it was felt here. absolutely. we've heard there was a _ nana. it was felt here. absolutely. we've heard there was a gun i nana. it was felt here. absolutely. | we've heard there was a gun salute at parliament house in canberra for each of the years that the queen was alive. kevin rudd, a pleasure to have you. alive. kevin rudd, a pleasure to have you— alive. kevin rudd, a pleasure to have ou. �*, ., , have you. it's good to be with you on what is — have you. it's good to be with you on what is a _ have you. it's good to be with you on what is a solemn _ have you. it's good to be with you on what is a solemn day - have you. it's good to be with you on what is a solemn day for i have you. it's good to be with you on what is a solemn day for all i have you. it's good to be with you on what is a solemn day for all of| on what is a solemn day for all of us. ~ . on what is a solemn day for all of us. . ., ., ., on what is a solemn day for all of us. we are going to speak to one of britain's leading _ us. we are going to speak to one of britain's leading historians, - britain's leading historians, professor tom devine. thank you for being with us. give us your reflections on what many people in scotland may be thinking. this reflections on what many people in scotland may be thinking.- scotland may be thinking. this is extremely solemn _ scotland may be thinking. this is extremely solemn and _ scotland may be thinking. this is extremely solemn and sad i scotland may be thinking. this is extremely solemn and sad day l scotland may be thinking. this is| extremely solemn and sad day for scotland may be thinking. this is i extremely solemn and sad day for the scottish people because we were talking a few minutes ago about
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elizabeth ii's affection for australia but by any standards she had a deep affection for scotland and i think it's not only poignant but also extremely significant that she spent her last days in my country and her last days in one of the places and possibly even the place that she revered and loved above all, the balmoral estate in of scotland. —— the highlands of scotland. -- the highlands of scotland. �* , , scotland. -- the highlands of scotland-— scotland. -- the highlands of scotland. �* , , ., , scotland. it's been an interesting relationship _ scotland. it's been an interesting relationship between _ scotland. it's been an interesting relationship between the - scotland. it's been an interesting relationship between the royal. relationship between the royal family and scotland. but of course, it was the queen who helped to usher in that period that we are now living in of constitutional to a
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degree of independence and self—rule from holyrood in opening up the scottish parliament. how significant a moment was it that the queen was responsible for doing that? well. a moment was it that the queen was responsible for doing that?— responsible for doing that? well, it was significant _ responsible for doing that? well, it was significant of _ responsible for doing that? well, it was significant of course _ responsible for doing that? well, it was significant of course because . was significant of course because she was the head of state in britain but the other dimension which is extremely important to mention is it must have given her considerable personal pleasure. time and time again when she came back to open a new session of the scottish parliament, she emphasised the affection and love which she and her late husband prince philip had for this country. remember that the queen's blood connections to scotland go back centuries. we can even trace her pedigree, her royal pedigree back to medieval times of king robert the bruce, the great hero king of scotland during the
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wars of independence. ironically enough, against england. i wars of independence. ironically enough, against england.- wars of independence. ironically enough, against england. ithink it is the case. _ enough, against england. ithink it is the case. you — enough, against england. ithink it is the case, you can _ enough, against england. ithink it is the case, you can correct - enough, against england. ithink it is the case, you can correct me i enough, against england. ithink it is the case, you can correct me if. is the case, you can correct me if i'm wrong, that she is descended from more scottish royals than english royals. from more scottish royals than english royals-— from more scottish royals than english royals. yes, exactly. that is an element, _ english royals. yes, exactly. that is an element, not _ english royals. yes, exactly. that is an element, not the _ english royals. yes, exactly. that is an element, not the only i english royals. yes, exactly. that i is an element, not the only element but it's certainly one significant element in the love that she and the rest of her family had for scotland. this love affair between royalty and particularly the highlands started during the reign of queen victoria. every monarch since has loved to come to balmoral but i think the love that the late queen had for scotland and particularly for the highlands was second to none, apart from queen victoria in the 19th century. as i said, that began the love affair between royalty and
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scotland. , ., ., . ., , scotland. the first monarch to visit shetland since _ scotland. the first monarch to visit shetland since the _ scotland. the first monarch to visit shetland since the vikings. - scotland. the first monarch to visit shetland since the vikings. they i shetland since the vikings. they often ut shetland since the vikings. they often put into — shetland since the vikings. they often put into the _ shetland since the vikings. tie: often put into the islands to beaches that no other human being would visit during that period and have picnics in the hebridean beaches. so, they have seen parts of scotland which very few scots have actually seen. i scotland which very few scots have actually seen-— actually seen. i wonder as well, as we look to — actually seen. i wonder as well, as we look to the _ actually seen. i wonder as well, as we look to the future _ actually seen. i wonder as well, as we look to the future obviously, i actually seen. i wonder as well, as l we look to the future obviously, how you see the relationship between king charles ii! and scotland. he liked his mother has a very deep affection for the people of the country. affection for the people of the count . ., ., , country. there are two things. i
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think first, _ country. there are two things. i think first, there _ country. there are two things. i think first, there will— country. there are two things. i think first, there will be - think first, there will be tremendous support for the royal family and particularly the new king, because he isn't simply taking on this enormous burden but he's also mourning the death of his beloved mother. so, that support will be there. in the medium to long term, we will probably have to wait and see but as far as the scottish connection is concerned, that will remain durable because he's got so many interests in scotland. to go back to his mother, i met her obviously when she knighted me at holyrood palace in 2015 and she said afterwards, the ceremony was coming to an end and she said, you know, it has been a particular pleasure for me to give the accolade of knighthood to a scholar for his
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contribution to, and she emphasised the next two words emphatically, scottish history. that seemed to me to bring out in words and emotion the love she has for my country. indeed. thank you so much, professor sir tom devine on what is a very sad day. we've moved from balmoral and we now go to windsor castle. some have suggested it was her favourite royal residence and spent many a happy time there. this we have seen the flowers, cards and candles that have been left at all the royal residences around this
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united kingdom. iwonder what all the royal residences around this united kingdom. i wonder what is the scene where you are now and given this was perhaps the queen's favourite residence?- this was perhaps the queen's favourite residence? yes, it was. whereas you _ favourite residence? yes, it was. whereas you could _ favourite residence? yes, it was. whereas you could describe i whereas you could describe buckingham palace as the office home, here it would be the other way around. ithink home, here it would be the other way around. i think it was the home, office. she made herfirst broadcast from windsor castle aged 1a during the second world war in october 1940 and thereafter used it as a home, a place to bring up herfamily. what's going on here, the extraordinary thing is as you can see, there are dozens if not hundreds of people, but it's very quiet. there have been the grass cutters, clipping the lawns in preparation forfuture
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events, there have been thejets coming out of heathrow but otherwise it's just a curious comedy interested, the reflective, people just coming to bring flowers, to leave their written notes. among those are a father and daughter, dean and melissa. it is extraordinary the silence, why have you come? we extraordinary the silence, why have ou come? ~ ., , ., you come? we live locally, we wanted to come and — you come? we live locally, we wanted to come and pay _ you come? we live locally, we wanted to come and pay our— you come? we live locally, we wanted to come and pay our respects. - you come? we live locally, we wanted to come and pay our respects. she i to come and pay our respects. she entwined _ to come and pay our respects. she entwined in— to come and pay our respects. she entwined in all our lives. you have to come _ entwined in all our lives. you have to come and — entwined in all our lives. you have to come and pay your respects, not 'ust to come and pay your respects, not just the — to come and pay your respects, not just the uk's queen, the whole world's— just the uk's queen, the whole world's queen.— just the uk's queen, the whole world's queen. ., ., , ., ., world's queen. you told me your age, clearl the world's queen. you told me your age, clearly the queen _ world's queen. you told me your age, clearly the queen had _ world's queen. you told me your age, clearly the queen had an _ clearly the queen had an intergenerational appeal. what did she mean to you? bring she meant a lot to me. i worked in the castle a couple of years ago, i've met her at
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buckingham palace, she is also given me christmas presents i can hand down to my daughter. can you remember what she said to you? plat remember what she said to you? not reall , i remember what she said to you? not really. i was — remember what she said to you? not really, i was overwhelmed. she remember what she said to you? not really, iwas overwhelmed. she puts people _ really, iwas overwhelmed. she puts people at— really, iwas overwhelmed. she puts people at ease, _ really, iwas overwhelmed. she puts people at ease, she's _ really, iwas overwhelmed. she puts people at ease, she's just _ really, iwas overwhelmed. she puts people at ease, she's just a - really, iwas overwhelmed. she puts people at ease, she's just a lovely . people at ease, she'sjust a lovely woman _ people at ease, she'sjust a lovely woman. is— people at ease, she's 'ust a lovely woman. , , , , people at ease, she's 'ust a lovely woman. , , , woman. is it because she was royal, the monarch. — woman. is it because she was royal, the monarch. a _ woman. is it because she was royal, the monarch, a woman, _ woman. is it because she was royal, the monarch, a woman, the - the monarch, a woman, the figurehead, what particularly appeal to you about her? she figurehead, what particularly appeal to you about her?— to you about her? she 'ust a role model. very * to you about her? she just a role model. very sophisticated, i to you about her? she just a role model. very sophisticated, and i model. very sophisticated, and inspiration _ model. very sophisticated, and inspiration for— model. very sophisticated, and inspiration for all— model. very sophisticated, and inspiration for all women - model. very sophisticated, and inspiration for all women and l model. very sophisticated, and l inspiration for all women and one model. very sophisticated, and i inspiration for all women and one of the best— inspiration for all women and one of the best historical— inspiration for all women and one of the best historical figures _ inspiration for all women and one of the best historical figures in - inspiration for all women and one of the best historical figures in the i the best historical figures in the world _ the best historical figures in the world. ~ �* , ., ., ., world. we've 'ust had a few drops of rain. did world. we've 'ust had a few drops of on you— world. we've just had a few drops of rain. did you expect _ world. we've just had a few drops of rain. did you expect to _ world. we've just had a few drops of rain. did you expect to find - rain. did you expect to find yourself down here outside windsor castle on friday morning doing this? yes, as soon as i knew she had passed — yes, as soon as i knew she had passed away, my wife came last night, _ passed away, my wife came last night, just— passed away, my wife came last night, just wanted to show our respects— night, just wanted to show our respects today. she meant the world to everyone, really. it�*s
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respects today. she meant the world to everyone, really.— to everyone, really. it's not fame, celebrity. — to everyone, really. it's not fame, celebrity. it's _ to everyone, really. it's not fame, celebrity, it's something - to everyone, really. it's not fame, celebrity, it's something else i to everyone, really. it's not fame, celebrity, it's something else that| celebrity, it's something else that appeals. it’s celebrity, it's something else that a. eals. �*, ., celebrity, it's something else that aueals. �*, ., ., appeals. it's above that. something eve one appeals. it's above that. something everyone looks _ appeals. it's above that. something everyone looks op _ appeals. it's above that. something everyone looks up to. _ appeals. it's above that. something everyone looks up to. she's - appeals. it's above that. something everyone looks up to. she's been i everyone looks up to. she's been there _ everyone looks up to. she's been there for— everyone looks up to. she's been there for the whole of my life. my dad was _ there for the whole of my life. my dad was in — there for the whole of my life. my dad was in the army, he is to work in the _ dad was in the army, he is to work in the castle — dad was in the army, he is to work in the castle when i was a child. she's— in the castle when i was a child. she's been— in the castle when i was a child. she's been in my life since i've been _ she's been in my life since i've been born _ she's been in my life since i've been born-— she's been in my life since i've beenborn. , ., ., ~ ., ~ been born. dean and melissa, thank ou ve been born. dean and melissa, thank you very much- _ been born. dean and melissa, thank you very much. one _ been born. dean and melissa, thank you very much. one of _ been born. dean and melissa, thank you very much. one of several i been born. dean and melissa, thank. you very much. one of several people with spoken to. it is intergenerational the appeal of the queen, not everybody we've met this morning has been a royalist by any stretch of the imagination. i think she wasjust stretch of the imagination. i think she was just curious to people because she was an interesting person. she wasjust because she was an interesting person. she was just a fascinating figure for people and as one person put it to me this morning, it felt like she was family.—
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like she was family. interesting. everyone's _ like she was family. interesting. everyone's mum. _ like she was family. interesting. everyone's mum. duncan - like she was family. interesting. l everyone's mum. duncan kennedy like she was family. interesting. i everyone's mum. duncan kennedy at windsor. russia's president vladimir putin has sent his condolences to king charles, saying the queen had "rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage". he added, "i wish you courage and resilience in the face of this difficult, irreparable loss. may i ask you to pass on sincere condolences and support to members of the royal family and the entire people of great britain." mr putin met queen elizabeth on a number of occasions. he was hosted by the queen and prince philip during a state visit to the uk in 2003, where he reportedly showed up 1a minutes late to their meeting. i don't think any grudges were held. our correspondent steve rosenberg is in moscow.
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it's interesting that the kremlin and mr putin felt they should be sending condolences despite everything in relation to the situation involving ukraine. yes. everything in relation to the situation involving ukraine. yes, it is no secret _ situation involving ukraine. yes, it is no secret of— situation involving ukraine. yes, it is no secret of course _ situation involving ukraine. yes, it is no secret of course that - situation involving ukraine. yes, it is no secret of course that uk i is no secret of course that uk russian relations are strained at the moment, to say the least. but that has been put aside at least for today. you mentioned the telegram of condolence sent by president putin to king charles. a few minutes ago his spokesman said this, queen elizabeth was highly respected in russia, she came across the world with her wisdom, international authority. there is a big deficit of these qualities right now on the world stage, he said. also, warm words today in the russian press about queen elizabeth, for example, this is the front page news in this paper today and it says that the queen's death is the end of any pop not only for the british people but
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the whole world. —— the end of an epoch. i stopped the whole world. —— the end of an epoch. istopped by the whole world. —— the end of an epoch. i stopped by the embassy in moscow, people have been coming to lay flowers and pay their respects. people were lighting candles too and leaving notes. ithink people were lighting candles too and leaving notes. i think that is a sign of what she meant, actually, to many people in russia. the sign of what she meant, actually, to many people in russia.— many people in russia. the funeral will of course _ many people in russia. the funeral will of course be _ many people in russia. the funeral will of course be a _ many people in russia. the funeral will of course be a huge _ will of course be a huge international event. if an invitation is extended to the russian leadership to attend the funeral, and we don't know if that will happen, is it likely that someone would turn up? i will happen, is it likely that someone would turn up? i think it's unlikel . someone would turn up? i think it's unlikely. already _ someone would turn up? i think it's unlikely. already today _ someone would turn up? i think it's unlikely. already today the - someone would turn up? i think it's unlikely. already today the kremlin | unlikely. already today the kremlin has said that president putin will not be going to the funeral. i think that can be ruled out, particularly with the state of uk russian relations. the other thing i would
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say is a lot has been talked about the longevity of the queen's rain these 70 years, this incredible period of change and often of geopolitical tension particularly in relations between east and west. she spent such an amazing period of history i find it incredible to think that when her father king george died in 1952 and she became queen, the soviet dictatorjosef stalin was still in power in the cold war was still in its infancy, the berlin wall hadn't even been built. forthe the berlin wall hadn't even been built. for the first three and a half decades of her reign the cold war dominated but when change came, the queen very much reflected that. when mikhail gorbachev came over to the uk in 1989 and she hosted him that was a sign at the cold war was coming to an end. when the queen
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went to to moscow in 1984, that was a sign that uk russian relations were getting stronger and when vladimir putin came to the uk in 2003 and the queen and putin were in a carriage together, that was a sign of hope that moscow and london were building a stronger relationship. unfortunately it didn't last. bzierr; unfortunately it didn't last. very interesting _ unfortunately it didn't last. very interesting that _ unfortunately it didn't last. very interesting that josef _ unfortunately it didn't last. very interesting that josef stalin was interesting thatjosef stalin was still in power when she came to the throne. many thanks. member states of the commonwealth have paid tribute to the queen, who was head of the voluntary association of about 50 nations. we heard from kevin rudd speaking to us a bit earlier. this was of course formed at the end of the british empire. president kenyatta of kenya was one of several african leaders whose
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countries gained independence during her reign. in a letter of condolence, president kenyatta said queen elizabeth had been "a towering icon of selfless service to humanity. " let's go live to our correspondent catherine byaruhanga in nairobi. it was kenya where the queen heard her father had died it was kenya where the queen heard herfather had died and it was kenya where the queen heard her father had died and she was going to become elizabeth ii. kenny has been important in the royal family's life and it is a place where i suspect many kenyans will be sad and mournful at her passing. yes, good afternoon from nairobi at the british high commissioner residents in kenya. kenya will always hold a special place in the queen'sjenny. she was here with her
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husband in 1952 when she got the news her father had sadly passed away and she was now queen. the story goes she was at the tree tops lodge, she went up as a princess and came down the next day as a queen. here at the high commissioner residents a condolence book has been opened, we've seen some dignitaries, ambassadors coming to pay their respects. kenyan politicians have come to mark this remarkable 17 year reign and also in the newspapers this morning, we have the standard with a picture of the queen on the front page. there's also the daily nation which talks about her death marking the end of one of the longest reigns by a head of state anywhere in the world. the newspapers talk about this relationship between the queen and the continent. she came to power at
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a time when many countries on this continent were agitating for independence from britain, not least here in kenya so that people choosing to use this moment to remember this painful past. the continent has had a painful past with britain. but we've also seen other leaders across africa talking about this wonderful friendship the queen built with so many of them. remember over her 70 year reign she had shaken hands with so many african leaders, even those that came from countries that want former british colonies. for example we've heard from the president of gabon, this was a new addition to the commonwealth earlier this year and he talked about the queen's great friendship with continent and the fact the continent also showed affection to her.— fact the continent also showed affection to her. thank you. as catherine _ affection to her. thank you. as catherine was _
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affection to her. thank you. as catherine was saying, - affection to her. thank you. as catherine was saying, kenya i affection to her. thank you. as catherine was saying, kenya is| affection to her. thank you. as | catherine was saying, kenya is a place dear to the heart of the queen. we know that prince harry has left aberdeenshire and we know that at some point king charles ii! and his queen consort camilla will be on their way back to london. they could well be heading to buckingham palace whereby colleague jane well be heading to buckingham palace whereby colleaguejane hill is. whereby colleague jane hill is. is people continue whereby colleague jane hill is. 23 people continue to stream and there are thousands of people here at the palace, people streaming down the mall and that pile of flowers is continuing to grow. let's discuss this moment in history with sir anthony seldon, the palace historian, biographer. some of the
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people we have been hearing from today who have made the effort to come here, i was really struck by a family where they looked at the little girl who was with them and said, we are quite relieved because this little girl will now only no kings. the grandmother said, we've been so lucky that we've had 70 years of the queen. i'm interested in your thoughts on the sweep of history on the longevity of the queen's reign.— history on the longevity of the queen's reign. one of the great thins queen's reign. one of the great things that _ queen's reign. one of the great things that make _ queen's reign. one of the great things that make the _ queen's reign. one of the great things that make the queen i queen's reign. one of the great things that make the queen sol queen's reign. one of the great - things that make the queen so happy was she _ things that make the queen so happy was she secure the succession with charles, _ was she secure the succession with charles, william, george, deep into the 22nd _ charles, william, george, deep into the 22nd century but you're right, they are _ the 22nd century but you're right, they are all— the 22nd century but you're right, they are all blokes. we will have kings _ they are all blokes. we will have kings ih — they are all blokes. we will have kings in succession. as we look back over history. — kings in succession. as we look back over history, some of our greatest monarchs — over history, some of our greatest monarchs have been a lizard at the first and _ monarchs have been a lizard at the first and victoria —— elizabeth i.
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that— first and victoria —— elizabeth i. that says — first and victoria —— elizabeth i. that says something important about british— that says something important about british history and women as leaders _ british history and women as leaders. that little girl will at least — leaders. that little girl will at least be _ leaders. that little girl will at least be able to look back and think. — least be able to look back and think. i— least be able to look back and think, i saw the longest surviving monarchy— think, i saw the longest surviving monarchy in british history and the second _ monarchy in british history and the second longest monarchy in world history— second longest monarchy in world history after louis xiv. she was alive _ history after louis xiv. she was alive and — history after louis xiv. she was alive and saw it and the first of her prime _ alive and saw it and the first of her prime ministers winston churchitt— her prime ministers winston churchill born in 1874, when he was alive he _ churchill born in 1874, when he was alive he knew people born in the century — alive he knew people born in the century. this is unique in world history. — century. this is unique in world history, that sense of continuity provided — history, that sense of continuity provided by the crown. long live the king. _ provided by the crown. long live the king, without a heart beat itjust happens — king, without a heart beat itjust happens. but king, without a heart beat it 'ust ha ens. �* ., ,
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king, without a heart beat it 'ust ha--ens. �* ., , , , happens. but longevity brings stabili . happens. but longevity brings stability. that's _ happens. but longevity brings stability. that's why - happens. but longevity brings stability. that's why so - happens. but longevity brings stability. that's why so many | happens. but longevity brings i stability. that's why so many of happens. but longevity brings - stability. that's why so many of the cards say, you are the only monocle i have ever known. does that partly speak to why we are seeing the crowds today that we're seeing? —— you the only monarch i have ever known. what draws people to say i just had to be here? it’s known. what draws people to say i just had to be here?— just had to be here? it's at the heart of british _ just had to be here? it's at the heart of british history, - just had to be here? it's at the heart of british history, the . heart of british history, the monarchy has been there since 1066, we've _ monarchy has been there since 1066, we've just _ monarchy has been there since 1066, we've just lost the longest serving monarch. — we've just lost the longest serving monarch, this is a moment when history— monarch, this is a moment when history stops, when it pauses, the clock— history stops, when it pauses, the clock stands still. it's like diana 25 years — clock stands still. it's like diana 25 years ago, the crowd has been growing _ 25 years ago, the crowd has been growing and growing, it is an enormous _ growing and growing, it is an enormous number down here now, they are looking _ enormous number down here now, they are looking for something. what, i don't _ are looking for something. what, i don't know— are looking for something. what, i don't know but the consolation of
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others _ don't know but the consolation of others by— don't know but the consolation of others. by asking questions, they feel bereft, there is a sense they have _ feel bereft, there is a sense they have lost — feel bereft, there is a sense they have lost part of their history but also part — have lost part of their history but also part of their family history, somebody their mother, their grandmother loved, going all the way back to _ grandmother loved, going all the way back to the _ grandmother loved, going all the way back to the second world war, there she was— back to the second world war, there she was with her father george vi. but extraordinary sense of continuity and who we are as a people — continuity and who we are as a people on— continuity and who we are as a people on earth. i continuity and who we are as a people on earth.— continuity and who we are as a people on earth. i hope we can talk aaain people on earth. i hope we can talk again because _ people on earth. i hope we can talk again because there _ people on earth. i hope we can talk again because there is _ people on earth. i hope we can talk again because there is the - people on earth. i hope we can talk again because there is the future i again because there is the future to talk about as well. thank you very much. siranthony talk about as well. thank you very much. sir anthony seldon, the historian and biographer and king charles of course is due to come to the capital at some point later today and we will have more from buckingham palace.— today and we will have more from buckingham palace. thank you. king charles iii will— buckingham palace. thank you. king charles iii will be _ buckingham palace. thank you. king charles iii will be addressing - buckingham palace. thank you. king charles iii will be addressing the - charles iii will be addressing the nation tonight, potentially from buckingham palace orfrom
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nation tonight, potentially from buckingham palace or from windsor, it will of course be his first address as king. i'm joined now by the bbc�*s laura kuenssberg. we are going to talk about the wider ramifications politically of what has happened. i think the first thing to stress is how engaged the queen was and frankly how engaged the king now has to be in the affairs of state.— the king now has to be in the affairs of state. absolutely. as a modern monarch _ affairs of state. absolutely. as a modern monarch in _ affairs of state. absolutely. as a modern monarch in the - affairs of state. absolutely. as a modern monarch in the 20th - affairs of state. absolutely. as a | modern monarch in the 20th and 21st—century they were very clear limits on what the monarch was and wasn't allowed to do. the queen said herself, i do not give you laws or administerjustice but i can give you my devotion. when it comes to politics and the affairs of government, that was a very extensive role. through all sorts of things. she is to read the full cabinet meetings, highly secret documents, every single week. there
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was the absolutely pivotal audience with the queen for every single one of her 15 prime ministers. that meeting once a week where mnemonic met the prime minister, whoever it was, churchill, liz truss her last prime ministerjust in the last couple of days, through that extraordinary sweep of history. the prime minister after prime minister we know that that encounter was vital. the queen wouldn't tell them what to do but her role was to provide discrete advice. perhaps one of the only meetings that week where they could be completely sure they were speaking in confidence, that its contents would never emerge into the public domain and her role was sometimes seen as perhaps to encourage or gently worn. the queen probably had a better institutional memory of how government works, somebody who was genuinely engaged, spending hours every week going through the red boxes reading government papers. the prime
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minister after prime minister, she was somebody absolutely crucial to how they make their decisions, whether as a trusted friend, sometimes there were tensions, no question about that that something thatis question about that that something that is in very important role even though a handful of people still alive would have seen how it worked behind closed doors. it’s behind closed doors. it's interesting _ behind closed doors. it's interesting that - behind closed doors. it's interesting that question of her basically knowing the ropes and whoever had to be in her presence at any particular moment in time, she could say, well, i remember when and perhaps you could do this and perhaps you could do this and perhaps this might be an option. and that continuity is incredibly instructive and helpful and powerful. instructive and helpful and powerful-— instructive and helpful and owerful. . . , , ., instructive and helpful and owerful. . . _ ., powerful. and incredibly rare too. think of the _ powerful. and incredibly rare too. think of the sweep _ powerful. and incredibly rare too. think of the sweep of _ powerful. and incredibly rare too. think of the sweep of the - powerful. and incredibly rare too. | think of the sweep of the changes that she lived through, notjust as a girl but then as a monarch. when
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she ascended the the uk were still recovering from war, huge social upheaval, turbulence and strife in the 70s and then all the change that came with mrs thatcher in the 80s as we perhaps became a consumer nation and its nine there were tensions between those very strong female, powerful leaders. she said of her prime ministers they unburden themselves and if they have problems, one can help in that way and it is rather nice to feel that one can be a sponge and one can put 1's point of view which perhaps they had not seen at that angle. that role very much behind—the—scenes but absolutely critical to the wiring of how our country works and it is going to be both fascinating but also hugely important to see how king charles actually handles that and what his influence may or may not be. there is a question of whether or not he might be an
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activist king. he has given indications that he will not take those causes that he cares about so passionately with him into this new job but there certainly will be attention on whether or not and how that relationship develops with our new prime minister. this is happening at an extraordinary time. laura, we'll leave it there, many thanks. laura kuenssberg, there. welcome to viewers in the uk and around the world as we bring you a second day of special coverage following the death of queen elizabeth ii. britain's longest—serving monarch died yesterday at the age of 96 at balmoral, in scotland. the uk government has announced a period of national mourning which will continue until the end of the day of the queen's state funeral. the date is expected to be confirmed in the coming days following consultations between king charles iii and royal officials. the king, who spent the night at balmoral, is now preparing to travel to london with his wife, camilla,
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for the first official engagements of his reign. the new king will hold an audience with prime minister liz truss. parliament will gather at noon for mps to pay respect to the queen. also at midday, bells will toll in tribute to the queen at westminster abbey, st paul's cathedral and windsor castle, among other places in the country. at 1pm, gun salutes will be fired in hyde park, edinburgh castle and elsewhere. there will be 96 rounds fired — one for each year of the queen's life. a public service of remembrance will be held at st paul's cathedral, in central london, at 6pm. the prime minister and the mayor of london are expected to attend. later today the king is also due to make his first televised address to the nation. it will be his first address as head of state. on this programme we'll bring you all the latest updates from balmoral and buckingham palace, as well as reaction from around the world.
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we start with this report from daniel sandford. silently, sombrely, and thoughtfully, people came through the night to buckingham palace, the symbolic centre of the monarchy and the late queen's london home from world war ii to her platinum jubilee. as the first dawn of a new era broke, their numbers increased. many events in the uk are being put on hold as the country enters a lengthy period of official mourning. to a grieving nation, the leader of the church of england had this advice. �* . , ., the church of england had this advice. �* ., , ., ., advice. bring all your grief and anxie , advice. bring all your grief and anxiety, brink— advice. bring all your grief and anxiety, brink the _ advice. bring all your grief and anxiety, brink the sense - advice. bring all your grief and anxiety, brink the sense of - advice. bring all your grief and | anxiety, brink the sense of loss with complete honestly —— honesty. let us not pretend that this is anything but the most enormous change, the most enormous blow,
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especially to our regent family. don't forget that. but my message is let's not hide the fact that this is an enormous blow. that as her late majesty showed us, and as his majesty showed us, and as his majesty is showing and will show us, let us bring that grief and be willing to receive comfort, a fresh abundance of life, and a deep hope for the future.— for the future. most of the queen's closest family _ for the future. most of the queen's closest family members _ for the future. most of the queen's closest family members are - for the future. most of the queen's closest family members are still i for the future. most of the queen's closest family members are still at| closest family members are still at balmoral castle where she died, her children, including king charles iii and william the duke of cornwall and cambridge. so far, prince harry has been the only one to leave our moral, boarding a plane at aberdeen airport to rejoin his wife and children. but windsor, the queen rush where the queen spent most of herfinal years, there
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rush where the queen spent most of her final years, there was a profound sense of loss. it is very sad. what does she mean to you? i sad. what does she mean to you? i think she means everything, doesn't she, to the world. she was everything, wasn't she? she was an incredible lady and it is incredibly sad for her, herfamily, it isjust awful, isn't it? in sad for her, her family, it is 'ust awful, isn't mi awful, isn't it? in the australian caital awful, isn't it? in the australian capital canberra, _ awful, isn't it? in the australian capital canberra, a _ awful, isn't it? in the australian capital canberra, a 96 _ awful, isn't it? in the australian capital canberra, a 96 gun - awful, isn't it? in the australian l capital canberra, a 96 gun salute. one shot for each year of her life. despite the debate about australia becoming a republic, she had also been there queen for more than 70 years. been there queen for more than 70 ears. ., ., been there queen for more than 70 ears. ., ._ ., ., been there queen for more than 70 ears. ., ., ., ., ., years. today marks the end of an era, the close _ years. today marks the end of an era, the close of _ years. today marks the end of an era, the close of the _ years. today marks the end of an era, the close of the second - era, the close of the second elizabethan age. this time of mourning will pass but the deep respect — mourning will pass but the deep respect and warm regard in which australians have always held for her maiesty_ australians have always held for her majesty will never fade. may she rest in _ majesty will never fade. may she
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rest in eternal peace. in majesty will never fade. may she rest in eternal peace.— rest in eternal peace. in new zealand. _ rest in eternal peace. in new zealand, too, _ rest in eternal peace. in new zealand, too, she _ rest in eternal peace. in new zealand, too, she was - rest in eternal peace. in new zealand, too, she was being| zealand, too, she was being remembered. i zealand, too, she was being remembered.— zealand, too, she was being remembered. ,, ., ,, .«r ., ., remembered. i know i speak for all new zealanders _ remembered. i know i speak for all new zealanders in _ remembered. i know i speak for all new zealanders in conveying - remembered. i know i speak for all new zealanders in conveying our i new zealanders in conveying our deepest sympathy to members of the royal family and condolences to king charles iii on behalf of the government and new zealanders at this time of enormous loss. the last days of the queens life captures who she was in so many ways, working till the very end on behalf of the people she loved. bud till the very end on behalf of the people she loved.— till the very end on behalf of the people she loved. and that image of a smilin: people she loved. and that image of a smiling queen _ people she loved. and that image of a smiling queen as _ people she loved. and that image of a smiling queen as she _ people she loved. and that image of a smiling queen as she met - people she loved. and that image of a smiling queen as she met her- people she loved. and that image of a smiling queen as she met her 15th j a smiling queen as she met her 15th and last prime minister will endure for many years, whenever the world remembers britain's longest reigning monarch. daniel sanford, bbc news. annita mcveigh is at the queen's
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estate at balmoral in scotland where she passed away. and a place where we know king charles iii and the queen consort are preparing to leave at some point today to head back to london for the beginning of the first full day of his reign. beginning of the first full day of his reian. . , beginning of the first full day of his reian. ., , ., his reign. that is right, clive, and thank ou his reign. that is right, clive, and thank you and _ his reign. that is right, clive, and thank you and let _ his reign. that is right, clive, and thank you and let me _ his reign. that is right, clive, and thank you and let me bring - his reign. that is right, clive, and thank you and let me bring you i thank you and let me bring you up—to—date with what is happening here. immediately behind me, the number of people arriving to lay flowers in tribute to the queen has been growing steadily throughout the morning, a cute now, in fact, behind me to do that. —— a cute now. allowing people time to meet the refugees —— read the messages on the be case. interesting to chat with some of the people laying flowers, everyone from dog walkers to
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toddlers to tourists. i spoke to an american couple earlier who said that they really admired the queen for her grace, her sense of duty, and service, and that was why they wanted to come here today with flowers. i also spoke a little earlier to the fiddler paul anderson who played music at the local church, whether royal family would worship here at balmoral. he also played for her at balmoral itself, at some of the balls that were held here. he spoke of one pre—covid, so a few years ago, the queen already in her 90s and she was up dancing ready much every second song, and how much she loved that music, and also about how when she was walking around here out on the grounds at balmoral and would meet local people, she would slip very easily into the local dialect. he said that the royals in the queen loved it here because the people let them be, they didn't bother them but the royals also loved to talk to local
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people, he said. a little earlier, we were speaking to local people and asking them for their thoughts on this historic and sad and, you know, occasion when people are still trying to come to terms that the queen is gone. it's very sad. she's been a monarch for over 70 years and it's history, and we just wanted to be here to share our condolences to the family...like, just be part of it, kind of thing, yeah. it's really sad news to hear. actually, that's the reason we came. we were hoping to pass- on our regards orjust to be here. so it's kind of sad, actually. sad day. yeah, absolutely. for everybody, i think. you know, i think the whole nation will come together and just, you know, feel the same. although, you know, you don't... you never knew her or anything, but her significance _ wasjust incredible. and it doesn't really hit home, i don't think, until you hear. something like this. and what she meant to us - and what she meant to the country was absolutely...incredible legacy.
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let's talk a little bit more about the movements of the royal family because, as clive was mentioning, we are expecting the king, king charles, to leave here a little later this morning and to travel back to london. he has many duties to undertake today. we can go to aberdeen airport and ian mcinnis is there. ian, the queen's eldest child came here yesterday as prince charles, he will leave balmoral as king and head to the airport to return to all those duties. indeed, an th. return to all those duties. indeed, any th- this _ return to all those duties. indeed, any th. this morning, _ return to all those duties. indeed, any th. this morning, we - return to all those duties. indeed, any th. this morning, we have - any th. this morning, we have obviously had a slightly better day for the arrivals than yesterday. this morning, at 8am, prince harry left balmoral, made his way to aberdeen airport and boarded a flight back to london, the first of the royals to head back to london to be with his family. then later this morning we do expect, as you say,
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king charles to come here, may be the first site we get of him here at the first site we get of him here at the airport, as he makes his way south to london to carry out those engagements. we expect him to come to the airport, possibly by air, and we will front there see him make his way to the royaljet we will front there see him make his way to the royal jet and we will front there see him make his way to the royaljet and he will be heading then to london to carry out those engagements as he begins his reign as the new monarch. ian. those engagements as he begins his reign as the new monarch. ian, thank ou ve reign as the new monarch. ian, thank you very much _ reign as the new monarch. ian, thank you very much and — reign as the new monarch. ian, thank you very much and with _ reign as the new monarch. ian, thank you very much and with here - reign as the new monarch. ian, thank you very much and with here at - you very much and with here at balmoral to find out about the planning for the next few days is our royal correspondent sarah campbell. what are you hearing about the movements of the royal family? we were talking about prince harry leaving earlier this morning. what about the other members of the royal family —— royalfamily who about the other members of the royal family —— royal family who are about the other members of the royal family —— royalfamily who are here at royal —— at balmoral? irate
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family -- royal family who are here at royal -- at balmoral?— family -- royal family who are here at royal -- at balmoral? we know who is here, at royal -- at balmoral? we know who is here. the — at royal -- at balmoral? we know who is here, the queen's _ at royal -- at balmoral? we know who is here, the queen's children _ at royal -- at balmoral? we know who is here, the queen's children rush - is here, the queen's children rush to be here yesterday afternoon so prince charles, king charles iii, the duke of york, prince andrew, the princess royal, princess anne, and princess royal, princess anne, and prince edward and his wife the countess of wessex. what we know is that prince harry, as you say, left just after eight o'clock this morning so we are now waiting to hear when the king has left and that is the next departure we are expecting because as we have been saying this morning, whilst they are in a period of family grieving, it is still 24 hours, you know, since we became aware that there was some issue here when the doctors issued that alert suggesting that the queen's condition had deteriorated. so, it is not long, the new king now has to assume the role of king and that requires several duties and so he will leave here, he will travel
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to london, he will have to meet with the prime minister, he will have to meet and take part in a service later on today at st paul's, and he is also going to have to make decisions about the funeral arrangements because although the plans have been in place for a very long time, he needs to sign those off, and we have the first details. what do we know about those days ahead? . , . what do we know about those days ahead? ., , ., ., , ., ., ahead? there was a release following the death of— ahead? there was a release following the death of her _ ahead? there was a release following the death of her majesty _ ahead? there was a release following the death of her majesty the - ahead? there was a release following the death of her majesty the queen i the death of her majesty the queen that came from buckingham palace, it is her majesty the king's wish that a period of royal morning the observed —— royal mourning for seven days, and within that release was details about the flags flying at half—mast, books of condolence, the royal website has an online book of condolence that people can sign, there are gun salutes that are due to happen at one o'clock today, so gradually, how things will carry out
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over the next ten or so days are starting to emerge, those decisions are starting to take place. we starting to emerge, those decisions are starting to take place.— are starting to take place. we were chattin: are starting to take place. we were chatting earlier _ are starting to take place. we were chatting earlier about _ are starting to take place. we were chatting earlier about how - are starting to take place. we were chatting earlier about how the - are starting to take place. we were l chatting earlier about how the queen was 96, we knew that her health was deteriorating, but i'm just tuesday, three days ago, we saw that photograph of her with liz truss where she asked her to form the next government and become prime minister. so, the sense of surprise and the events of the last 24—hour is. and the events of the last 24-hour is. , ~ and the events of the last 24-hour is. , ,, ., , ,, is. yes, i think that is right. she was 96 years — is. yes, i think that is right. she was 96 years old, _ is. yes, i think that is right. she was 96 years old, great - is. yes, i think that is right. she was 96 years old, great age, - is. yes, i think that is right. she| was 96 years old, great age, but is. yes, i think that is right. she . was 96 years old, great age, but as you say, the issue was even though we knew her health had been declining really since october last year, so, almost a year to the day, we suddenly started to have issues where she would be using that you're walking stick, where she would be cancelling engagements, she had that stay in hospital, that was last october, and since then there has been a back of her duties but as you
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when we saw her on tuesday, this was the first time we had seen her for a while because when she comes to balmoral, it allows her a deal of privacy that she can spend time away from the cameras, we tend not to see how much when she is in balmoral, but she looked frail, certainly, she was using her walking stick, but as you say, she was smiling and clearly wanting to carry on with the duties that she had done for all of her reign, and i think that is why people are finding it unsettling and difficult because there seems to have happened at the end very quickly. have happened at the end very cuickl . ., ., ~ have happened at the end very cuickl . ., ., ,, ,., have happened at the end very cuickl . ., ., ,, y., , have happened at the end very cuickl. ., ., ,, , . balmoral of course was a place that the queen loved dearly from childhood. she spent part of a honeymoon here as well and it was where she came every summer, members of the family saying it was where she felt she could be really free and relaxed, spending time with friends and family and her beloved
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dogs, of course, so it is very fitting that today here at balmoral we are seeing more and more people arriving to contemplate the events of the past 24 hours to pay their tributes to a queen who loved this place so well. back to you, clive. thank you, annita mcveigh. all the royal residences are places of congregation. today and probably over the next few days, while the public take in the news that the queen has died. and, of course, many people will be wanting to pay their respects by bringing tokens of affection, flowers, cards, messages, candles. we have seen that at all the royal residences and of course, buckingham palace has not been left out of all of that. jane hill is at buckingham palace for us.
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jane, ican jane, i can see behind you a throng of people, thousands of people, there, who are paying their respects. and it has been like that ever since the announcement was made that the queen had passed away. thousands of people here now, clive, for sure, thousands of people here now, clive, forsure, outside thousands of people here now, clive, for sure, outside buckingham palace. considerably quieter very first thing this morning when we first started broadcasting but now the crowds keep growing and growing and growing and i am feeling lucky that i had a moment to go and look at many of those flowers, perhaps about two hours ago, and thought i will look at a few and come back later in the day and look at more and it is going to be much, much harder to get anywhere near the flowers, which are laying across the bottom of the railings. in fact, there is a polite sign that the palace has put there that says, any flowers left here will be kept for 12 hours and then they will be moved to an area of green park which is a parkjust
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behind our camera position here, so there is going to be a carpet of flowers, i would there is going to be a carpet of flowers, iwould imagine, by the time they are all moved into green park. and it is striking but of course, you say to people, why are you here, why did you want to come, what brought you here? and it is just that sense of just wanting to be here, wanting to pay my respects, and when i stood at the railings a couple of hours ago, i was struck by how quiet it was, almost silent beyond people standing, perhaps jostling for a better photo, everyone out with their phones taking photos of the flowers, but actually, an awful lot of people, clive, just standing in quiet contemplation. i was struck by the people who had come on their own and theyjust people who had come on their own and they just stood very people who had come on their own and theyjust stood very quietly, some of them even just looking at the ground or reading the messages on the card. i have seen people in tears, i have seen people of all ages. i stopped a couple in green
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park who had just bought a bunch of flowers and were coming down and i said, can i ask you why you wanted to be here today? and the lady said to be here today? and the lady said to me, she said, well, i'm not really from here, i have lived in london for years, i was from thai one, she was not my queen, but i had such respect for her. i couldn't not be here and couldn't not buy these flowers and put them by the gate and in particular, this lady highlighted the queen put that work ethic. she said i was straight struck by her work ethic, i still couldn't believe she was working right up until the end, i thought it was so admirable that only two nays —— two days ago she saw the new prime minister at balmoral and this lady was really struck by that and said ijust had to be here, and that is the reaction that you get. as you say, it is something that has been going on since late last night, there were thousands out last night in the rain, won't they?
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jane, if i canjust come in there, we havejust had jane, if i canjust come in there, we have just had news that king charles and the queen consort, they have now left balmoral en route for aberdeen airport, and they are due to fly back to london in the next few minutes or so, and we know that when king charles arrives, he will be having a meeting with liz truss, the prime minister, and we had jane there talking about some of those flowers, the hundreds of flowers. and the floral tributes that have been left by the railings of buckingham palace, they are all going to be moved to nearby green park. we are expecting that king charles and the queen consort, camilla, will be looking at some of those flowers by the railings of buckingham palace, when they arrive, and reading some of the notes and getting more of a sense, if it was
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needed, of the kind of affection with which the queen, in which the queen was held. so, jane, thank you so much for that, jane hill, my colleague at buckingham palace. and king charles iii and the queen consort have now left balmoral, they are heading for aberdeen airport and they will be on their way back to london in due course. we have been hearing a lot about the international reaction to the queen's passing, and we spoke to the former australian prime minister here in the studio, we have talked to my colleague the russia editor about moscow's reaction and president putin sending his own condolences to the royal family. now, we can get the perspective from france, closer to home. now, we can get the perspective from france, closerto home. my now, we can get the perspective from france, closer to home. my colleague hugh schofield is life in paris for us now. i wonder what the response
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has been, i can see a huge portrait of the queen behind you, just sum up what perhaps present back run has been saying? —— president macron. the elite just to a 300 yards up the road and we are expecting any minute now for present macron to make his way down from the palace to wear the trickle is at half mast. the tricolour is at half mast. the american flag is at half mast. he is going to sign the book of condolence, we are told, and leave a single rose on the desk, which has been set up there with the portrait of the late queen he has issued a statement, he has recorded a message full of warmth and appreciation, someone he met a couple of times and
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in other well, and much of what he said in a statement refers to her long love and interest in france, and interest and a love which he says was reciprocated. france is a republic and the people are proud republicans but there is in every french man and woman are little streak of realism and a little streak of realism and a little streak of realism and a little streak of envy of the british institution of the monarchy, and thatis institution of the monarchy, and that is very apparent. i have read to —— yet to meet a single person here who wasn't fascinated by the queen and charmed by her i had a long conversation with my barber and his wife he was telling me that if they when he heard the news, he couldn't understand why he felt this strange sensation and it took in five minutes, he said, i'm to come to and realise what had happened because i'm an for french people and people around the world her presence
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was so permanent she was a rock and a permanentjust not for the british people but for people around the world and sadly for people in france who appreciated her frank dasher franco failure. she came here for a visit that she looked at with incredible fondness, it was after the war, over the springtime in paris and she was able to enjoy the opera and dinner at the elysee palace and see edith ps and went to this famous flower market which she loved and she went back there in 2014 on her fifth and last state visit and that was the occasion which that flower market was renamed and it is now called the queen elizabeth flower market. thank you for that, elizabeth flower market. thank you forthat. hugh _ elizabeth flower market. thank you for that, hugh schofield, _ elizabeth flower market. thank you for that, hugh schofield, our- forthat, hugh schofield, our correspondent in paris outside the british embassy where we know, as he was saying present macron will be
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leaving the lycee paris and will be heading to the residents of the british ambassador —— ambassador and will be signed the book of condolence there and interesting what you were saying about the love and affection that the people of france had for the queen as well, she was of course not only a constant in british life but also globally as well and we were getting a little bit of a flavour of that from hugh in paris. closer to home now, more political reaction. we are going to go to arrest mr and talk to our chief political correspondent nick eardley, who is there. —— to westminster. mps will be paying their respects to the queen. i think that will be a
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lengthy session,. i should say the cabinet met this morning in private to pay their own tributes to queen elizabeth the this morning and i think it is a bit of a sense of history here today. we have seen, you know, quite a lot of change this week already with a new prime minister being up at balmoral to kiss hands with the queen and become prime minister. we now have a new monarch who will be arriving back in london later, a real sense of the changing nature of british life, big changes in the constitutional make up changes in the constitutional make up over the next few hours as well. it is worth pondering how long queen elizabeth was a key person for prime minister is and for senior politicians to talk to. winston churchill was the prime minister when she became queen, she has had
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15 prime ministers serve under her over the past 70 years. it really has been a period in which huge political change has taken place, and the message we have had from a lot of politicians who knew her well, who spent time with her, is they always found that quite a comfort, actually, knowing that the queen had been that sense of continuity in british life, someone they could speak to and rely on and take advice from about the burden sometimes of high office. i suspect we will hear a lot of that when senior politicians pay tribute to her majesty this afternoon. and then we will see later on today a quite remarkable moment where the new prime minister, liz truss, someone who has only been prime minister, remember, for about 72 hours, will meet the new monarch, king charles iii, a man who has only been king
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forfewer iii, a man who has only been king for fewer than iii, a man who has only been king forfewer than 24 hours. iii, a man who has only been king for fewer than 24 hours. the iii, a man who has only been king forfewer than 24 hours. the moment they will have their first audience together, it will be a big moment in british history there, the changing political leadership and the changing head of state in this country. changing head of state in this count . �* ,, changing head of state in this count . . ,, ., changing head of state in this count . �* ,, ., , country. and the queen of course, nick, she country. and the queen of course, nick. she kept _ country. and the queen of course, nick, she kept her— country. and the queen of course, nick, she kept her own _ country. and the queen of course, nick, she kept her own counsel. nick, she kept her own counsel often, we had over the years judicious, tempered displays of her own views on certain issues. king charles, of course, has been famously, an activist prince, and willing to get his own point of view out there on a number of issues, sustainable farming, the environment, climate change and so on, one wonders if an activist prince transforming into a king, if that could affect the balance that we have had over the last 70 years
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in relation to downing street and the monarchy?— the monarchy? well, there is no doubt that _ the monarchy? well, there is no doubt that things _ the monarchy? well, there is no doubt that things will _ the monarchy? well, there is no doubt that things will be - the monarchy? well, there is no i doubt that things will be different, clive. the queen had spoken about her own views so little because she became the munnich at such a young age. —— she became the queen at such age. —— she became the queen at such a young age. prince charles is aligned to the throne for decades and did speak publicly about his the assumption here is that that will change over the coming hours, i think king charles himself has said that his activism would stop the moment he became munnich. we know that he had some stunning views —— became king. we know he had strong views about the environment but i don't expect we will hear any of them over the next few months and years. but you are right, this is a moment where the relationship between the crown and the prime
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minister and number 10 downing street will change in the sense that we get two new figures. at the very top of british life, the very top of the british state. but the constitutional make up in the uk and the fact that they have a constitutional monarchy where the prime minister makes the decisions, even though they are officially signed off, they are given royal assent, of course by the monarch. i don't think that will change. there are big changes coming to british life in terms of the figureheads we see on a regular basis. the constitutional make up will remain the same. in the main lobby there at westminster, where in about half of both houses of parliament will be gathering together so that the peers and mps can pay their own respects to the departed monarch. and we have got pictures that we can bring you
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now. this is of king charles iii leaving the balmoral estate. he was at the queen 's bedside yesterday when she passed away. and now he is already at the airport for that flight to london. and he will also be meeting, of course, the prime minister, liz truss. they will be having talks, and then that address to the nation this evening, his first, of course, as king. the queen was also head of the commonwealth. 56 countries around the world. let's talk to claire whitaker, chair of the royal commonwealth society. thank you for being with us. the queen held that commonwealth together, there is no question about that. her commitment to the institution was plain and
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clear. and that is something that the commonwealth potentially is going to miss. the commonwealth potentially is going to miss-— the commonwealth potentially is auoin to miss. , ., ,, going to miss. yes, i mean the queen was enormously _ going to miss. yes, i mean the queen was enormously supportive _ going to miss. yes, i mean the queen was enormously supportive of- going to miss. yes, i mean the queen was enormously supportive of the - was enormously supportive of the commonwealth. it was so much a priority for her, and in terms of the royal commonwealth society, she was our patron. she was so supportive. she was very involved in our work. she hosted events for us, she asked for regular briefings. she visited the team in our offices. but i think that the importance of the commonwealth within the royal family is really understood, and i know that now king charles iii will be wanting to make sure that her legacy and the importance that the commonwealth meant to the queen is maintained and sustained in the future. ,, ., , ., ., .y maintained and sustained in the future. ,, ., ., future. sure. it was a legacy of emire, future. sure. it was a legacy of empire. no _ future. sure. it was a legacy of empire, no question _
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future. sure. it was a legacy of empire, no question about - future. sure. it was a legacy of. empire, no question about that. future. sure. it was a legacy of - empire, no question about that. but it wasn't just the royal family trying to hang on to a foreign dominions. the queen firmly believed that nations talking to each other, discussing peace. that was an important part of what this was about. i important part of what this was about. , ., ., about. i first got involved in the commonwealth _ about. i first got involved in the commonwealth when _ about. i first got involved in the commonwealth when i - about. i first got involved in the commonwealth when i was - about. i first got involved in the - commonwealth when i was working in south africa when president nelson mandela took south africa back into the commonwealth. and the enthusiasm and excitement of that moment was why i got involved in the commonwealth and began to see the importance of often nations that don't get the opportunity to be at a table. you know, some of the small island states. the importance of that particular group of countries. so i came at the commonwealth from a very different angle. but also, the importance for young people in the
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commonwealth, and some of the opportunities that have been given to those young people. i mean, i was involved in the green 's young leaders scheme, come on wealthy young leaders, and many young people got opportunities through that scheme —— mac commonwealth young leaders. so i have seen first hand how important the commonwealth can be. yes, it has a complicated pass, but the royal commonwealth society was very much about the future of the modern commonwealth, opportunities to convene and hear different voices around the table. and i think it was that role, and of creating a different commonwealth going forward, that is important to all the people involved, and i know that the role of young people was particularly important to the queen. and particularly important to king charles iii as well. did you see his
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commitment to the commonwealth being as robust as the queen 's? the assumption _ as robust as the queen 's? the assumption is _ as robust as the queen 's? the assumption is yes. _ as robust as the queen 's? iie: assumption is yes. after as robust as the queen 's? tie: assumption is yes. after i stopped working in south africa. i then produced a concert for the now king charles, but then the prince of wales for the heads of government meeting, and he stayed and met every single performer, every single commonwealth nation was involved, and he was speaking then about the importance of the commonwealth. that was back in 1997. i have done events with him in australia and around the commonwealth, sol with him in australia and around the commonwealth, so i am sure that the commonwealth, so i am sure that the commonwealth will continue to be a priority because, as well, he knows how important it was for the queen, and how important in this ever—changing world do have different voices around the table to be able to consult and build
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alliances, and to have that convening role. so i am very much hoping that he will continue that legacy. i am very confident that he will. i have seen his commitment in action. i am interested in the relationship that the people of the commonwealth, and i am a child of empire because my parents are jamaican, but i'm interested in people around the world who are part of the commonwealth, how they feel about the royal family and the queen because it is a vestige of empire, of subjugation in some places. i wonder why that affection, given what has happened over the last 24 hours, is so strong amongst so many of those countries. you hours, is so strong amongst so many of those countries.— of those countries. you have seen some commonwealth _ of those countries. you have seen some commonwealth countries i some commonwealth countries reevaluating their relationship to the commonwealth, and their relationship to the royal family, so we can't forget that that is part of the picture. we can't forget that that is part of
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the picture-— we can't forget that that is part of the picture.- but- we can't forget that that is part of the picture.- but i - we can't forget that that is part of the picture.- but i think. the picture. indeed. but i think that the queen _ the picture. indeed. but i think that the queen just _ the picture. indeed. but i think that the queen just rose - the picture. indeed. but i think that the queen just rose above j the picture. indeed. but i think- that the queen just rose above much of the history, the issues around the commonwealth, because of her duty, dedication and hard work, and the respect that she got from everybody, from heads of state to celebrities, two members of the public. that was notjust restricted to the uk, but it was actually worldwide. i think it was her sense of gravitas, of her wisdom and her experience. she had been part of our lives also long, and some of that was actually personal to her. it was notjust was actually personal to her. it was not just about the commonwealth. it was personal respect for her, about how she had conducted her life and her sense of duty and her hard work. i mean, the fact that she was working only earlier this weekjust shows how hard she had worked
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throughout her reign, and the difference that she made. and that is what most people responded to, and are responding to now at this very, very sad time.— and are responding to now at this very, very sad time. thank you so much forjoining _ very, very sad time. thank you so much forjoining us, _ very, very sad time. thank you so much forjoining us, claire - much forjoining us, claire whitaker, former chair of the royal commonwealth society. we are going to pick up on some of those points in a few moments. we will be talking to noted historian sir simon schama. we understand that prince harry has landed back in london. that is the scene at heathrow. in fact, that is aberdeen airport and that is him leaving the airport. and a number of events over the weekend have been cancelled. the bbc
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has cancelled the last night of the proms. horse racing has been suspended, the premier league have called off matches. and the english football league have also cancelled the programme this weekend as a mark of respect to the queen. we have now got pictures coming into usk from paris. this is the british embassy. this is from the le is a palace and the president will sign the book of condolence. he leaves a single white rose in memory of the queen. the historian sir simon scheme is here with me now.
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he wanted to pick up on some of the words that we heard there from claire whitaker, former head of the royal commonwealth society, and this idea that the commonwealth, obviously a vestige of empire, yet there is a residual affection for there is a residual affection for the queen. there is a residual affection for the queen-— there is a residual affection for the queen. ., , ., the queen. there was indeed, and still is. there _ the queen. there was indeed, and still is. there are _ the queen. there was indeed, and still is. there are 54 _ the queen. there was indeed, and still is. there are 54 countries, - still is. there are 54 countries, some of whom left the commonwealth and have come back to it. what was really remarkable about her attitude to the commonwealth is that she understood what an imperial hangover was, really. she understood how it could notjust be some casual euphemism for imperial nostalgia, and one dramatic example of that was the queen went to india during her trip, bowed her head where the notorious massacre happened where
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british soldiers fired into a crowd. akin also to the extraordinary speech at dublin castle in 2011, when she said "we are all in some ways made by history, but we should not be prisoners of it". she registered that again later when she went to belfast and said, so at that point she understood that history was what you went through as a family, eithera was what you went through as a family, either a nationalfamily or an individualfamily. her uncle had been murdered by the ira. those are things you have to do. in fact, there was a moment, i think it was 1983, the christmas message, when she said in effect the commonwealth is wonderful, but the great problem of the world is the gap between rich and poor countries, including in the commonwealth. and she was accused by enoch powell of caring more about
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distant lands than her own people at home. the essence of constitutional monarchy was of course crucial, but for someone who had been protected from formal schooling when she was young, she was immersed in the kind of history that really counted. she read, she thought, she understood, and she took chances. you read, she thought, she understood, and she took chances.— read, she thought, she understood, and she took chances. you talk there about how she _ and she took chances. you talk there about how she understood _ and she took chances. you talk there about how she understood the - and she took chances. you talk there about how she understood the role i and she took chances. you talk there | about how she understood the role of empire had to revolve with all those countries that gained their independence. do you think that transition from empire to the commonwealth, and to the institution that we know today, was made only as smooth as it was because of the queen to mark she was incredibly important to that. you queen to mark she was incredibly important to that.— queen to mark she was incredibly important to that. you can't be an historian and _ important to that. you can't be an historian and not _ important to that. you can't be an historian and not know— important to that. you can't be an historian and not know that - important to that. you can't be an l historian and not know that terrible things went on in kenya, much of
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which she didn't know about because many of us did not know about it. i am old enough to remember the ferocious conflict in cyprus in the 19505, but she was, you know, loving africa, going to africa such a lot, so soon really after independence, it was not an act. she said at one point, "i have been to more african countries than most africans", or something like that. but it was true. so she went from the woman hearing of her father's death, to someone who was absolutely without embarrassment. there was a reason nelson mandela was so fond of her, the queen was known to be against sanctions, whereas her prime minister, margaret thatcher, and that was the main source of tension.
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a huge amount of tension. you would not necessarily have predicted that from her upbringing, orfrom her strict sense of constitutional neutrality. it was just part of who she was. neutrality. it was 'ust part of who she was. ., , ., , she was. king charles iii, one gets the impression _ she was. king charles iii, one gets the impression that _ she was. king charles iii, one gets the impression that he _ she was. king charles iii, one gets the impression that he does - she was. king charles iii, one gets the impression that he does not i the impression that he does not believe that the commonwealth is a casual euphemism for nostalgia, does he? ., . , casual euphemism for nostalgia, does he? ., ., , ., ~ ., he? no. certainly not. and that comes from _ he? no. certainly not. and that comes from many _ he? no. certainly not. and that comes from many of _ he? no. certainly not. and that comes from many of his - he? no. certainly not. and that - comes from many of his long-standing comes from many of his long—standing passions. the fate of the earth, climate change. that has been his cause, i mean, i have known him for 30 years, really, and the fate of the earth is something which affects the earth is something which affects the distance between rich and poor. it is necessarily a global issue, and i suppose both the queen and the king, now, have a very strong sense
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of what a nation is. it is a kind of community. and there are two choices, really. is a nation as a community defined by foreigners, by all those who you are not, or does your national identity, through the accidents of history, even the misfortunes and injustices of history, allow you to be a global thing, and you kind of know that king charles is going to be on that side, how forward he is going to be to articulate, my hunch is he will be pretty forward. that to articulate, my hunch is he will be pretty forward.— be pretty forward. that is interesting. _ be pretty forward. that is interesting. an _ be pretty forward. that is interesting. an activist i be pretty forward. that is i interesting. an activist prince. be pretty forward. that is - interesting. an activist prince. a monstrous carbuncle when it comes to architecture. the environment, sustainability, farming, climate change and so on. as king, and you know him, is he going to be able to
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hold his tongue?— hold his tongue? intermittently. as i said from that _ hold his tongue? intermittently. as i said from that christmas - hold his tongue? intermittently. as | i said from that christmas message, we sometimes forget that these christmas messages were full of current importance. they were subtly and emotionally done. so he does, i think, probably there will be advisers pressing him saying, absolutely don't change your convictions, and good luck to him. he is not going to do that anyway. but we have to find a more negotiable language, which is not putting you in the position of sounding like a voting campaign and i'm sure that is possible. if sounding like a voting campaign and i'm sure that is possible.— i'm sure that is possible. if you were writing — i'm sure that is possible. if you were writing his _ i'm sure that is possible. if you were writing his speech - i'm sure that is possible. if you| were writing his speech tonight, what would you expect him to say? what would you want him to say to unite a country that is going through the grief for millions of people of the death of the only queen they have ever known? meii.
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queen they have ever known? well, far be it from _ queen they have ever known? well, far be it from me, _ queen they have ever known? well, far be it from me, but _ queen they have ever known? well, far be it from me, but he _ queen they have ever known? well, far be it from me, but he will, i i queen they have ever known? -ii far be it from me, but he will, i am sure, say something about continuity, about how the queen embodied in her person a kind of mysterious magic in which past, present and future were somehow bundled up together, and that that will go on. that is, well it is a mysterious and magical thing, i think. all nations right now, oddly enoughin think. all nations right now, oddly enough in the time of digital, cyber, everything, they want anchorage. they want to be part of a family, really. and an inclusive family, really. and an inclusive family as well. a family which acknowledges everything that has changed in britain since his mother became queen in 1952, and that will go on. knowing him, he won't be
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short of inspiration.— go on. knowing him, he won't be short of inspiration. indeed. simon schama, thank _ short of inspiration. indeed. simon schama, thank you _ short of inspiration. indeed. simon schama, thank you for _ short of inspiration. indeed. simon schama, thank you for coming i short of inspiration. indeed. simon schama, thank you for coming in i short of inspiration. indeed. simon l schama, thank you for coming in and talking to us. more news of another event cancelled following the death of the queen. the tuc congress was due to be held in brighton this sunday. it has been postponed. we know the premier league matches and the english football league matches have all been cancelled as well. horse racing has been cancelled, too. we know that the rmt has called off its latest series of strikes. all this, of course, in response to the death of course, in response to the death of the queen. the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby, has paid tribute to her majesty and he has been speaking to our religion editor. i think part of her great service that was unseen, as one former prime minister i heard saying at one point in a conversation, there is only one person in the world that he could
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talk to and say exactly what he thought and felt and was 100% certain that it would never go any further, and that was her majesty. i am also absolutely sure that it will be equally true for his majesty, by the way. i think that was a hidden service. she was a place of confidences and of accumulated wisdom. i talked to her last at the beginning ofjuly, latejune, and we were talking about a particular individual and she said, oh, it rather reminds me of... and she talked about a world leader she had met in the 19605. it was a perfect comparison. there was that deep sense of wisdom, which was given in
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service of the country. but there was also just the service of her time. hundreds of events every year, which she attended. she was the one, and again, it runs in the family, i have seen his majesty do the same thing, who could go into a room full of people, or walk down a crowded street, and everyone she spoke to felt that they were the only person there. she was never looking over their shoulder to see if there was someone more interesting. everyone got her attention. the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby there, with his reflections on the queen. our scotland correspondent is at the scottish parliament for us. we heard the first minister nicola sturgeon
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yesterday they her condolences and put on record her admiration for the queen. have there been any other tributes from the politicians there? we are just outside the palace of holyrood house, which is very close to the scottish parliament at the bottom of the royal mile. this is the official residence for the royal family when they are in scotland. they tend to come here at the end of june, beginning ofjuly, just for a few days before they go up for a more relaxing holiday at balmoral. and even though there are no members of the royal family here at the moment, people have been using this as a focus point, someone to come, somewhere to pay their respects, somewhere to pay their respects, somewhere to pay their respects, somewhere to remember. a lot of people have been coming up to us and telling us why they are here, and
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becoming quite emotional. i was here last night and people started arriving straight after the announcement was made, and there is announcement was made, and there is an official announcement here on the gate, as there is also at buckingham palace. and there is a steady queue of people, and there has been since last night, people coming here to take a look at that. also many people coming to lay flowers. there are piles of flowers, i'm not sure if you can see it through the crowd of people, but again, that has been building up since last night. it has been very organised here and staff from within the palace have been directing people away from the gate so as not to block the outside of the gates with flowers, but instead to put them on the grass. then people can stand. there is a real stillness, peoplejust people can stand. there is a real stillness, people just standing, contemplating, watching what is happening. some people taking
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photographs and a kind of solemn stillness here, considering the amount of people coming through. i have got two guests with me. carol, you are from florida and you just flew into edinburgh this morning, and you came straight here. what was your reaction when you heard of the death of the queen? irate your reaction when you heard of the death of the queen?— death of the queen? we were very shocked. death of the queen? we were very shocked- we _ death of the queen? we were very shocked. we went _ death of the queen? we were very shocked. we went to _ death of the queen? we were very shocked. we went to orlando i death of the queen? we were very l shocked. we went to orlando airport yesterday _ shocked. we went to orlando airport yesterday when we heard the news. many— yesterday when we heard the news. many americans, like me, had a lot of respect _ many americans, like me, had a lot of respect for the queen. a lot of admiration— of respect for the queen. a lot of admiration for the amount of years in the _ admiration for the amount of years in the job— admiration for the amount of years in the job that she did. so when i .ot in the job that she did. so when i got here — in the job that she did. so when i got here and realised how close i was to— got here and realised how close i was to walk over here, we have not even _ was to walk over here, we have not even checked into our hotel yet, we 'ust even checked into our hotel yet, we just came _ even checked into our hotel yet, we just came here. and even checked into our hotel yet, we just came here-— just came here. and one quick question. _ just came here. and one quick question. you _ just came here. and one quick question, you are _ just came here. and one quick question, you are a _ just came here. and one quick question, you are a local, i just came here. and one quick.
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question, you are a local, linda. i wanted to come and lay some flowers for the _ wanted to come and lay some flowers for the queen— wanted to come and lay some flowers for the queen because _ wanted to come and lay some flowers for the queen because she _ wanted to come and lay some flowers for the queen because she has- wanted to come and lay some flowers for the queen because she has been. for the queen because she has been such a _ for the queen because she has been such a wonderful— for the queen because she has been such a wonderful servant _ for the queen because she has been such a wonderful servant to - for the queen because she has been such a wonderful servant to the i such a wonderful servant to the country. — such a wonderful servant to the country. and _ such a wonderful servant to the country, and scotland - such a wonderful servant to the country, and scotland is - such a wonderful servant to the i country, and scotland is mourning her today — country, and scotland is mourning her today lit — country, and scotland is mourning her toda . , , country, and scotland is mourning hertoda . , , country, and scotland is mourning hertoda. , , ., ~ country, and scotland is mourning hertoda. , , ., ,, her today. it is very sad. thank you both very much- — her today. it is very sad. thank you both very much. we _ her today. it is very sad. thank you both very much. we are _ her today. it is very sad. thank you both very much. we are expecting | her today. it is very sad. thank you i both very much. we are expecting the gun salute at 1pm at the other end of the royal mile at edinburgh castle. alexa nd ra, castle. alexandra, thank you. our correspondent at holyrood. my colleague laura is with me. we are just counting down to the top of the hour, and the bells that are going to be ringing out from westminster abbey, st paul's cathedral, churches right across the country, and windsor castle, of course. a very public declaration of the fact that a new king is in place, and he is going to be taking up the role, his first full day, when he arrives back in london in the next few minutes. that's right. and one of the other things he will do today is to have
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his first audience with the new prime minister, that vital meeting, that vital relationship which will likely become of such importance to the new monarch, and a continuation of because of the relationship that his mother, the queen, had for many decades with very many prime ministers, going back from the 19505, all the way to the modern day, through so many social changes and so much political upheaval. that relationship is something of stability, no matter the turbulence or political agonies, disputes and debates and all of the arguments, particularly in recent years, the occupant of the throne is that central point while everything else swells around. something, of course, that buckingham palace will seek to continue. ., , ,., that buckingham palace will seek to continue. ., , ., continue. indeed, that message of continuity. — continue. indeed, that message of continuity. we _ continue. indeed, that message of continuity, we spoke _ continue. indeed, that message of continuity, we spoke to _ continue. indeed, that message of continuity, we spoke to simon i continue. indeed, that message of i continuity, we spoke to simon schama about this. he knows king charles
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very well. he made the point that the speech tonight, his first address to the nation, is likely to focus on that sense of continuity, and stability, that we know the queen gave to this country and the commonwealth over her 70 years. absolutely, and is one of the things that only a handful of people in the country would ever have had a real insight into that behind—the—scenes relationship between the politicians of the day and the queen herself. there is no question that it was a relationship of the absolute utmost importance. you know, a trusted advisor, somebody who could encourage and perhaps warn, and also the queen with an unrivalled memory, actually, of the wiring of government. how things work in this country. she was famous for spending a couple of hours every day going through her red box, reading government papers, reading the cabinet minutes every week, and that will be one of the tasks that king charles takes on himself, to have
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that knowledge and that understanding of the dilemmas and opportunities that face our political leaders, from that very particular point of view of continuity, stability, and also being able to be a trusted adviser. in politics, there is often so much mistrust of that relationship between 10 downing street and the palace, that is one of the special thread that help this country hang together. thread that help this country hang touether. . ~ thread that help this country hang touether. ., ,, ., ,., together. talking about the relationship _ together. talking about the relationship between i together. talking about the relationship between king | together. talking about the i relationship between king charles and liz truss, is this meeting today are getting to know you situation? it is not as if liz truss is some kind of new political leader who has just emerged into the public domain. suddenly, she has only recently become prime minister, but she has held a variety of senior posts over
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a long period of time, and will from time to time have come into contact with king charles. that said, i don't think there is anything quite like that relationship between monarch and prime minister stop it has had its tension over the years, certainly, but that is a very, very prized relationship that occasionally former prime ministers have spoken about it, but by and large it is extremely private, and the monarch is expected to keep them on their toes. harold wilson said when you went to see the queen she expected you to have done your homework. that expectation of them being up to snuff was important. irate being up to snuff was important. we are counting down to the bells that will ring out across churches and cathedrals across this united kingdom. the bells that will sound out the fact that the dawn of a new
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proclaiming the death of the queen but also signalling the reign of king charles iii, now of course head of the church of england. and we can go to the commons for a moment of silence in the chamber there. silence. both houses meeting today so that peers and mp5 can pay their own tributes to the queen. and we know that king charles iii will be
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speaking to liz truss, the prime minister, on his arrival.- minister, on his arrival. before i called the _ minister, on his arrival. before i called the prime _ minister, on his arrival. before i called the prime minister, i minister, on his arrival. before i called the prime minister, it i minister, on his arrival. before i called the prime minister, it is l called the prime minister, it is with— called the prime minister, it is with the — called the prime minister, it is with the greatest sadness that i rise to — with the greatest sadness that i rise to say a few words in tribute to her— rise to say a few words in tribute to her majesty, queen elizabeth. almost— to her majesty, queen elizabeth. almost all of us in the house have experienced no other munnich this country's _ experienced no other munnich this country's throne —— monarch on this country's _ country's throne —— monarch on this country's throne —— monarch on this country's throne than her majesty. there _ country's throne than her majesty. there are — country's throne than her majesty. there are a — country's throne than her majesty. there are a score of members who will have _ there are a score of members who will have already been born, let alone _ will have already been born, let alone can — will have already been born, let alone can recall a time when she was not queen _ alone can recall a time when she was not queen. she is in our minds with a crown— not queen. she is in our minds with a crown and — not queen. she is in our minds with a crown and all it stands for. after succession — a crown and all it stands for. after succession in february 1952, she first came — succession in february 1952, she first came to the palace of westminster to open a session of parliament in november 1952. when winston _ parliament in november 1952. when winston churchill was the prime minister. — winston churchill was the prime minister, and speak william morrison was in _ minister, and speak william morrison was in the _ minister, and speak william morrison was in the chair almost 70 years ago _ was in the chair almost 70 years
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ago 57— was in the chair almost 70 years ago. 57 complete sessions of parliament have passed since then and as— parliament have passed since then and as she — parliament have passed since then and as she was here to open all but three _ and as she was here to open all but three of— and as she was here to open all but three of them, as parliamentarians, we have _ three of them, as parliamentarians, we have celebrated with her silver, golden. _ we have celebrated with her silver, golden, diamondjubilee is and we have celebrated with her silver, golden, diamond jubilee is and of course _ golden, diamond jubilee is and of course marked her platinum jubilee this year. _ course marked her platinum jubilee this year. in— course marked her platinum jubilee this year, in which the lamp standards have been unveiled in new palace _ standards have been unveiled in new palace large —— new palace yard. her reign _ palace large —— new palace yard. her reign saw— palace large —— new palace yard. her reign sawten— palace large —— new palace yard. her reign saw ten different speakers occupy _ reign saw ten different speakers occupy the chair, 18 general elections and i am sure the pro minister— elections and i am sure the pro minister will remind us how many of her predecessors she welcomed two and always— her predecessors she welcomed two and always i'm sure with quiet wisdom~ — and always i'm sure with quiet wisdom. as the longest serving monarch— wisdom. as the longest serving monarch this country has known, she would _ monarch this country has known, she would have _ monarch this country has known, she would have been assured of a notable entry in— would have been assured of a notable entry in our— would have been assured of a notable entry in our history books, even were _ entry in our history books, even were it — entry in our history books, even were it not _ entry in our history books, even were it not for the magnificent in which _ were it not for the magnificent in which she — were it not for the magnificent in which she undertook the role as queen — which she undertook the role as
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queen. but for her magnificent service — queen. but for her magnificent service and what a service that entailed — service and what a service that entailed. notjust as head of the nation _ entailed. notjust as head of the nation but — entailed. notjust as head of the nation but head of the commonwealth, head of— nation but head of the commonwealth, head of the _ nation but head of the commonwealth, head of the armed forces, and supreme — head of the armed forces, and supreme governor of the church of england _ supreme governor of the church of england. over her reign, she has seen— england. over her reign, she has seen unprecedented social, cultural, technological change. through it all, technological change. through it all. she — technological change. through it all, she was the most conscientious and dutiful— all, she was the most conscientious and dutiful of monarchs. but while she understood the inescapable nature — she understood the inescapable nature of— she understood the inescapable nature of duty which sometimes must have weighed on her heavily, she also delighted and carried it out, because — also delighted and carried it out, because she was the most devoted monarch~ _ because she was the most devoted monarch. as well as queen, she was a wife, _ monarch. as well as queen, she was a wife. mother. — monarch. as well as queen, she was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, roles she carried out with the _ grandmother, roles she carried out with the same sense of occasion as well as— with the same sense of occasion as well as human kindness as the role of queen — well as human kindness as the role of queen. her life without unhappiness and troubles but
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memories of her will be dealt with the image — memories of her will be dealt with the image of her gentle smiling dedication she showed throughout her life. indeed, while this is a time of very— life. indeed, while this is a time of very considerable sadness, those memories— of very considerable sadness, those memories of a noble gracious lady who devoted her life to her family, united _ who devoted her life to her family, united kingdom, and those nations around _ united kingdom, and those nations around the — united kingdom, and those nations around the world whom she served as queen. _ around the world whom she served as queen. will— around the world whom she served as queen, will bring us some consolation and joy. my deepest sympathies are with his majesty the kin- sympathies are with his majesty the king and _ sympathies are with his majesty the king and other members of the royal family— king and other members of the royal family to— king and other members of the royal family to whom i commend all our sincere _ family to whom i commend all our sincere condolences and support at this very. _ sincere condolences and support at this very, very sad time.— this very, very sad time. here, here! order. _ this very, very sad time. here, here! order. we _ this very, very sad time. here, here! order. we are _ this very, very sad time. here, here! order. we are meeting l this very, very sad time. here, i here! order. we are meeting today for tributes — here! order. we are meeting today for tributes to _ here! order. we are meeting today for tributes to her _ here! order. we are meeting today for tributes to her late _ here! order. we are meeting today for tributes to her late majesty i for tributes to her late majesty queen— for tributes to her late majesty queen elizabeth. i would like to inform — queen elizabeth. i would like to inform the house that we will sit today— inform the house that we will sit today until approximately 10pm for tributes _ today until approximately 10pm for tributes. at approximately 6pm,
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house _ tributes. at approximately 6pm, house will be suspended his majesty the king _ house will be suspended his majesty the king makes his broadcast to the nation _ the king makes his broadcast to the nation. members present will be able to watch— nation. members present will be able to watch the broadcast on screens in the chamber. we will then resume our proceedings— the chamber. we will then resume our proceedings to continue with tributes _ proceedings to continue with tributes. the house will then sit again— tributes. the house will then sit again tomorrow at one o'clock. the first business will be taking for a small— first business will be taking for a small number of senior members, members — small number of senior members, members to be invited to take tomorrow— members to be invited to take tomorrow are being contacted by my office _ tomorrow are being contacted by my office all— tomorrow are being contacted by my office. all other members will have an opportunity to take the oath when the house _ an opportunity to take the oath when the house returns. after oath taking tomorrow. _ the house returns. after oath taking tomorrow, tributes will continue, the house — tomorrow, tributes will continue, the house is expected to sit do approximately 10pm. the house is not expected _ approximately 10pm. the house is not expected to _ approximately 10pm. the house is not expected to sit on sunday. i now call the — expected to sit on sunday. i now call the prime minister elizabeth truss— call the prime minister elizabeth truss stop mr speaker, in the hours
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since _ truss stop mr speaker, in the hours since last— truss stop mr speaker, in the hours since last night's shocking news, we have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of greed at the loss of -- grief— outpouring of greed at the loss of -- grief at — outpouring of greed at the loss of —— grief at the loss of the queen. crowds _ —— grief at the loss of the queen. crowds have _ —— grief at the loss of the queen. crowds have gathered, flags have been lowered to half mast, tribute had been sent from every continent around the world. on the death of her father king around the world. on the death of herfather king george around the world. on the death of her father king george vi, around the world. on the death of herfather king george vi, winston churchill said the news had stilled the clatter and traffic of 20th—century life in many lands. now, 70 years later, in the tumult of the 215t century, life has paused again. her late majesty, queen elizabeth ii was one of the greatest leaders the world has known. she was the rock on which modern britain was built. she came to the throne at just 25 in a country that was emerging from the shadow of war she bequeathed a modern dynamic nation that has grown and flourished under
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her reign. the united kingdom is the great country it is today because of her. the commonwealth as a family of nations it is today because of her. she was devoted to the union of england, scotland, wales, and northern ireland. she served 15 countries as head of state and she loves them all. her words of wisdom gave us strength in the most testing times. during the darkest moments of the pandemic, she gave us hope that we would meet again. she knew this generation of britons would be as strong as any, and as we meet today, we remember the pledge she made on her 215t birthday to dedicate her life to service. the whole house will agree, life to service. the whole house willagree, never life to service. the whole house will agree, never has a promise so completely fulfilled. hear, hear! .
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her devotion to duty remains an example to us all. she carried out thousands of engagements, she took a red box every day, she gave her assent to countless pieces of legislation and was at the heart of our national life for seven decades. the supreme governor of the church of england, she drew on her deep faith. she was the nation's rightist diplomat, hervisits faith. she was the nation's rightist diplomat, her visits to post apartheid south africa and to the republic of ireland showed her unique ability to transcend difference and heal division. in total, she visited well over 100 countries. she met more people than any other monarch in our history, she gave council to prime ministers and ministers across government. i have personally greatly valued her wise advice. only last october, i witnessed first hand how she charmed
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the world for mac leading investors at windsor castle. she was also so proud of britain and also embodied the spirit of our great country. she remained determined to carry out her duties, even at the age of 96. it wasjust three duties, even at the age of 96. it was just three days ago at balmoral that she invited... ladle wasjust three days ago at balmoral that she invited. . .— that she invited... we are breaking awa from that she invited... we are breaking away from the _ that she invited... we are breaking away from the commons _ that she invited... we are breaking away from the commons to - that she invited... we are breaking away from the commons to show l that she invited... we are breaking i away from the commons to show you pictures at aberdeen airport, and this is king charles iii, and we think the queen consort camilla as well. they are preparing to make theirjourney back well. they are preparing to make their journey back to well. they are preparing to make theirjourney back to london and there is the king. you will —— he will of course having his mind an idea he will be saying to the nation on this, the first full day of his reign. and as he thanks those
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members of the royal staff who have helped him and guided him and the rest of the royal family through the last few hours, camilla, i think, they're under the umbrella, he will have i am sure a sense of what he wants to say to the nation. tonight, we will talk to the historian, we spoke to him earlier in the historian simon sharma, he suggested that perhaps one key part of the address tonight to the nation will be that sense of continuity that the legacy of his mother the queen, now departed, will continue in terms of the strength and grit and fortitude she showed in her rule and he will endeavour to continue that legacy.
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there they are just having boarded a plane there, the raf flight heading back to london where he will be meeting at liz truss who is still on herfeet meeting at liz truss who is still on her feet i see in the commons making her feet i see in the commons making her remarks in remembrance of the queen. let's go back to the chamber. speak to his majesty last night and offer my condolences. even as his mournes, his sense of duty and service is clear, he has already made a profound contribution through his work on conservation and his tireless diplomacy. we own him our loyalty and devotion. the british people, the commonwealth, and all of us in this house will support him as he takes our country forward to a
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new era of hope and progress. our new era of hope and progress. our new carolingian age. the crowning jewels, our nation and jewels, the crown ngos, and in that spirit, i say god save the king. i crown ngos, and in that spirit, i say god save the king.— crown ngos, and in that spirit, i say god save the king. i now call the leader _ say god save the king. i now call the leader of _ say god save the king. i now call the leader of the _ say god save the king. i now call the leader of the opposition i say god save the king. i now call the leader of the opposition keirj the leader of the opposition keir starmer~ — the leader of the opposition keir starmer. . ~ the leader of the opposition keir starmer. ., ,, , ., ~ ., ,, starmer. thank you, mr speaker. toda , starmer. thank you, mr speaker. today. our— starmer. thank you, mr speaker. today, our country, _ starmer. thank you, mr speaker. today, our country, our— starmer. thank you, mr speaker. today, our country, our people, i starmer. thank you, mr speaker. i today, our country, our people, this house, are united in mourning. queen elizabeth ii was this great country's greatest monarch. and for the vast majority of us, it feels impossible to imagine a britain without her. all our thoughts are without her. all our thoughts are with her beloved family, our royal family, at this moment of profound grief. this is a deep and private loss for them. yet it is one we all
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share because queen elizabeth created a special personal relationship with us all. that relationship with us all. that relationship was built on the attributes that define terrain —— her reign, her total commitment to service and duty, her deep devotion to the country, the commonwealth, and the people she loved. in return for that, we loved her. and it is because of that great shared love that we grieve today. for the 70 glorious years of her reign, our queen was at the heart of this nation's life. she did not simply reign over us, she lived alongside us, she shared in our hopes and our fears, ourjoy and our pain, our
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good times, and allahabad. our queen —— and the bad times. she played a vital role between the history we cherished and the present we own. reminder that our generational battle against the evil of fascism of the emergence of new britain out of the emergence of new britain out of the emergence of new britain out of the rubble of the second world war do only belong to the past but the inheritance of each and every one of us. a reminder that the creativity, the hard work, the enterprise, that has always defined this nation, is as abundant now as it ever was. a reminder that the prospect of a better future still burns brightly. never was this link more important that when our country was plunged into lockdown at the start of the pandemic. her simple message that we would see family again, that we would see friends
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again, that we would see friends again, that we would see friends again, that we would be together again, that we would be together again, gave people strength and courage when they need it most. but it wasn't simply the message that allowed a shaken nation to draw upon those reserves, it was the fact that she was the messenger. covid closed the front doors of every home in the country, it made our lives smaller and more remote, but she was able to reach beyond that, to reassure us and steal us at the time we are most alone, at a time we had been driven apart, she held the nation close in apart, she held the nation close in a way no one else could have done. for that, we say thank you. on the occasion of the queen's silver jubilee in 1977, philip larkin wrote
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of her reign, in times when nothing stood but worsened or greased range, there was one constant good, she did not change. it feels like we are once again in a moment in our history where as larkin put it, things are growing strange, where everything is spelling, a nation requires a still point. when times are difficult, it requires comfort. and when direction is hard to find, it requires leadership. the loss of our queen robs this country of its stillness point, its greatest comfort, at precisely the time we need those things most. but our queen's commitment to us, her life of public service, was underpinned by one crucial understanding, that the country she came to symbolise is bigger than any one individual or
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any one institution. it is the sum total of all our history and all our endeavours and it will endure. the late queen would have wanted us to redouble our efforts, to turn our colour up and face the storm, to carry on. most of all, she would want us to remember that it is in these moments that we must pull together. this house is a place where ideas and ideals are debated, of course that leads to passionate disagreement, of course temperatures can run high, but we all do it in pursuit of something greater, we do it because we believe we can make this great country and its people greater still. at this moment of uncertainty, where our country feels caught between a past it cannot
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relive and a future yet to be revealed, we must always remember one of the great lessons of our queen's reign, that we are always better when we rise above the petty, the trivial, the day—to—day, to focus on the things that really matter, the things that unite us, rather than those which divide us. our elizabethan age may now be over, but her legacy will live on forever, and as the children of that area, it falls upon us to take that legacy forward, touche —— showed the same love of country, the love of one another, as she did. to show empathy and compassion, as she did. and to get britain through this dark night and bring it into the dawn, as she did. wejoin together and bring it into the dawn, as she did. we join together today notjust to say goodbye to our queen, to
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share in our morning, but to say something else important, god save the king, because as one era ends, so another begins. king charles iii has been a devoted servant of this country his entire life, he has been a powerful voice for fairness and understood the importance of the environment long before many others. as he ascends to his new role with a queen consort by his side, the whole house, indeed the whole country, willjoin today to wish him a long, happy. willjoin today to wish him a long, happy, and successful reign. hear, hear! mr speaker, _ happy, and successful reign. hear, hear! mr speaker, the _ happy, and successful reign. hear, hear! mr speaker, the emotions i happy, and successful reign. hear,| hear! mr speaker, the emotions we see across the _ hear! mr speaker, the emotions we see across the nation _ hear! mr speaker, the emotions we see across the nation today - hear! mr speaker, the emotions we see across the nation today are i see across the nation today are echoed across the commonwealth to which our queen was so committed. in the church to which our queen was so devoted. and in the armed forces
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which she led and our —— herfamily served. around the world, people will be united in mourning for her passing, and united in celebrating her life. we have already seen beautiful tributes flowed from across the world, it will be possible to capture them all here but each one is a reminder of the esteem in which she was held, of what she achieved on behalf of her country, of the shared values we treasure. the reason our loss feels so profound is notjust because she stood at the head of our country for 70 years, but because in spirit, she stood amongst us. as we move forward, as we forge a new path, as we build towards a better future, she will always be with us. for all she will always be with us. for all she gave us and all she will continue to give us, we say thank
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you, may our queen rest in peace. god save the king.— you, may our queen rest in peace. god save the king._ i l you, may our queen rest in peace. i god save the king._ i now god save the king. hear, hear! i now call on the father— god save the king. hear, hear! i now call on the father of— god save the king. hear, hear! i now call on the father of the _ god save the king. hear, hear! i now call on the father of the house, - call on the father of the house, peter_ call on the father of the house, peter bottomley. _ call on the father of the house, peter bottomley.— call on the father of the house, peter bottomley. constituents will wish me briefly _ peter bottomley. constituents will wish me briefly to _ peter bottomley. constituents will wish me briefly to record - peter bottomley. constituents will wish me briefly to record their- wish me briefly to record their love, respect, and gratitude to her late majesty. we can give continuing life to her values and virtues of kindness, aspiration, perseverance and pride. we thank her, we miss her... figs and pride. we thank her, we miss her... �* , ., ., . and pride. we thank her, we miss her... a ., ., her... as we hear the voice of their of peter bottomley, _ her... as we hear the voice of their of peter bottomley, the _ her... as we hear the voice of their of peter bottomley, the longer - of peter bottomley, the longer service member of the common, the father of the house, we see the pictures there of the rafjet at aberdeenshire airport with of course on board the king and queen consort as they fly into a new future for
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them, the country, and the commonwealth. just taxiing on the runway there. peter bottomley there, making his views known about his affection for the queen. we know ian blackford is now on his feet, and a little earlier, we heard sir lindsay hoyle, the speaker of the commons, open the session with the prime minister liz truss and the leader of the opposition, sir keir starmer, giving their words there. when he was the prince just yesterday, he was the prince just yesterday, he was at the bedside of the queen when she passed away, and automatically of course he became king charles iii, but there are constitutional eyes to dart and teas to cross, and we know that they will be a meeting
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of the accession council tomorrow at ten o'clock, usually held within 2a hours, to formally proclaim the new monarch, and that council is made up of representatives from the lords, the lord mayor of london, the alderman of the city of london —— london, some commonwealth high commissioner is indeed and all the members of the privy council. it is purely a ceremonial above the and their proclamation has no legal standing. it is purely a ceremonial body. it is one of those constitutional arrangements that must be followed and should be followed. as we embark on the era of king charles iii, that aeroplane due to take off in the next few seconds or so, as the pilot study is the
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craft, the weather at little bit better than yesterday, it was lashing it down in balmoral, and lashing it down in balmoral, and lashing it down as well outside buckingham palace and windsor and yet thousands of people were turning up yet thousands of people were turning up at all those royal residences to pay their respects. and we know from talking to my colleagues outside buckingham palace that people were turning up in the middle of the night to lay flowers and candles and cards, and of course all those flowers outside buckingham palace have got to go somewhere so we understand that around ten o'clock tomorrow morning, i think, many of them will be moved to nearby green park, when i was at the public can also see some of the messages that have been left by their fellow countrymen and women in remembrance of the queen. and we are expecting, of the queen. and we are expecting, of course, prince charles to look at
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some of those cards —— king charles, look on his own walkabout perhaps with the queen consort. and there it is, that rafjet, about to take off, making its way back to london with king charles iii and the queen consort, flying off into a new era for this country, and for them, as leaders of these islands. and we are expecting, as we heard there in the commons, the suspension
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of parliament at around 6pm, and he indicated that it might be around about that time when we could well here the address, that national address, for the first time, of king charles iii. we expect him to emphasise that his reign will be a symbol of continuity after the death of his mother. we will return to the commons now, where mps have been making speeches, showing their respect for the queen. ian blackford, leader of the snp. the values that so often embodied by her majesty herself, and in what was sadly a final address to the
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scottish parliament, her love of scotland and its people was clear. she said, "it is the people who make the plays, and there are few places where this is truer than it is in scotland." the relationship between scotland." the relationship between scotland and the queen was one of sheer admiration. scotland and the queen was one of sheeradmiration. indeed, whilst scotland and the queen was one of sheer admiration. indeed, whilst she was everyone 's green, for everyone was everyone �*5 green, for everyone in was everyone 's green, for everyone in scotland she was elizabeth, queen of scots. her majesty 's routes in scotland run deep. she was descended from the royal house of stuart on both sides, and her mother was from glamis in angus. it is clear that these family ties give way to a great and enduring affection, and scotland was a place that was truly held dear to her, not only in an official capacity, but in a private capacity as well. it is well known that balmoral, with its beautiful scenery, was herfavourite home. balmoral was a place where she was able to enjoy freedom, peace, and the ability to indulge her love of
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the ability to indulge her love of the great outdoors, whether that was walking her dogs, riding horses, hosting picnics and barbecues, or behind the wheel of her land rover. it is clear that balmoral has been a place of peas and sentry for her throughout her whole life, and perhaps physically so following the death of her husband, his royal highness, the duke of edinburgh —— a place of peace. it is perhaps fitting that she met her final moments at balmoral. she will now have enduring peace with herself, and of course to be reunited with prince philip. her majesty led a life of grace and wisdom, defined by its service to the public and by the lives she touched. her legacy and enduring presence will live on. god bless the queen, may she rest in peace. bless the queen, may she rest in
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eace. h, bless the queen, may she rest in eace. , ,, peace. god bless the king. boris johnson. _ i hope the house will not mind if i begin with a personal confession. if you months ago, the bbc came to me to talk about her majesty the queen and we sat down, and the cameras started rolling, and they requested that i should talk about her in the past tense. i am afraid i simply choked up, and i could not go on and i am not easily moved to tears. but i am not easily moved to tears. but i was so overcome with sadness that i was so overcome with sadness that i had to ask them to go away. and i know that today there are countless people in this country, and around the world, who have experienced the same sudden access of unexpected emotion, and i think millions of us are trying to understand why we are feeling this deep and personal, and
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almost familial sense of loss. perhaps it is partly that she has always been there. a changeless human reference point in british life, a person who, all the surveys say, appears most often in our dreams, so unvarying in her polestar radiance that we have perhaps been lulled into thinking that she might be eternal —— polestar. i think we are beginning to understand the true magnitude of what she did for us all. and think of what we asked that 25—year—old woman to do all those years ago. to be the person so globally trusted that her image should be on every unit of our
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currency, every postage stamp, the person in whose name orjustice is dispensed in this country. every law passed to every minister of the crown, they swear allegiance, and for whom every member of our armed services is pledged, if necessary, to lay down their lives. think what we asked of her in that moment. not just to be the living embodiment in her dna, of the history and continuity and unity of this country, but to be the figurehead of our entire system. the keystone in the vast arch of the british state. a role that only she could fulfil because in the brilliant and durable bargain of the constitutional monarchy, only she could be trusted to be above any party political or commercial interest. and to
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incarnate in the very concept and essence of the nation. think what we asked of her, and think what she gave. she showed the world notjust how to reign over a people, she showed the world how to give, how to love, and how to serve. and, as we look back at that vast of service, its sheer duration is almost impossible to take in. she was the last living person in british public life to have served in uniform in the second world war. she was the first female member of the royal family in 1000 years to serve full—time in the armed forces, and that impulse to do her duty carried her right through into her tenth decade, to the very moment in balmoral, as my right honourable
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friend has said, only three days ago, when she saw off her 14th prime minister, and welcomed her 15th. and i can tell you in that audience she was as radiant and as knowledgeable and as fascinated by politics as everl and as fascinated by politics as ever i can remember, and as wise in her advice as any one i know, if not wiser. over that extraordinary span of public service, with her naturally retentive and inquiring mind, i think that many of the 15 would agree, that she became the greatest diplomat of all. she knew instinctively how to cheer up the nation, how to lead a celebration. i remember her innocentjoy more than ten years ago, after the opening ceremony of the london olympics, when i told her that the leader of a
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friendly middle eastern country seemed actually to believe that she had jumped out of a helicopter in a pink dress and parachuted into the stadium. and i remember her equal pleasure on being told just a few weeks ago that she had been a smash hit in her performance with paddington bear. and perhaps more importantly, she knew how to keep us going when times were toughest. in 1940, when this country and this democracy faced the real possibility of extinction, she gave a broadcast aged only 14, that was intended to reassure the children of britain. she said then, "we know, everyone of that in the end all will be well". she was right. and she was right again in the darkest days of the
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pandemic, when she came on our screens and told us that we would meet again. and we did. and i know i speakfor other prime meet again. and we did. and i know i speak for other prime ministers when i say, former prime ministers, when i say, former prime ministers, when i say, former prime ministers, when i say that she helped to comfort and guide us as well as the nation because she had the patience and the sense of history to see that troubles come and go and that disasters are seldom as bad as they seem. and it was that in dominant ability, that humour, that work ethic and that sense of history which together made her elizabeth the great. and when i call that, i should add one final quality, of course, which was her humility, her single bar electric fire, tupperware using refusal to be grand. and unlike us politicians, with our
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outriders and armour plated convoys, i can tell you is a direct eyewitness, that she drove herself in her own, with no detectives, no bodyguards, bouncing along at alarming speed over the scottish landscape to the total amazement of the ramblers we encountered. and it is that spirit with which she created the modern constitutional monarchy. an institution so strong and so happy and so well understood, notjust in this country, but in the commonwealth and around the world, that the succession has already seamlessly taken place, and i believe she would regard it as her own highest achievement that her son, king charles iii, will clearly and amply followed her own extraordinary standards of duty and
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service. and the fact that today we can say with such confidence, god save the king is a tribute to him, but above all, to elizabeth the great, who worked so hard for the good of her country, notjust now, but for generations to come. that is why we mourn her so deeply, and it is in the depths of our grief that we understand why we loved her so much. harriet harman. thank you, mr speaker. what an excellent speech form the right honourable memberfor uxbridge, which i'm sure will have resonated in every member of this house, and indeed everyone in this country. a brilliant speech. i am grateful for the opportunity to make my tribute to the queen, and to do so on my own behalf, but also on behalf of my constituents, particularly those coming from commonwealth countries in africa and
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the caribbean, who held the queen in such high regard. for mps, the queen was ever present in the interwoven relationship between the monarch and her parliament. she underpinned our democratic system for over 70 years, underpinning it but never intervening in it. she was always salient, but never medalled. she avoided controversy, not by staying in the background, farfrom it. she performed her roll to the utmost, but she did it by respecting the boundaries. she carried out her duties and gave us her full commitment for us to carry out hours. when many denigrated, she respected and supported parliament, and we should be very grateful for that. between her ministers, and not just prime ministers, there was regular contact. after labour won
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the election in 1997, i went up to the election in 1997, i went up to the palace where, like the other new secretaries of state, she pointed me to the privy council and bestowed on me the seals of office. they are actual seals, which are given to you, and you take back to your department to be locked in a safe. but when just a year later i was sacked... but when 'ust a year later i was sacked. . .— the seals were taken out of the safe and brought back to buckingham palace, my diary was empty and my phone stopped ringing. my palace, my diary was empty and my phone stopped ringing.— palace, my diary was empty and my phone stopped ringing. my office was astonished to — phone stopped ringing. my office was astonished to get _ phone stopped ringing. my office was astonished to get a _ phone stopped ringing. my office was astonished to get a call— phone stopped ringing. my office was astonished to get a call from - astonished to get a call from buckingham palace. no one else wanted to have anything to do with me. but the queen wanted to see me. i was invited to take tea with the queen, for her to thank me for my service as secretary of state. my
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point is that the relationship between our queen and parliament, and our queen and government, was neverjust on paper, but was always active and always encouraging. she radiated british values of duty, patriotism, internationalism, charity and service, but while she embodied british values, she never intervened in politics. and that is constitutional alchemy, nothing less. it is evident that everyone, even those who don't agree with the hereditary principle of the monarchy, cannot but marvel at her personal qualities. i want to marvel at how she could do all this flawlessly, notjust at how she could do all this flawlessly, not just over so at how she could do all this flawlessly, notjust over so many decades, but as a woman starting her reign in what was emphatically then a man 's world. we have to remember
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what attitudes were at the time. the order of the day was men were in charge, and women were subservient. the man was head of the household and the role of a woman was to get married, have his children, and support him. in the 19505, when she was crowned, i was a child, and i remember my mother warning me that people thought men knew more than women, that men's views were valuable, while swimmers were to be disregarded. and so it was in that atmosphere that she stepped up as a 25—year—old married woman with two children to take her place at the head of this nation, and play a huge role on the world stage. —— the views of women were to be disregarded. what courage that must have taken.
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the prime ministers were usually twice her age. a huge change has taken place during her reign. things were very different when six years ago she threw open buckingham palace for us to celebrate the 70th anniversary of bbc woman's hour, to celebrate how much women have achieved. as tony blair said, she was the matriarch of this nation. a matriarch for us on the world stage. and a matriarch, too, at home, in her own family. as well as being our monarch, she was a mother of four children, had many grandchildren and great—grandchildren, and it is to herfamily that i great—grandchildren, and it is to her family that i extend my deepest sympathies for their loss and condolences for their grief, which we all share. theresa may. thank you, mr speaker. it is with great sadness that i rise
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to pay tribute to her late majesty, queen elizabeth. on my behalf and on behalf of my maidenhead constituents. yesterday was a day that we all knew would come some time, but in our heart of hearts, we hoped never would. but, as we mourn a beloved monarch, we must always remember that she was a mother, grandmother, and a great grandmother, and a great grandmother, and a great grandmother, and prayers are with king charles iii and the whole of the royal family. king charles iii and the whole of the royalfamily. and i also remember the close members of her royal household. queen elizabeth ii was quite simply the most remarkable person i have ever met. i am sometimes asked, among all the world leaders i met, who was the most impressive? i have no hesitation in
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saying that, from all the heads of state and government, the most impressive person i met was her late majesty queen elizabeth ii. she gave a lifetime of service, as she promised to do when she was 21. her selfless devotion to duty was an inspiration and an example to us all. she was respected and loved, notjust here in the united kingdom and in her other realms in the commonwealth, but across the world. that love, respect and admiration was born not out of her position, but because of the person she was. a woman of dignity and grace. of compassion and warmth. of mischief and joy. compassion and warmth. of mischief andjoy. of compassion and warmth. of mischief and joy. of wisdom and experience. and of a deep understanding of her people. like so many until last
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evening, i had never known another monarch. she was a constant throughout our lives, always there for us, uniting us at times of difficulty, and as others have said, most recently during the pandemic when she gave us hope that we would once more come together. her passing marks a generational change. not just because of the length of her service, but because of what she lived through. when we marked the 75th anniversary of the d—day landings in 2019, she was with the world leaders notjust as queen, but as someone who had worn a uniform during the second world war and that is an experience which, apart from anything else, it taught her how to strip an engine. the queen was always interested in people. when she walked into a room, the faces of those present were lit up.
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warmth and humanity, which put people at their ease. she was queen, but she embodied us. across the nations of the world. many people, meeting queen elizabeth simply made their day, and for many will be the memory of their life. of course, for those of us who had the honour to serve us one of her prime ministers, those meetings were more frequent with the weekly audiences. these were not meetings with a high and mighty monarch, but a conversation with a woman of experience and knowledge, and immense wisdom. they were also the one meeting i went to which i knew would not be briefed out to the media. what made
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was the understanding the queen had of issues which came from the work she put into her red boxes, combined with her years of experience. she knew many of the world leaders, and in some cases she had known their fathers, and was a wise and great judge of people. the conversations at the audiences were special, but so were weekends at balmoral, where the queen wanted all her guests to enjoy themselves. she was a thoughtful hostess. she would take an interest in what books were put in your room, and she did not always expect to be the centre of attention. she was quite happy sometimes to sit playing her form of patients, while others were mingling around her, chatting to each other. my around her, chatting to each other. my husband tells of the time he had a dream. he dreamt that he was sitting in the back of a range rover, being driven around the balmoral estate, and the driver was her majesty the queen, and the passenger seat was occupied by his wife, the prime minister. then he woke up and realised it was reality.
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her majesty loved the countryside. she was down to earth and a woman of common sense. i remember one picnic at balmoral. the hampers came from the castle and we all mucked in to put the food and drink out on the table. i picked up some cheese, put it on a plate and was transferring it on a plate and was transferring it to the table. the cheese fell on the floor. i had a split—second decision to make. i picked up the cheese, put it on the plane and put it on the table. i turned around to see that my every move had been watched very carefully by her majesty the queen. i looked
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at her, she looked at me and she just smiled. and the cheese remained on the table. this is indeed a sad day, but it is also a day of celebration of a life well spent and the service of others. there have been many words of tribute to describe her late majesty queen elizabeth ii, and these are entirely justified. she was our longest serving monarch. she was respected around the world. she united our nation in times of trouble. she joined in our celebrations with joy and a mischievous smile. she gave an example to us all of faith, of service, of duty, of dignity, of decency. she was remarkable and i
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doubt we will ever see her like again. may she rest in peace and rise in glory. sir again. may she rest in peace and rise in glory-— again. may she rest in peace and rise in glory-_ it - again. may she rest in peace and rise in glory._ it is l again. may she rest in peace and rise in glory._ it is a j rise in glory. sir ed davey. it is a real pleasure _ rise in glory. sir ed davey. it is a real pleasure to _ rise in glory. sir ed davey. it is a real pleasure to follow _ rise in glory. sir ed davey. it is a real pleasure to follow the - rise in glory. sir ed davey. it is a real pleasure to follow the right | real pleasure to follow the right honourable lady and can i congratulate her on her lovely, heart—warming speech. mr speaker, the lib demsjoin members from all sides of the house in expressing our deepest condolences on the passing of her majesty the queen. we are mourning a profound loss. the queen was a formidable monarch, who faithfully served our country for all her life, and was loved the world over. she represented not only duty and courage, but warmth and compassion, and she was a living reminder of our collective past, of the greatest generation and their sacrifices for our freedom. for many
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people, myself included, her majesty was an effort fixed mark in our lives. as the world changed around us and politicians came and went, she was our nation 's constant. in challenging times, she was always a source of calm and comfort. and she tied our nations together, embodying an unwavering pride in our country. she showed us that patriotism is not defined by political allegiance, and reminded us of the many things that bind us all together, even when it doesn't always feel that way. we saw this so vividly during the platinum jubilee celebrations injune. i am proud to represent the oldest royal borough in england, kingston upon thames. ourjubilee street parties certainly lived up to that status. it was truly wonderful to see such an outpouring of affection from people across kingston from all
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walks of life. schoolchildren who baked cakes, neighbours who shared bunting, choirs who sang hymns of praise. it was incredibly fitting that, after so long kept apart by the pandemic, it was the queen and a celebration of her reign that brought our communities back so joyfully. just as the whole country is united to date so sadly in grief. the deep morning across the country now, just like thejubilee celebrations a few months ago common comes not from a sense of duty but from genuine and heartfelt affection, love, and admiration for her majesty. it was not because we were her subjects, but because she was truly our queen. what she meant to us is perhaps best summed up by a phrase on so many people slips over the last 24 hours. "i can't imagine
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our country without her". for almost everyone in our country she has been there our whole lives. at times of national grief and national jubilation, she has never not been there for us. so it is hard to accept that she is gone, and hard to see how we go on without her. but we will. our great united kingdom has a great future because her spirit of strength, grace and resolve lives on in her people. one of the greatest privileges of being a member of this house was the chance to meet her majesty. like when i was deeply privileged to sit next to her at a lunch at windsor castle. we are going to leave the house of commons now and take you to hyde park, where the first ceremonial event since the queen died yesterday afternoon at balmoral is about to
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