Prime Minister Liz Truss has paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II in Parliament, describing her as 'one greatest leaders the world has ever known'. MPs observed a minute’s silence in memory of the Queen in the House of Commons chamber on Friday (September 9).
They stood in a crowded chamber with heads bowed. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle led the tributes, telling MPs: “She is wed in our minds with the crown and all it stands for.”
Ms Truss made her tribute to the Queen in a full, silent Commons chamber, with MPs on all benches clothed in black. She began by noting that 'in the hours since last night's shocking news, we have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of grief at the loss of her late Majesty the Queen.'
She continued: "Crowds have gathered, flags have been lowered to half mast, tributes have been sent from every continent around the world. On the death of her father 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 21st century life has paused again. Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known.” Truss said that the United Kingdom is the 'great country it is today' because of her.
The Prime Minister said: "She was devoted to the union of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. She served 15 countries as head of state and she loved 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 Britains would be as strong as any. And as we meet today, we remember the pledge she made on her twenty first birthday, to dedicate her life to service. The whole House will agree, never has a promise been so completely fulfilled.
"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.
"As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she drew on her deep faith. She was the nation’s greatest diplomat. Her visits to post-apartheid South Africa and to the Republic of Ireland showed a 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 counsel to Prime Ministers and Ministers across government. I have personally greatly valued her wise advice.
The Prime Minister also said the Queen shared her “deep experience of government” when the two met at Balmoral this week. Truss said: “She remained determined to carry out her duties even at the age of 96. It was just three days ago at Balmoral that she invited me to form a Government and become her 15th prime minister.
“Again she generously shared with me her deep experience of government, even in those last days.”
Truss also highlighted Queen Elizabeth's legacy, adding that her image 'is an icon for what Britain stand for as a nation'. She added: "Her legacy will endure through the countless people she met, the global history she witnessed, and the lives that she touched.
"She was loved and admired by people across the United Kingdom and across the world. One of the reasons for that affection was her sheer humanity. She re-invented the monarchy for the modern age.
"She was a champion of freedom and democracy around the world. She was dignified but not distant. She was willing to have fun, whether on a mission with 007 or having tea with Paddington Bear. She brought the monarchy into people’s lives and into people’s homes."
Truss sent her 'deepest sympathy' to all members of the Royal Family and said she was 'grateful' to speak to His Majesty King Charles III last night and offer her condolences. She concluded her tribute: "Even as he mourns, his sense of duty and service is clear.
"He has already made a profound contribution through his work on conservation, education, and his tireless diplomacy. We owe 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 new era of hope and progress, our New Carolean age. The Crown endures. Our nation endures. And in that spirit, I say: God save The King."
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