Elizabeth II 1926-2022 | The world in mourning

The international community paid almost unanimous tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her death on Thursday, marking the end of the longest reign of the British monarchy.

Frederik-Xavier Duhamel
The Press

Indigenous Peoples

“She was an influential role model for generations of women and will be remembered for normalizing and evolving the perception of strong female leadership,” said Assembly of First Nations of Canada National Chief RoseAnne Archibald . The Native Women’s Association of Canada, for its part, simply offered its condolences to the royal family as well as to the people of Great Britain in a brief statement.

United States

She “defined an era,” reads a joint statement from US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill. “The seven decades of her historic reign witnessed an era of unprecedented human progress,” during which she met 14 presidents of the United States. The Bidens’ predecessors, including Donald and Melania Trump or Barack and Michelle Obama, also paid tribute to the Queen. “What a tall, beautiful lady she was – there was no one like her! “said Mr. Trump on his social network.

Russia and Ukraine

Even the worst enemies took the time to praise the merits of the deceased. “For many decades, Elizabeth II rightly enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Expressing his “deep sadness”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lamented an “irreparable loss”.

New Zealand

Elizabeth II “came to define service, charity and consistency,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a lengthy Facebook post. “His commitment to his role and to all of us has been unquestionable and unwavering. The queen showed “courage, compassion and humor”, underlined M^me Ardern, saying she would remember his laugh. “She was amazing. »

Germany

“His commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War II will remain unforgettable,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Twitter. “She will be missed, especially her wonderful humor. His predecessor, Angela Merkel, highlighted his sense of duty, moral integrity, dedication and dignity.

India

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a pillar of our times,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter. “She provided inspirational leadership to her nation and her people. She personified dignity and decency in public life. Mr Modi added that he would never forget his meetings with the Queen or “her warmth and kindness”.

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the Queen’s many visits to his country in front of “cheering crowds”. “The relationship between Australia and Britain has matured and evolved throughout Her Majesty’s reign,” Mr Albanese noted, also on Twitter. “The Queen has greeted each change with understanding, good grace and an unwavering faith in the good judgment of the Australian people. »

Nigeria

“My family and I, along with the more than 200 million Nigerians, learned with immense sadness of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II,” the president of Africa’s most populous country, Muhammadu Buhari, said on Twitter. “She was the only British sovereign known to 90% of our population,” he stressed, adding that she was “an imposing world figure and an exceptional leader”.

France and European Union

French President Emmanuel Macron said he kept “the memory of a friend of France, a queen of hearts who forever marked her country and her century”. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, hailed Elizabeth II “a model of continuity” whose calm and dedication “have given strength to many”.

UN, NATO and the Pope

UN Secretary General António Guterres also underlined the “grace, dignity and devotion” of Elizabeth II. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was “deeply saddened” by the death of the sovereign. “Deeply saddened” also, Pope Francis said he was praying for Elizabeth II and for Charles III, his successor to the throne.

Qatar, Pakistan and Israel

“Throughout her rich career, she has been a source of inspiration and nobility,” added the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. His death leaves a huge void, the memory of which “will remain etched in letters of gold in the annals of world history”, according to the President of Pakistan, Arif Alvi. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid judged that this “exceptional figure” “symbolized devotion and love for his homeland”.

Business world

Figures from business and philanthropy also paid tribute to the Queen. “I don’t know of anyone who personified a sense of duty better,” former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos tweeted. “I am honored to have met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and I am very sad to learn of her passing,” said Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and a foundation in his name.

With Agence France-Presse