Former PM David Cameron said “there are no words that can adequately express the sense of loss our nation will feel” after the Queen’s death. In a statement posted on Twitter, he said the Queen had been “a rock of strength for our nation and the Commonwealth”.
“There can simply be no finer example of dignified public duty and unstinting service, and we all owe our sincere gratitude for her continued devotion, living every day by the pledge she made on her 21st birthday. Her dedication to our country has been incomparable and, as such, she leaves an enduring legacy.”
He added he was “very proud” to have served as the Queen’s twelfth prime minister, adding it was a “privilege” to call on her “sage advice and wise counsel”. Mr Cameron also paid tribute to her record in foreign and domestic affairs, adding: “My thoughts and prayers are with the King and the royal family at this time of great sadness.
“The country has lost a devoted public servant; and the royal family has lost a much-loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother.”
Jeremy Corbyn, who as Labour Party leader was Leader of the Opposition between 2015 to 2020, tweeted: “My thoughts are with the Queen’s family as they come to terms with their personal loss, as well as those here and around the world who will mourn her death.
“I enjoyed discussing our families, gardens and jam-making with her. May she rest in peace.”
US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill said the Queen “led always with grace, an unwavering commitment to duty and the incomparable power of her example”. She endured the dangers and deprivations of a world war alongside the British people and rallied them during the devastation of a global pandemic to look to better days ahead.
The pair added: “Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special.” The said they first met the Queen in 1982 and when they made their first overseas trip to the UK as President and First Lady in 2021 “she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom”.
The Queen met 14 US presidents, helped commemorate key anniversaries in American history and “stood in solidarity with the United States during our darkest days after 9/11, when she poignantly reminded us that “grief is the price we pay for love”.
