The Queen’s passing was a sad day for the whole country, but even more so for the Royal Family.
She was not just a head of state but also a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I hope that it brings comfort to the King and all her family to see how cherished and loved she was, as the country joins them in grieving her passing.
Throughout her extraordinary 70 years of public service, the Queen led by example and showed us all the need for kindness and compassion in our society.
Her advice to our political leaders was respected by all, and in times of crisis – from the Blitz to the pandemic – she provided invaluable leadership. So often in our politics, both today and throughout history, we focus too much on what divides us – but the Queen always brought us together.
She reminded us that despite our political disagreements and arguments, everyone in Holyrood is there in the service of the Scottish people. She was the great unifier of our country, in good times and in bad.
Just this summer we came together and celebrated her Platinum Jubilee. And in our darkest moments she was our beacon of light and hope. Her words of comfort during the devastating Covid pandemic gave us all strength.
At a time of national grief she found the perfect words to give us the hope we so badly needed, reminding us that we will meet our loved ones again.
Throughout her extraordinary 70 years of public service she showed immense strength and dedication and her legacy will
live on. Whatever challenges our country faces in the years ahead we will always be able to draw inspiration from the values she lived by.
That is why so many of us feel like we are saying goodbye to a member of our own family. And for many it has brought back memories of loved ones they have lost – grandparents, husbands, wives, mothers and fathers.
I’m sure I’m not alone in being reminded of my own grandma every time I saw the Queen. Not just because of her look and her mannerisms, but because of her caring demeanour, her visible love for her family, and her obvious intelligence and insight.
Her influence was felt far beyond these shores, people in the Commonwealth and other nations will share our sadness at this time.
Our world changed beyond recognition during her reign but her dedication to duty, her integrity, her warmth and her service to others never wavered.
She was our steadfast captain in turbulent waters, our beating heart in times of tragedy, and our source of pride at times of national joy. Her devotion to public service, from the day she became Queen until the last, was a constant in all our lives. As we enter a new era, we will cherish the memories we have of her time as our monarch.
Her kindness, wisdom, compassion and integrity are timeless values that will be passed down through the generations.
Modern monarch who moved with the times
Politicians are always striving to keep up with a changing world – and the Queen’s incredible 70-year tenure is a masterclass in how to do that.
The Royal Family is known best for tradition, providing stability through turbulent times – but the Queen transformed her role and the Monarchy as a whole.
She consistently used new technology and modes of communication to open up the Royal Family and reach out to the public.
For many families, watching the Queen’s speech at Christmas is as much of a tradition as the turkey or the tree – but she was the first Monarch to give this speech on television. She was also the first Monarch to jump out of a plane with James Bond and have tea with Paddington bear.
These insights into her sense of humour and her warm personality breathed fresh life into the Monarchy and gave it new relevance in the modern age.
Her values were unshakeable and her dedication was steadfast – but she was committed to changing with the times and finding ways to engage every new generation. It was both her both consistency and her ability to evolve that made her such an extraordinary leader, and every politician could learn from her.
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