“I have learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with great personal sadness. Queen Elizabeth’s sad passing marks the end of an era. She epitomised that generation of British people who endured the Second World War with both bravery and stoicism. Her long reign, the longest in British history, saw profound change affecting virtually every aspect of politics and society. Throughout her reign, the Queen was a constant and reassuring presence in British life.
“Her historic visit to Ireland in 2011, the first by a reigning British monarch since our independence, was a critical step in the peace process and helped to move British-Irish relations to a new level. The warmth and spontaneity of the Queen on that occasion touched all those she met. So did her generosity of spirit and her commitment to reconciliation on these islands. On behalf of the Government, I was privileged to welcome her to the English Market in Cork and to witness how much that visit meant to her personally and to the people of Cork.
“Through our Embassy in London, I have conveyed deepest sympathies to His Majesty, King Charles, the Royal family more generally and to all the British people on their sad loss. While they grieve that loss, they also can give thanks for a long life of public service lived to the full with immense dignity.”
