TheNewsGuru

Tag: UK

  • Charles’ succession stirs Caribbean calls for reparations, removal of monarch as head of state

    Charles’ succession stirs Caribbean calls for reparations, removal of monarch as head of state

    The accession of King Charles to the British throne has stirred renewed calls from politicians and activists for former colonies in the Caribbean to remove the monarch as their head of state and for Britain to pay slavery reparations.

    Charles succeeds his mother, Queen Elizabeth, who ruled for 70 years and died on Thursday afternoon.

    The prime minister of Jamaica said his country would mourn Elizabeth, and his counterpart in Antigua and Barbuda ordered flags to half-staff until the day of her burial.

    But in some quarters there are doubts about the role a distant monarch should play in the 21st century.

    Earlier this year, some Commonwealth leaders expressed unease at a summit in Kigali, Rwanda, about the passage of leadership of the 56-nation club from Elizabeth to Charles.

    And an eight-day tour in March by now heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife, Kate, to Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas was marked by calls for reparation payments and an apology for slavery.

    “As the role of the monarchy changes, we expect this can be an opportunity to advance discussions of reparations for our region,” Niambi Hall-Campbell, a 44-year-old academic who chairs the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, said Thursday.

    Hall-Campbell sent condolences to the Queen’s family and noted Charles’ acknowledgment of the “appalling atrocity of slavery” at a ceremony last year marking the end of British rule as Barbados became a republic.

    She said she hopes Charles would lead in a way reflecting the “justice required of the times. And that justice is reparatory justice.”

    More than 10 million Africans were shackled into the Atlantic slave trade by European nations between the 15th and 19th centuries. Those who survived the brutal voyage were forced to labor on plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas.

    Jamaican reparations advocate Rosalea Hamilton said Charles’ comments at the Kigali conference about his personal sorrow over slavery offered “some degree of hope that he will learn from the history, understand the painful impact that many nations have endured ’til today” and address the need for reparations.

    The new king did not mention reparations in the Kigali speech.

    The Advocates Network, which Hamilton coordinates, published an open letter calling for “apologies and reparations” during William and Kate’s visit.

    The Queen’s grandchildren have the chance to lead the reparations conversation, Hamilton added.

    Jamaica’s government last year announced plans to ask Britain for compensation for forcibly transporting an estimated 600,000 Africans to work on sugar cane and banana plantations that created fortunes for British slave holders.

    “Whoever will take over the position should be asked to allow the royal family to pay African people reparations,” said David Denny, general secretary of the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration, from Barbados.

    “We should all work towards removing the royal family as head of state of our nations,” he said.

    Jamaica has signaled it may soon follow Barbados in ditching royal rule. Both remain members of the Commonwealth.

    An August survey showed 56 per cent of Jamaicans favor removing the British monarch as the head of state.

    Mikael Phillips, an opposition member of Jamaica’s parliament, in 2020 filed a motion backing the removal.

    “I am hoping as the prime minister had said in one of his expressions, that he would move faster when there is a new monarch in place,” Phillips said on Thursday.

    Allen Chastanet, a former St. Lucia prime minister and now leader of the opposition, told Reuters he backed what he said was a “general” movement toward republicanism in his country.

    “I certainly at this point would support becoming a republic,” he said.

  • How kingship will affect my life – King Charles III opens up in first official speech

    How kingship will affect my life – King Charles III opens up in first official speech

    New Britain’s monarch, King Charles III has opened up on how accession to the throne will affect his life personally, saying it will no longer be possible for him to give so much of his time and energies to the charities and issues for which he cares so deeply.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports King Charles III disclosed this on Friday in a televised address as the UK marks the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, paying tribute to her in an address to the nation.

    King Charles said: “My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities. It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others”.

    Speaking on his reign, the new King pledged to uphold the values of his mother the Queen, saying: “As the Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.

    “Wherever you may live in the United Kingdom or in the realms and territories across the world and whatever may be your background and beliefs I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life”.

    Reflecting on his mother’s accession in 1952, the King said: “When The Queen came to the throne, Britain and the world were still coping with the privations and aftermath of the Second World War, and still living by the conventions of earlier times. In the course of the last 70 years we have seen our society become one of many cultures and many faiths.

    “The institutions of the State have changed in turn. But, through all changes and challenges, our nation and the wider family of Realms – of whose talents, traditions and achievements I am so inexpressibly proud – have prospered and flourished.

    “Our values have remained, and must remain, constant. The role and the duties of Monarchy also remain, as does the Sovereign’s particular relationship and responsibility towards the Church of England – the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.

    “In that faith, and the values it inspires, I have been brought up to cherish a sense of duty to others, and to hold in the greatest respect the precious traditions, freedoms and responsibilities of our unique history and our system of parliamentary government”.

    Speaking about his mother’s upcoming funeral, the King said: “In a little over a week’s time we will come together as a nation, as a Commonwealth and indeed a global community, to lay my beloved mother to rest.

    “In our sorrow, let us remember and draw strength from the light of her example. On behalf of all my family, I can only offer the most sincere and heartfelt thanks for your condolences and support. They mean more to me than I can ever possibly express”.

    Meanwhile, in the address, while expressing his love for his youngest son, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, King Charles III disclosed that his son, William will become Prince of Wales.

    “I express my love for Prince Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas. As my heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me. He succeeds me as Duke of Cornwall and takes on the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall which I have undertaken for more than five decades.

    “Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru, the country whose title I have been so greatly privileged to bear during so much of my life and duty. With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.

    “This is also a time of change for my family. I count on the loving help of my darling wife Camilla. In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort. I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much,” King Charles III said.

    The King ended his address with the following words: “And to my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May ‘flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest’”.

  • BREAKING: Premier League matches postponed over Queen’s death

    BREAKING: Premier League matches postponed over Queen’s death

    The round of English Premier League matches for this weekend has been postponed as a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the decision to postpone the matches was reached on Friday morning at a meeting where Premier League clubs paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

    “To honour her extraordinary life and contribution to the nation, and as a mark of respect, this weekend’s Premier League match round will be postponed, including Monday evening’s game,” a statement on the Premier League website reads.

    Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, said: “We and our clubs would like to pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country.

    “As our longest-serving monarch, she has been an inspiration and leaves behind an incredible legacy following a life of dedication.

    “This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation, but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her, and we join together with all those in mourning her passing”.

    According to the statement, further updates regarding Premier League fixtures during the period of mourning will be provided in due course.

  • PHOTOS: See signs that followed the death of Queen Elizabeth II

    PHOTOS: See signs that followed the death of Queen Elizabeth II

    Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday but not without some natural phenomena that happened, which many have read as signs that show the respected monarch is really gone.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 peacefully in the afternoon at Balmoral Castle after doctors first expressed concerns about her state of health, as announced by Buckingham Palace.

    Shortly after Queen Elizabeth’s death, one natural phenomenon that happened is a double rainbow that appeared over Buckingham Palace, the London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch. Many described it as the Queen with her husband, Phillip, who died in 2021.

    Another rainbow was also sighted at Windsor Castle in the English county of Berkshire. Those hearing the news of Queen Elizabeth’s death called it a sign and that Her Majesty has “really left us”.

    TNG reports that the most iconic sign of the Queen’s departure was a cloud formation resembling Queen Elizabeth that appeared above an English town just an hour after her death.

    A British woman, named Leanne Bethell, who lives in Telford in England’s west Midlands, captured the image of the cloud formation resembling Queen Elizabeth and shared it on Facebook.

    “Driving home and Lacey starts shouting OMG! I panicked… Then she pointed this image out in the clouds. The Queen,” Bethell captioned the photos she captured and shared via Facebook.

    TNG reports that the photo of the clouds with an uncanny resemblance to the Queen, whose death marks the end of an era, has since gone viral on social media.

    World leaders, royals praise Queen Elizabeth II

    Meanwhile, tributes and expressions of sympathy have poured in from world leaders and fellow monarchs around the globe following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, the country’s longest-reigning head of state.

    UN Secretary General António Guterres said he was “deeply saddened” by the news. “Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world. She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonisation of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth,” he said.

    U.S. President Joe Biden called Elizabeth a “stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy” who deepened the U.S.-UK alliance.

    “Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world,” he said.

    NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said she “exemplified selfless leadership and public service.”

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the British monarch “one of the most respected personalities worldwide,” while European Council President Charles Michel praised her as “Elizabeth the Steadfast,” adding that she “never failed to show us the importance of lasting values in a modern world with her service and commitment.”

    German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Elizabeth was “admired and revered” in his country.

    “Queen Elizabeth is a woman who has left her mark on a century, in the United Kingdom and beyond worldwide.

    She experienced contemporary history and wrote contemporary history,” he said in a statement issued by his office.

    German Chancellor Olaf Scholz meanwhile called the queen a “role model and inspiration for millions, including here in Germany.”

    He said her commitment “to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of the Second World War” had not been forgotten.

    “She will be missed, not least her wonderful sense of humour,” he said.

    The German Bundestag broke off a debate before observing a minute’s silence to mark the death of the monarch.

    With her death, an era comes to an end,” former German chancellor Angela Merkel said.

    “There are no words that can even begin to appreciate the towering importance of this Queen, her sense of duty, her moral integrity, her devotion and her dignity over seven decades for the United Kingdom, for Europe and for the world,” Merkel said in a statement.

    Finnish President Sauli Niinistö also commented on the queen’s historic role. “In her 70-year reign, she witnessed and shaped history like few others. Her sense of duty and dedication are an example to us all,” he tweeted.

    Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin also sent condolences.

    Meanwhile Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir wrote that Queen Elizabeth would be remembered for being “a strong and courageous woman.”

    “A historic era and a long life of service to Britain have come to an end,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement, while Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said few had experienced as many transformative world events as Britain’s late queen.

    Israel’s President Isaac Herzog commented on the queen’s strengths amid a changing world.

    “Throughout her long and momentous reign, the world changed dramatically, while the Queen remained an icon of stable, responsible leadership, and a beacon of morality, humanity and patriotism,” Herzog said.

    Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid also sent his condolences.

    Even Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the late monarch, saying: “For many decades Elizabeth II rightly enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects.”

    Calling Elizabeth a “rare and reassuring constant amid rapid change,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that “through the noise and tumult of the years, she embodied and exhibited a timeless decency and an enduring calm.”

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was with “the heaviest of hearts” that he learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning sovereign.

    “Her Majesty’s reign spanned so many decades – a period when we came into our own as a confident, diverse, and forward-looking country. It is her wisdom, compassion, and warmth that we will always remember and cherish,” Trudeau added.

    New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Elizabeth had an unwavering sense of duty, while the country’s Māori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero said he had “received with sadness” the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Tuheitia and his wife sent their “aroha [love] and respect to the Royal Family now gathering in Balmoral,” he said.

    The pope sent his sympathies to the British royal family, praising Elizabeth’s service, her “example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises.”

    Many of the royal families of Europe said they would miss her, praising her sense of duty and her historic reign.

    “The Queen served her countries and the Commonwealth with a unique devotion and sense of duty,” Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, a distant relation of the queen, said in a statement issued by his court.

    Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, who was the queen’s third cousin, said Elizabeth was “highly respected and deeply loved,” adding that she “was a towering figure among the European monarchs and a great inspiration to us all. We shall miss her terribly.”

    Spain’s King Felipe VI has expressed his deep sadness. “We will miss her very much,” he wrote in a telegram of condolences sent to Elizabeth II’s son, King Charles III.

    The Dutch royal family also sent a tribute in a statement that also expressed gratitude for the friendship between the two nations.

    Meanwhile King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium called her an “extraordinary personality” in a message of condolence.

    “We will always keep fond memories of this great Lady, who, throughout her reign, showed dignity, courage and devotion,” the statement said.

    Britain begins period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II

    Queen Elizabeth II will be commemorated by pomp and ceremony as Britain begins a period of mourning on Friday to mark the death of its former monarch.

    Gun salutes will ring out in the capital and bells will toll across the country, with churches, chapels, and cathedrals encouraged by the Church of England to open for prayers or a special service for mourners.

    The Queen’s son and successor King Charles III spoke of his grief soon after Buckingham Palace announced the death of the 96-year-old monarch, who died peacefully on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral.

    Charles will now turn his mind to matters of state as he begins his first full day as the nation’s new monarch having spent much of his 73 years in preparation for the role.

    Tributes have flooded in from around the globe, hailing the Queen’s unwavering commitment to serving her country and the Commonwealth.

    King Charles III acceded to the throne immediately upon the death of Elizabeth II at the age of 96 in the sanctuary of Balmoral Castle.

    The new King and Queen consort – Charles and his wife Camilla – will return to London on Friday, and the new monarch is expected to address the nation on television on Friday evening.

    Gun salutes – one round for every year of the Queen’s life – will be fired in central London on Friday and the new monarch will hold his first audience with the prime minister.

    Truss and senior ministers will attend a public service of remembrance at St. Paul’s in central London.

    On Saturday morning, an Accession Council – the formal proclamation of Charles as King – will take place at St James’s Palace in London.

    The first public proclamation of the new sovereign will then be read in the open air from the Friary Court balcony at St. James’s Palace by the Garter King of Arms.

    Charles will hold audiences, and the media will be briefed by the Earl Marshal, who is in charge of the accession and the Queen’s funeral, on the coming days.

    After the Queen’s health worsened, the royal family – including the Queen’s four children – Charles, the Princess of Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex – and grandsons the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex – cleared their diaries and rushed to be by her bedside on Thursday.

    Royal doctors had recommended she remain under medical supervision, with the Palace issuing an unusually detailed update earlier in the day, saying royal doctors were concerned for her health.
    The Duchess of Sussex, whose troubled relationship with the monarchy has long been documented, remained down south after initially planning to accompany Harry to Scotland.

    The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, as Kate’s title is now, stayed in Windsor – less than a 10-minute walk from Meghan’s Frogmore Cottage residence – with her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis having had their first full day at school.

    Behind the scenes, the long-held London Bridge plans for the Queen’s death are being rapidly put into action, setting out the next 11 days according to a strict timetable which will feature a lying in state and then the solemnity and grandeur of a state funeral.

    The arrangements have a more complex factor due to the Queen’s death being in Scotland – and have triggered Operation Unicorn – the contingency plans in case of such an event.

    Members of the royal family will be expected in the coming days to hold a poignant vigil around the Queen’s coffin in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, and the Queen’s coffin will have to be transported by RAF plane back to London.

    She is expected to lie in state in a few days’ time in London, with her funeral held in Westminster Abbey in central London, most likely on Monday Sept. 19.

  • What President Buhari said about death of Queen Elizabeth II

    What President Buhari said about death of Queen Elizabeth II

    President Muhammadu Buhari says he received with immense sadness news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth ll of the United Kingdom.

    The Nigerian leader made his feelings known in a condolence message issued by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said: ”My family and I, and the more than 200 million Nigerians have learned with immense sadness of the passing of the Queen and the end of her unique and wonderful 70 year reign.

    ”Her late Majesty was the only British Sovereign known to 90 per cent of our population.

    “Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom and the entire Commonwealth as we join the entire world in mourning her loss.

    ”The story of modern Nigeria will never be complete without a chapter on Queen Elizabeth ll, a towering global personality and an outstanding leader.

    ”She dedicated her life to making her nation, the Commonwealth and the entire world a better place.”

    The president welcomed ”Your Majesty’s ascension to the throne in line with tradition,” Shehu said.

    He prayed King Charles the Third’s reign would witness the ”continuing robust and sisterly relations between our two nations.”

  • Britain begins period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II

    Britain begins period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II

    Queen Elizabeth II will be commemorated by pomp and ceremony as Britain begins a period of mourning on Friday to mark the death of its former monarch.

    Gun salutes will ring out in the capital and bells will toll across the country, with churches, chapels, and cathedrals encouraged by the Church of England to open for prayers or a special service for mourners.

    The Queen’s son and successor King Charles III spoke of his grief soon after Buckingham Palace announced the death of the 96-year-old monarch, who died peacefully on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral.

    Charles will now turn his mind to matters of state as he begins his first full day as the nation’s new monarch having spent much of his 73 years in preparation for the role.

    Tributes have flooded in from around the globe, hailing the Queen’s unwavering commitment to serving her country and the Commonwealth.

    King Charles III acceded to the throne immediately upon the death of Elizabeth II at the age of 96 in the sanctuary of Balmoral Castle.

    The new King and Queen consort – Charles and his wife Camilla – will return to London on Friday, and the new monarch is expected to address the nation on television on Friday evening.

    Gun salutes – one round for every year of the Queen’s life – will be fired in central London on Friday and the new monarch will hold his first audience with the prime minister.

    Truss and senior ministers will attend a public service of remembrance at St. Paul’s in central London.

    On Saturday morning, an Accession Council – the formal proclamation of Charles as King – will take place at St James’s Palace in London.

    The first public proclamation of the new sovereign will then be read in the open air from the Friary Court balcony at St. James’s Palace by the Garter King of Arms.

    Charles will hold audiences, and the media will be briefed by the Earl Marshal, who is in charge of the accession and the Queen’s funeral, on the coming days.

    After the Queen’s health worsened, the royal family – including the Queen’s four children – Charles, the Princess of Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex – and grandsons the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex – cleared their diaries and rushed to be by her bedside on Thursday.

    Royal doctors had recommended she remain under medical supervision, with the Palace issuing an unusually detailed update earlier in the day, saying royal doctors were concerned for her health.
    The Duchess of Sussex, whose troubled relationship with the monarchy has long been documented, remained down south after initially planning to accompany Harry to Scotland.

    The Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, as Kate’s title is now, stayed in Windsor – less than a 10-minute walk from Meghan’s Frogmore Cottage residence – with her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis having had their first full day at school.

    Behind the scenes, the long-held London Bridge plans for the Queen’s death are being rapidly put into action, setting out the next 11 days according to a strict timetable which will feature a lying in state and then the solemnity and grandeur of a state funeral.

    The arrangements have a more complex factor due to the Queen’s death being in Scotland – and have triggered Operation Unicorn – the contingency plans in case of such an event.

    Members of the royal family will be expected in the coming days to hold a poignant vigil around the Queen’s coffin in St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, and the Queen’s coffin will have to be transported by RAF plane back to London.

    She is expected to lie in state in a few days’ time in London, with her funeral held in Westminster Abbey in central London, most likely on Monday Sept. 19.

  • Queen was ‘grand lady’ who leaves behind ‘tremendous legacy’ – Trump

    Queen was ‘grand lady’ who leaves behind ‘tremendous legacy’ – Trump

    Former U.S. president Donald Trump says Queen Elizabeth II leaves behind a “tremendous legacy” and that he will always treasure his 2019 meeting with her in Britain.

    “Queen Elizabeth’s historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain,” he said in a statement jointly issued with his wife, Melania.

    “Her leadership and enduring diplomacy secured and advanced alliances with the United States and countries around the world.

    However, she will always be remembered for her faithfulness to her country and her unwavering devotion to her fellow countrymen and women.”

    “Melania and I will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was — there was nobody like her!”

  • Queen’s death: UK prepares for biggest security operation ever

    Queen’s death: UK prepares for biggest security operation ever

    The security operation in the wake of the Queen’s death and surrounding her funeral is likely to be the biggest the UK has ever seen, according to a former counter-terror chief.

    Nick Aldworth said police and security services will anticipate huge crowds of people flocking to mourn the loss of the monarch, with plans on an “enormous” scale set in motion.

    The former counter-terrorism national co-ordinator, who used to have responsibility for such events and oversaw the armed police operation in central London during the 2012 Olympics, said the plan on how to keep the public and dignitaries safe has been years in the making and is regularly revised.

    The UK’s terrorism threat level is currently “substantial”, meaning an attack is “likely”.

    Aldworth told the PA news agency: “It’s probably the biggest operation that we’re likely to mount in the UK.”

    Tens of thousands of people arriving around the clock over several days to line routes ahead of any ceremonial event would create the “most demand on police and the security operation”.

    While the Queen lies in state the “planning assumption” is that there will be “enormous queues of several hours long of people wanting to pay their respects”.

    Laying down road barriers will be one of the first tasks in anticipation of crowds lining the streets to see the cortege pass by.

    There will be a “significant armed operation” with officers on patrol and queues formed in a way so people are not crushed and lorries and cars cannot be driven into them.

    Rooftop snipers will be in place while the cortege is moving, receiving a helicopter escort anywhere outside of London.

    Police and security services will be alert to the prospect of knife attacks, bombs being detonated, and all other possible terror threats or incidents.

    Aldworth said: “Clearly thousands of people gathered creates an attractive opportunity for any of those methodologies” but some threats are “easier to manage than others”.

    Security screening such as bag checks to look for knives and other weapons will be carried out in some areas.

    “We always think about vehicles and blunt or bladed weapons as being the most likely because they’re easy to get hold of and don’t require any skill or planning to use,” Aldworth said, adding that bombs “are less likely” as they are made to order.

    Another “major consideration” that “really stretches policing” is organising the armed protection for visiting foreign dignitaries.

    “There are only so many armed protection officers in the UK,” he said, warning that there are “certainly not enough in London” to manage the potential more than one hundred heads of nation states which could come to the UK.

    “The whole operation will draw massively on resources from across the country,” he added.

    Police and security services will oversee the plans from a central operations room in Lambeth in London, with the Metropolitan Police assuming overall responsibility and other forces taking charge on activity in their areas, Aldworth said.

    A senior police officer, known as a gold commander, will head up the operation.

    An intelligence cell would be set up, with the Met speaking to police intelligence operations and the security services.

    The central operations room will be divided into sections looking at things such as the armed response, protection teams, intelligence, roads, queues, and landmarks such as Parliament and Buckingham Palace, he said.

    The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral last year “took a very different profile” because of the constraints in the country at the time dictated by restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

    “One can’t rule out in the current world that the same wouldn’t happen with Her Majesty’s funeral,” Aldworth added.

  • Biden, UN chief, world leaders condole with UK over Queen’s death

    Biden, UN chief, world leaders condole with UK over Queen’s death

    World leaders, including the President of the United States of America (USA), have condoled the government and people of the United Kingdom (UK), and the Commonwealth over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on Thursday after her doctors first expressed concerns over the state of her health and placed her on medical supervision.

    In a statement jointly signed, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden stated that “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch” and that “She defined an era”.

    President Biden and the First Lady went further to describe Queen Elizabeth II as a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who they said deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States.

    The statement reads in full: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era. In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people across the Commonwealth. The seven decades of her history making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.

    “She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection-whether they heard her on the radio as a young princess speaking to the children of the United Kingdom, or gathered around their televisions for her coronation, or watched her final Christmas speech or her Platinum Jubilee on their phones. And she, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service.

    “Supported by her beloved Prince Philip for 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II 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. Through her dedication to her patronages and charities, she supported causes that uplifted people and expanded opportunity. By showing friendship and respect to newly independent nations around the world, she elevated the cause of liberty and fostered enduring bonds that helped strengthen the Commonwealth, which she loved so deeply, into a community to promote peace and shared values.

    “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.

    “We first met the Queen in 1982, traveling to the UK as part of a Senate delegation. And we were honored that she extended her hospitality to us in June 2021 during our first overseas trip as President and First Lady, where she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom. All told, she met 14 American presidents. She helped Americans commemorate both the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the bicentennial of our independence. And she 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.”

    “In the years ahead, we look forward to continuing a close friendship with The King and The Queen Consort. Today, the thoughts and prayers of people all across the United States are with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in their grief. We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world”.

    UN chief mourns Queen Elizabeth II

    Meanwhile, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres on Thursday paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II for her unwavering, lifelong dedication to serving her people.

    Guterres in a statement said he was deeply saddened at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

    Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, died at the age of 96 in Balmoral, Scotland, the Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.

    “I extend my sincere condolences to her bereaved family, the Government and people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the wider Commonwealth of Nations.

    “As the United Kingdom’s longest-lived and longest-reigning Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world.

    “She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth,’’ Guterres said.

    The UN chief said Queen Elizabeth II was a good friend of the United Nations, and visited the New York Headquarters twice, more than fifty years apart.

    According to him, she was deeply committed to many charitable and environmental causes and spoke movingly to delegates at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow. “The world will long remember her devotion and leadership,’’ he added.

    Queen’s leadership of the Commonwealth is admirable – Kenya’s president-elect

    Similarly, President-elect of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto has said Queen Elizabeth II’s leadership of the Commonwealth for the past seven decades is admirable.

    Ruto in a statement stated that the Queen steered the institution’s evolution into a forum for effective multilateral engagement whose potential to drive tremendous socioeconomic progress remains incontestable and redounds to the Queen’s historic legacy.

    The statement reads: “I have received news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and I send condolences to the people of the United Kingdom. The queen’s leadership of the Commonwealth for the past seven decades is admirable.

    “She steered the institution’s evolution into a forum for effective multilateral engagement whose potential to drive tremendous socioeconomic progress remain incontestable and redounds to the Queen’s historic legacy.

    “We will miss the cordial ties she enjoyed with Kenya and may her memories continue to inspire us. We join the Commonwealth in mourning and offer our condolences to the Royal Family and the United Kingdom”.

    Here are some reactions below:

    INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI

    “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a stalwart of our times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. She personified dignity and decency in public life. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and people of UK in this sad hour.”

    SHEHBAZ SHARIF, PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN

    “Deeply grieved at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Pakistan joins the UK & other Commonwealth nations in mourning her death. My heartfelt condolences to the royal family, people & government of the UK.”

    CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU

    “It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”

    GHANAIAN PRESIDENT NANA AKUFO-ADDO

    “The Ghanaian people have very fond memories of the two visits she made to Ghana during her reign, and, on both occasions, we remember the friendliness, elegance, style and sheer joy she brought to the performance of her duties.”

    NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JACINDA ARDERN

    “I know that I speak for people across New Zealand in offering our deepest sympathy to members of the Royal Family at the passing of the Queen. To us she was a much admired and respected monarch, to them she was a mother and grandmother.”

    “The Queen was a much loved and admired monarch, whose record reign of 70 years is an absolute testament to her, and her commitment to us all. She was extraordinary.”

    AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE

    “With the passing of Queen Elizabeth the Second, an historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end.”

    “Australian hearts go out to the people of the United Kingdom who mourn today, knowing they will feel they have lost part of what makes their nation whole.”

    “There is comfort to be found in Her Majesty’s own words: ‘Grief is the price we pay for love’.”

    JAMAICAN PRIME MINISTER ANDREW HOLNESS

    “It was with great and profound sadness, that I learnt of the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, whose reign spanned seven decades. We join our brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth in mourning her passing, and pray for the comfort of the members of her family, and the people of the United Kingdom, as they grieve the loss of their beloved Queen and matriarch, ”

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI

    “Today, Americans join the people of the United Kingdom in mourning the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Over her seven decades on the throne, Her Majesty was a pillar of leadership in the global arena and a devoted friend of freedom.

    U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL

    “For 70 long years, from the aftermath of World War II well into the 21st century, across 15 different Prime Ministers, through great triumphs and great challenges, the Queen’s steady leadership safeguarded the land she loved. Despite spending nearly three quarters of a century as one of the most famous and admired individuals on the planet, the Queen made sure her reign was never really about herself — not her fame, not her feelings, not her personal wants or needs. She guided venerable institutions through modern times using timeless virtues like duty, dignity, and sacrifice. She offered our contemporary world a living master class it needed badly.”

    FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND FORMER FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP

    “Queen Elizabeth’s historic and remarkable reign left a tremendous legacy of peace and prosperity for Great Britain. Her leadership and enduring diplomacy secured and advanced alliances with the United States and countries around the world.”

    FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

    “Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us.”

    “Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.”

    FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH

    “Laura and I were honored to have known Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a woman of great intellect, charm, and wit. Spending time at Buckingham Palace, and having tea with Her Majesty – and her Corgis – is among our fondest memories of the presidency. Queen Elizabeth ably led England through dark moments with her confidence in her people and her vision for a brighter tomorrow. Our world benefitted from her steady resolve, and we are grateful for her decades of service as sovereign. Americans in particular appreciate her strong and steadfast friendship.”

    FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON

    “My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family and all the people Her Majesty inspired throughout her lifetime of service.”

    EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN

    “It is with deep sadness that I have learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was the world’s longest serving Head of State and one of the most respected personalities worldwide. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the British people.”

    EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT CHARLES MICHEL

    “Once called Elizabeth the Steadfast, she never failed to show us the importance of lasting values in a modern world with her service and commitment.

    IRISH PRIME MINISTER MICHEAL MARTIN

    “On behalf of the Government of Ireland, I would like to convey my deepest sympathy to the British people on the loss of their beloved monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.”

    “Her State Visit to Ireland in 2011 marked a crucial step in the normalisation of relations with our nearest neighbour. That visit was a great success, largely because of the many gracious gestures and warm remarks made by the Queen.”

    DUTCH KING WILLEM-ALEXANDER

    “We remember Queen Elizabeth II with deep respect and great affection. Steadfast and wise, she dedicated her long life to serving the British people. We feel a strong bond with the United Kingdom and its royal family, and we share their sorrow at this time.”

    THE ROYAL HOUSE OF NORWAY
    “The Royal Family is deeply saddened to receive the news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away.”

    KING CARL XVI GUSTAF OF SWEDEN

    “With sadness, my family and I have today received the news that my dear relative, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has passed away.

    “The Queen served Her countries and the Commonwealth with an outstanding devotion and sense of duty. She has been a constant presence, not only in British society but internationally. In addition, she has always been a good friend to my family and a link to our shared family history.”

    GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ

    “We mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She was a role model and inspiration for millions, also here in Germany. Her commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War II will remain unforgotten. She will be missed, not least her wonderful humour.”

    ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MARIO DRAGHI

    “Queen Elizabeth was a major player in world history over the last seventy years. She represented the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with balance, wisdom, respect for institutions and democracy. She has been the most beloved symbol of her country and has garnered respect, affection and warm feelings everywhere. She ensured stability in times of crisis and kept the value of tradition alive in a society in constant and profound evolution.”

    FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON

    “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century.”

    SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ

    “My condolences to the entire Royal Family, the government and the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.”

    “A figure of global significance, witness and author of British and European history.”

    CZECH PRIME MINISTER PETR FIALA

    “I am deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty the Queen, Elizabeth II. Sending heartfelt and sincere condolences to the Royal family and the British people and the people of the Commonwealth.”

    POLISH PRESIDENT ANDRZEJ DUDA

    “My deepest condolences to the Royal Family and all the British people on passing of Her Majesty The Queen. For decades she has been an embodiment of everything that makes Britain truly Great. She will be missed and remembered in Poland and all over the world.”

    KAJA KALLAS, PRIME MINISTER OF ESTONIA

    “Her sense of service and dedication to public duty were unparalleled. It’s the end of an era but her legend will live on and inspire.”

    UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY

    “It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the UA people, we extend sincere condolences to the @RoyalFamily, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”

    CHIEF MINISTER OF GIBRALTAR FABIAN PICARDO

    “The People of Gibraltar will mourn Her Majesty as a monarch who has reigned wisely and with incomparable dedication throughout the period of our post-war emergence as a part of the British family of nations.”

    “The People of Gibraltar and the Government proclaim their loyalty to the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to His Majesty The King.”

    UNITED ARAB EMIRATES VICE PRESIDENT SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

    “We join the world in mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, a global icon who represented the finest qualities of her nation and people. Her incredible lifetime of service and duty to the United Kingdom is unparalleled in our modern world.”

    UAE’S PRESIDENT MOHAMED BIN ZAYED

    “Her Majesty was a close friend of the UAE and a beloved & respected leader whose long reign was characterised by dignity, compassion & a tireless commitment to serving her country.”

    ABDULLAH BIN AL HUSSEIN, KING OF JORDAN

    “Jordan mourns the passing of an iconic leader. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a beacon of wisdom and principled leadership for seven decades. She was a partner for Jordan and a dear family friend. We stand with the people and leadership of the UK at this difficult time.”

    IRAQI PRESIDENT BARHAM SALIH

    “I am deeply saddened by the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. I extend profound condolences to the royal family and to the people of the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth will be remembered as a great icon of history who served with grace, dignity and fortitude.”

    HONDURAN FOREIGN MINISTER EDUARDO ENRIQUE REINA

    “Our sincere condolences to the people and government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, a message of sympathy to her family.”

    ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT

    Expressed its “sorrow” at the death of Queen Elizabeth II and said that it “stood by the British people and her family in this moment of pain”.

    VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO

    “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela mourns the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of England, British monarch. We express our condolences to the royal family, to the United Kingdom and to the British people. Peace to her Soul!”.

    ECUADORIAN PRESIDENT GUILLERMO LASSO

    “Distraught at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, whose long life and dedication to the service of her people go down in history as an exemplary reign.”

    PARAGUAYAN PRESIDENT MARIO ABDO BENÍTEZ

    “From the Republic of Paraguay, we convey our condolences to the Royal Family, the Government and the people of the United Kingdom on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who will always be remembered for her great vocation of service, ” said

    MEXICAN FOREIGN MINISTER MARCELO EBRARD

    “Our thoughts and condolences to the people and government of the United Kingdom.”

    COSTA RICA FOREIGN MINISTRY

    “Costa Rica expresses its heartfelt condolences to the British government and people as well as to the Commonwealth of Nations on the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

    PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT LAURENTINO CORTIZO

    “I send heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family, the British people and the Commonwealth on the physical passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who honored Panama on a historic State Visit six decades ago. Peace to her soul.”

    EL SALVADOR PRESIDENT NAYIB BUKELE

    “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. My wife Gabriela and I extend our deepest sympathies to the British people and the Royal Family. Her Majesty’s legacy will always remain a touchstone for our shared values of empathy, solidarity and service.”

     

  • We are all devastated by Queen Elizabeth’s death – PM Liz Truss

    We are all devastated by Queen Elizabeth’s death – PM Liz Truss

    Britain’s Prime Minister (PM), Liz Truss has described the death of Queen Elizabeth II as a huge shock to the nation and to the world.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Truss made this known in a statement shortly after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

    The statement reads: “We are all devastated by the news we have just heard from Balmoral. The death of Her Majesty The Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.

    “Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her.

    “She ascended the throne just after the Second World War. She championed the development of the Commonwealth – from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world.

    “We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation. Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed.

    “She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure. She has been our longest-ever reigning monarch. It is an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.

    “Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories. In return, she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.

    “She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all.

    “Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th Prime Minister.

    “Throughout her life she has visited more than 100 countries and she has touched the lives of millions around the world. In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends… ….across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world… …to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service.

    “It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy. Today the Crown passes – as it is has done for more than a thousand years – to our new monarch, our new head of state:

    “His Majesty King Charles III. With the King’s family, we mourn the loss of his mother. And as we mourn, we must come together as a people to support him. To help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all.

    “We offer him our loyalty and devotion just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long. And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country, – exactly as Her Majesty would have wished – by saying the words… God save the King”.