Biden praises ‘a steadying presence in changing world’
PRESIDENT Joe Biden led tributes from across the world to Queen Elizabeth II, praising her life and reign for ‘elevating the cause of liberty’.
The leader of Britain’s closest ally praised Her Majesty’s ‘unwavering commitment to duty’, as tributes poured in from presidents and prime ministers across the globe.
‘Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history and in the story of our world,’ the President said.
Mr Biden, who first met the Queen in 1982, praised the 96-year-old monarch for guiding 14 American presidents through turbulent times. ‘She defined an era,’ he continued. ‘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 historymaking 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. And she, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service.’
Mr Biden also thanked her for her support during the country’s ‘darkest days after 9/11’.
‘She poignantly reminded us that “Grief is the price we pay for love”,’ he said, quoting one of the Queen’s most famous sentiments.
Mr Biden was one of many world leaders who praised the Queen and her 70-year reign. Leaders of the Commonwealth remembered a Queen who was ‘loved by all’.
Sending Australia’s condolences to the British people, prime minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to her ‘rare and reassuring reign’.
‘From the moment the young princess became Queen... Her Majesty made dedication to duty and service above self the hallmark of her reign,’ he said.
In Ghana, flags will fly at half-mast for seven days as president Nana Akufo-Addo prayed for her to ‘rest in perfect peace’.
In Europe, Ukraine’s president Zelensky and Pope Francis led the charge of tributes. ‘On behalf of the Ukrainian people, we extend sincere condolences to the Royal Family, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Our thoughts and prayers are with you,’ president Zelensky said.
From the Vatican, Pope Francis sent a telegram to King Charles III offering his ‘heartfelt condolences’.
‘I assure Your Majesty of my prayers that Almighty God will sustain you with his unfailing grace as you now take up your high responsibilities as King. Upon you and all who cherish the memory of your late mother, I invoke an abundance of divine blessings as a pledge of comfort and strength in the Lord,’ the Pope said.
Across the continent, prime ministers and presidents remembered a ‘kind-hearted’ Queen and the impact she had on the world. German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the late Queen ‘shaped a century’, while French president Emmanuel Macron remembered ‘a friend of France’. Italian prime minister Mario Draghi said the Queen was ‘a key figure in world history over the last seventy years’.
Commonwealth leaders also sent their condolences, including Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau and prime minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Mr Trudeau described the Queen as ‘a constant presence in our lives’, adding: ‘Her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.’
Mr Modi wrote: ‘Her Majesty 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.’
‘Source of comfort and pride’