A message from the High Sheriff of Derbyshire Michael Copestake:
The UK’s monarchy stretches back well over 1000 years, but Queen Elizabeth II must rank amongst the greatest of them all. With her faith and her devotion to public service she set the gold standard for all Heads of State throughout the world. Her first prime minister in 1952 was Winston Churchill. Subsequently she oversaw 15 UK prime ministers and met 13 US Presidents starting with Dwight Eisenhower. Her knowledge of the World and its leaders was unsurpassed, and it is no wonder that successive prime ministers valued their weekly meetings with her.
The Commonwealth was an institution she was devoted to and which, perhaps, history will judge as one of her greatest achievements. She may have left the UK and members of the Commonwealth with a valuable and increasingly influential global institution for the future.
“Duty” is a word which is not mentioned much in the modern world. Queen Elizabeth has shown us all what it means and what a powerful motivational force it can be. Many of us have never known another Head of State; she will be so hugely missed.
Thank you, Ma’am, and may you rest in peace. God save the King.