Queen’s remembers the Queen

Queen Elizabeth II visited the University in 1973 

Image by: Katharine Sung
Queen’s Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle on Sept. 8. The current King and Queen Consort will remain in Balmoral and return to London on Sept. 9. 

The Queen passed away after spending over 70 years on the throne, making her the longest serving British monarch. She ascended the throne at the age of 25. 

In a statement released yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed the fact many Canadians have never known a sovereign other than Queen Elizabeth. 

“Her Majesty vowed to devote her life to the service of the Commonwealth and its people. On behalf of all Canadians, I thank Queen Elizabeth II for honouring this vow and for a lifetime of service,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau indicated there would be a period of mourning for Canadians in the coming days, ending with a national day of mourning. 

Trudeau said a commemorative servicewill be held during this period. Queen Elizabeth II’s reign is marked by her many visits to overseas nations, both within and outside of the Commonwealth.

“She would proclaim ‘it was good to be home’ when returning to her beloved Canada. She was indeed at home here, and Canadians never ceased to return her affection,” Trudeau said. 

In her many visits to Canada, Queen Elizabeth has made stopovers in Kingston—along with the new King Charles.

In 1959, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip visited the City of Kingston. This was followed by a visit to Queen’s in 1973. 

Queen Elizabeth attended a dinner at Leonard Hall, where a toast was proposed by the Mayor of Kingston. Dignitaries from the local community—including the then University administration—were invited to attend. 

In 1985, the Queen’s Senate passed a motion inviting then Prince Charles and Princess Diana to receive honorary degrees in 1991. The Senate awarded the degrees to mark the 150th anniversary of the issuance of the Royal Charter to Queen’s University by Queen Victoria. 

The Queen leaves behind a legacy of service to the Commonwealth and Britain. She is survived by her children and many extended family members.

Tags

Elizabeth II, Obituary, Passing, Queen's Remembers

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