Worldwide tributes

Tributes from the broad maritime community around the world were published on websites in the hours following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the afternoon of 8 September.

Below we publish just three examples from the extensive text, illustrations and film we have seen in the vast library that is the World Wide Web.

United Nations

Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep sadness at the passing of Her Majesty.

As the UK’s longest-lived and longest-reigning Head of State, the 96-year-old Queen was widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world, he said in a statement.

He added: ‘She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth.’

‘Good friend’ to the organization

Queen Elizabeth II was ‘a good friend of the United Nations’, he said, recalling that she had visited New York Headquarters twice, more than fifty years apart.

‘She was deeply committed to many charitable and environmental causes and spoke movingly to delegates at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow,’ recalled the UN chief.

Mr Guterres extended his 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.

‘The world will long remember her devotion and leadership,’ he concluded.

Her Majesty died during at what has been described as a fragile moment politically after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent resignation. New Prime Minister Liz Truss travelled on 6 September to the royal castle in Scotland, to be formally asked by the Queen to form a government.

Mrs Truss became the fifteenth prime minister to hold office during the queen’s reign – the first was Winston Churchill.  She acceded  to the throne following the death of her father King George VI on 6 February1952.  She was crowned in June the following year.

IMO

Secretary-General Kitack Lim expressed his heartfelt condolences to the members of the Royal Family, the Government, the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Commonwealth following the passing of Her Majesty.

He said: ‘It is with great sorrow and sadness that we have learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The entire Membership of the International Maritime Organization and the staff share the grief with deep sympathy at this difficult time.

‘I had the immense honour and privilege to meet Her Majesty here at IMO. Her genuine interest in shipping and maritime matters was remarkable.’

Dedication and service

The UK is the Host Country of the IMO. Her Majesty opened the new building of IMO in 1983 and also visited the Organization to mark its seventieth anniversary. Her Majesty unveiled a commemorative plaque and met the guests attending the event, including representatives of IMO Member States, inter-governmental and international non-governmental organizations, and IMO Secretariat staff.

Her Majesty's dedication and service will continue to inspire everyone and will always be remembered.

Trinity House

Trinity House, incorporated in 1514, is proud of its long-standing association with the Royal Family and has been honoured to welcome Her Majesty, who comes from a long line of sailor kings, to a number of Trinity House events over seventy years.

After its near-destruction in the Blitz Queen Elizabeth opened the newly rebuilt Trinity House on Trafalgar Day (21 October) in 1953. HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh had been sworn in as an Elder Brother on 6 June 1952, and accompanied Her Majesty on the visit.

Another visit of note was Her Majesty’s attendance at a luncheon at Trinity House on 4 December 1975, accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales.

In more recent times, Trinity House had the honour of inviting Her Majesty to name THV Galatea at a ceremony in the Pool of London in 2007, once again accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in his role as Master of the Corporation.

At the ship’s naming on 17 October that year Her Majesty commented: ‘The Corporation of Trinity House has a great record of public service and of charitable benefaction. For centuries, its members have been the Good Samaritans of the sea. I should like to take this opportunity of telling all those who have ever been associated with our Lighthouse and Pilotage services how deeply I appreciate their work and their devotion to duty on which depends the safety of those who sail the seas around these islands.”

Support and encouragement

Deputy Master Captain Ian McNaught marked the passing of Her Majesty with the following: ‘We are proud of our long association with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and of our service to her through our Royal Charter. We are grateful to both Her Majesty and to the late Duke of Edinburgh for their support and encouragement over the decades, not just to Trinity House but to many other organisations providing safety for those at sea.

‘Our thoughts and best wishes are with the family at this time.’

Illustration per www.imo.org