The Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner, said:
It is with the most profound sadness that I have learnt of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
Her unfailing commitment to our country and to the wider Commonwealth throughout the past 70 years has been an inspiration to us all.
On Her Majesty’s 21st birthday in 1947, the then Princess Elizabeth vowed that her “whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service” in an address broadcast to the Commonwealth, a commitment which was reaffirmed during her Coronation in 1953.
That her life was so blessedly long, and that her youthful vow was kept so carefully, is an accomplishment for which we, as a county and as a nation, will be forever grateful.
Her Majesty visited North Yorkshire on numerous occasions, including the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate to mark its 150th anniversary in 2008 and the Maundy Thursday service at York Minster in 2012, and the county’s residents always welcomed the Queen with warm enthusiasm.
I had the privilege of meeting Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace when I was appointed as Lord Lieutenant in 2018, and I know from personal experience that every engagement was conducted with grace and genuine interest, that every person felt the spark from meeting not only their monarch, but a truly remarkable woman whose commitment to her role will be remembered for generations to come.
On behalf of the people of North Yorkshire, York and Teesside, I shall be expressing my heartfelt condolences to Her Majesty’s family.
Andrew Jones MP following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen:
The passing of Her Majesty The Queen is a moment of profound sadness. Her unmatched sense of duty and service was always carried out with such dignity and grace. She has been a rock of wisdom, stability and continuity in our world. In times of trouble her words helped us through; when she said in her coronavirus broadcast “we will meet again” we saw there would be light ahead.
The Queen’s remarkable life leaves a powerful legacy. There is a deep sense of loss for a beloved figure; nationally for our country, personally for us her subjects and most acutely for her family. I send our new King and all the Royal Family my deepest condolences.
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe said:
This is an incredibly sad day.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been the figurehead of our nation for over 70 years, a loyal servant who has provided stability and support to so many for so long. It is impossible to imagine life without her, and I know many will find the fact we now have to face that reality very difficult.
Our emergency services will play a key role in the coming days in supporting our communities, and their commemorations and celebrations of Her Majesty’s life.
My thoughts today are particularly with the Royal Family who have not just lost a leader but a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. No matter who you are or when it happens, the death of a loved one is incredibly hard, and my respects and condolences go to them.
