His Holiness the Dalai Lama Expresses Condolences for Queen Elizabeth II

Friday, 9th September 2022:  On learning the demise of Queen Elizabeth II on 9^th September 2022, His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote to her son, His Majesty Charles III, to express his deep sadness and to offer heartfelt condolences to His Majesty, the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom.

“I remember seeing photographs of her coronation in magazines when I was young in Tibet,” His Holiness wrote. “Her reign, as Britain’s longest serving monarch, represented celebration, inspiration and a reassuring sense of continuity for so many people alive today.

“Your mother lived a meaningful life with dignity, grace, a strong sense of service and a warm heart, qualities we all should treasure.”

His Holiness’s letter concluded with his offering his prayers and good wishes.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering Extends Condolences over Demise of Queen Elizabeth II

Following the sad demise of Queen Elizabeth II on Friday, 9 September, Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration wrote to His Majesty King Charles III conveying his condolences.

Sikyong wrote, “It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people, we express our profound sympathy and condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom over this irreparable loss”.

Sikyong extolled the extraordinary leadership of Her Majesty, adding, that Her Majesty led her life with grace and dignity while setting an example of courage, duty and unwavering commitment to serving the wellbeing of the people.

“Her loss will be deeply felt throughout the world. Once again, our thoughts and prayers are with Your Majesty, members of the Royal Family and all those Her Majesty inspired throughout her lifetime of service,” Sikyong concluded.

Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel Condoles Demise of Queen Elizabeth II

Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, extended his heartfelt condolences on hearing about the sad demise of Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch.

The Speaker wrote, “It is with great sadness to us to hear of the passing away of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of all the Tibetans worldwide, I extend my deepest condolences to all members of the Royal Family.”

“On such a monumental loss, the thoughts and prayers of all the Tibetan people around the world are with the people of the United Kingdom and the commonwealth in this hour of grief. She will be remembered as one of the strongest and longest reigning monarchs in modern history. Her legacy will live on in history.”

“Her loss is deeply felt by people around the world. Her grace, dignity, and dedication will be looked upon by the generations. May Almighty give strength to the grieving family during this difficult time. May her soul rest in peace.”

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and 15 at the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days is the longest of any British monarch, the longest recorded of any female head of state in history, and the second-longest verified reign of any monarch in history.

Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York  (later King George VI and Queen Exizabeth). Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII making Elizabeth the heir presumptive. She was educated privately at home and began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxilliary Territorial Service.

In November 1947, she married Philip Mounbatten, , a former prince of Greece and Denmark, and their marriage lasted 73 years until his death in April 2021. They had four children: Charles,Anne, Andrew and Edward.

When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth—then 25 years old—became queen of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa ,Pakistan and Ceylon, (known today as Sri Lanka), as well as Head of the Commonwealth.. Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through major political changes such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom , the decolonization of Africa ,and the United Kingdom`s assession to the European communities and withdrawal from the European Union.

The number of her realms varied over time as territories gained independence and some realms became republics. Her many historic visits and meetings include state visits to China in 1986, Russia in 1994, and the Republic of Ireland  in 2011, and meetings with five Popes.

Significant events include Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver,Golden,Diamond,and Platinum jubilees  in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively. She faced occasional republican sentiment and media criticism of her family, particularly after the breakdowns of her children's marriages, her annus horribillis in 1992, and the death of her former daughter-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.

She was served by 15 prime ministers during her reign, more than any other British monarch. Throughout her lifetime, support for the monarchy in the United Kingdom remained consistently high, as did her personal popularity. Elizabeth died aged 96 at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, in September 2022, and was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III.

The monarch was one of the longest –reigning in history, and her mark on the United Kingdom and the world is one unlikely to be matched by any of her descendants. As such, the entire Western world will also want to pay respects to the late Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is slated to take place on 19^th September 2022, in London, which will undoubtedly be a global event.

Tibet.net/Nyima Arya