Philippine officials led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s and the world’s longest-serving monarch, who died on Sept. 8 at the age of 96.
Mr. Marcos joined leaders from every corner of the globe, who briefly united in homage to the United Kingdom’s ruler, who died at her Scottish home at Balmoral Castle.
“She exemplified to the world a true monarch’s great dignity, commitment to duty, and devotion to all those in her realm,” the President said in a statement.
He lauded the Queen’s dedication and service and said Filipinos “developed a great sense of affection for her as a Queen, as a mother, and as a grandmother.”
“The world has lost a true figure of majesty,” the President added.
Mr. Marcos and his family later signed a book of condolence at the residence of British Ambassador to Manila Laure Beaufils.
The British Embassy said the condolence book will be open to the public starting midday Friday until 5 p.m. and from Monday to Friday next week between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the gates of the British Embassy in Manila at 120 Upper McKinley Road, Taguig City.
A virtual condolence book was also opened for those wishing to pay their respects online at https://www.royal.uk/books-condolence.
Buckingham Palace announced the Queen’s death on Friday, setting in motion 10 days of national mourning and a global outpouring of tributes to her long life and record-breaking reign.
The House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin G. Romualdez joined the Filipino nation in offering heartfelt and deep sympathies to the Royal Family, the government, and the people of Great Britain on the Queen’s demise.
“We mourn the loss of a great world leader who served as an inspiration to many generations of public servants in all parts of the globe,” Romualdez said in a statement.
“We will remember her as a gentle, yet solid rock of stability who exhibited grace and decency in performing her duty in times of crisis,” Romualdez added.
Former President and Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also mourned the monarch’s passing, saying the world would always remember Queen Elizabeth’s “long and glorious reign” after seven decades on the throne.
“I will forever cherish Her Majesty’s advice and encouragement when we visited her during my presidency,” she said. “My sincerest condolences to the entire Royal family, and the peoples over whom she reigned.”
Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the House committee on ways and means, said “the Queen was a force of stability and a symbol of tradition in a rapidly changing world. For that reason alone, she has a singular place in world history.”
Tributes poured into the UK—from countries the Queen had ruled over to those she had been at war with, from tiny territories to the mightiest governments on the planet, and from centuries-old institutions to nations that had not yet been born when she took the throne.
Global tributes were led by the Commonwealth, the association of countries that were previously part of the British empire as well as its remaining overseas territories.
South Asia, where Britain was the colonial power until just before Elizabeth’s reign began, paved the way, with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he was “pained” by her death.
In the southern hemisphere, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described how he and the Queen had reminisced together about Nelson Mandela, while Kenya’s president-elect William Ruto hailed her “admirable” leadership of the Commonwealth.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to her “timeless decency” and said her death marked the “end of an era.”
On the other side of the world, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Elizabeth, who as queen was Canada’s head of state, was a “constant presence in our lives—and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”
The smallest Commonwealth members also paid tribute, with David Burt, premier of tiny British territory Bermuda, hailing her “life of undimmed duty.”
US President Joe Biden called the queen the first British monarch to make a personal connection with people around the world, as he ordered flags at the White House and government buildings flown at half-staff in her honor.
“Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special,” he said.
Others who have taken a less friendly view of Britain also sent tributes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences to King Charles III, wishing the new monarch “courage and resilience” after his mother’s passing —even as Britain leads the West in imposing sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping gave his “sincere sympathies to the British government and people” following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
While Germany, which in the Queen’s lifetime went from Britain’s greatest enemy to a powerful ally, hailed her as a “symbol of reconciliation” after two world wars.
“Her commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War II will remain unforgotten,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida echoed that sentiment.
“She played a significant role in creating world peace and prosperity,” Kishida said, adding the queen’s death was a “big loss” to the international community.
Argentina, which fought and lost a bitter war with Britain over the Falkland Islands in 1982, expressed its “regret” over Elizabeth’s passing. In a terse statement from the foreign ministry, the government offered its sorrow and said it “accompanies the British people and her family in this moment of grief.”
At the United Nations, the Security Council held a minute of silence.
Queen Elizabeth had been “widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world. She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
In the Vatican, Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened” by her death and would pray for the late queen as well as King Charles.
European Union leaders expressed regret at the death of the queen, who was Britain’s head of state throughout its entire EU membership and eventual departure.
“Once called ‘Elizabeth the Steadfast’, she never failed to show us the importance of lasting values in a modern world,” said EU council president Charles Michel.
Philippe, king of the Belgians, who has a close family link to the British aristocracy, hailed the queen as “an extraordinary personality.”
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden called her “a good friend of my family and a link to our common family history.”
Spanish King Felipe VI said she “wrote the most relevant chapters of history.”
And Saudi King Salman noted that “Her Majesty was a model of leadership that will be immortalized in … history.”
Ireland’s President Michael Higgins called Queen Elizabeth II “a remarkable friend” who had a “great impact on the bonds of mutual understanding between our two peoples.”
Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon, who supports Scotland’s independence from the rest of Britain, called her death “a profoundly sad moment for the UK, the Commonwealth, and the world.”
And French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the Queen as “a friend of France… who marked her country and her century as never before”.
Even far-right President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, which does not have particularly close ties to Britain, paid homage.
Bolsonaro, seeking re-election next month, declared three days of national mourning and called Elizabeth “a queen not just to Britons, but to all of us.” With Vince Lopez, Maricel V. Cruz, and AFP
