15 September 2022
Mr. Secretary-General,
Excellencies, Members of the General Assembly,
Good morning.
We are here to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Today’s tribute provides an opportunity to reflect on leadership.
This is a quality that is always dearly needed for noble pursuits, particularly in times of crisis.”
When visiting the United Nations in 2010, Her Majesty expressed admiration for those who have the talent to lead, particularly in public service and in diplomatic life.
In her remarks to the General Assembly on that visit, she observed that quote “some attributes of leadership are universal, and often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration, to work together.”
When the United Nations is judged by future generations, her hope, she said, would be that “our sincerity, our willingness to take a lead, and our determination to do the right thing, will stand the test of time.”
The parallels between the words spoken by Her Majesty and a description of her attributes are clear.
Her Majesty devoted her life to public service, and to improving the lives of people within the Commonwealth.
I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the Royal family, the people of the United Kingdom, and the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Thank you.
