It is with great sadness that we join with the nation in mourning the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
Within the Commonwealth alone, Her Majesty made over 150 visits during her reign. The longest overseas tour that The Queen undertook began in Bermuda in November 1953 and ended in Gibraltar in May 1954. She was away for 168 days and visited 13 different countries.
As Monarch, the Queen visited over 100 countries
including Canada 22 times – more than any other country in the world - and France 13 times - more than any other country in Europe.
The Queen sat for over 200 official portraits during her reign, the first being in 1933 when she was seven years old.
The Queen carried out more than 21,000 engagements over the course of her reign.
Over 180 garden parties have been held at Buckingham Palace since 1952 and over 1.5 million people attended a Garden Party during The Queen’s reign.
Her Majesty made a State Visit to Ireland in 2011, the first time a reigning British Monarch has visited the country since its separation from the United Kingdom. Her Majesty began the speech that she gave at the State Banquet in Irish, saying, “A Uachtaráin agus a chairde” (President and friends).
The Queen spoke fluent French and often used the language during audiences and State Visits.
Charles was formally proclaimed King Charles III on Saturday 10 September at the Accession Council which took place at St James’s Palace.
The Queen hosted 112 incoming State Visits to the United Kingdom, including Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia (1954), Emperor Hirohito of Japan (1971), President Lech Walęsa of Poland (1991) and President Barack Obama of the USA (2011).
A minute’s silence was held on Sunday 18 September at 8:00pm to mark a National Moment of Reflection paying our respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral occurred on Monday 19 September. The day was a national bank holiday and marked the last day of the period of national mourning.
Books of Condolences were open at various locations across Central Bedfordshire and knitted post box toppers paying tribute to the Queen have appeared across the county.
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