Buckingham Palace has announced the sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This is a significant bereavement for our nation and will be felt deeply by many of us.

The Bishop of Leicester, Rt Revd Martyn Snow, said: “I learnt of the death of Her Majesty the Queen today with enormous sadness at the loss of a faithful, courageous and inspirational monarch.

“She was a great gift to our country, ruling for 70 years with complete dedication to her people and to her vocation. She succeeded in being Queen for all of us, whatever our status, beliefs or background. As we all know, she was held in deep respect and admiration across the world, by both ordinary people and international leaders.

“Having had the privilege of meeting her personally, I found Her Majesty to be warm and approachable, intensely interested in others and always keen to remind us that it is our common efforts that forge and maintain our community life. Her Christian faith provided an inspiration and encouragement to many, and was the motivation to her life-long desire to serve her country and the Commonwealth, and their people. We owe her a deep debt of gratitude.

“Today we pray for the Royal Family in their own grief, and extend our deepest sympathy to them.”

The Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow

The Dean of Leicester, the Very Revd David Monteith said: “I was so saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty and I join with our local
communities in thanksgiving for her life and reign as well as mourning her great loss and praying for our new King.

“I was privileged to meet her and to host her at Leicester Cathedral when she came for her Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and for the Royal Maundy Service. Her presence was so compelling and engaging. She made sure that every meeting and handshake was a lovely and memorable encounter. From the oldest to the youngest, all were delighted to meet her and she was delighted to be in Leicester and she commented we so epitomised her modern day diverse country.

“Her own Christian faith was also so important to her. So, I pray that she may she rest in peace and that her family also may know God’s comfort.”

Bishop of Loughborough, the Rt Revd Saju Muthalaly said: “We are all feeling an immense loss; the loss of someone held in such high regard and affection for so many years. The grief we feel should not be hurried away but patiently borne with the help of the Lord as we take time to give thanks for such a remarkable life of service and faithfulness. I pray for our nation and commonwealth to follow her example as we unite in mourning our steadfast, gracious Queen, who devoted her entire life to us all and relied on God’s help to do so. Each of us following her example to live lives of service and faithfulness would be a fitting legacy.”

About HM The Queen and the Diocese of Leicester
The Queen visited Leicester Cathedral with the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of
Cambridge at the start of her Diamond Jubilee tour of the country in 2012. She and the Duke
visited again when Her Majesty distributed the Maundy money on Maundy Thursday 2017.

St Peter’s Church will open a Book of Condolence from tomorrow and parishoners are welcome to come to church to reflect on Her Majesty’s life, to light a candle and share thoughts and prayers.