President Higgins leads tributes to 'remarkable friend' Queen Elizabeth

Mr Higgins said Queen Elizabeth's reign of 70 years encompassed periods of enormous change, during which she represented a remarkable source of reassurance to the British people.

President Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and said she will be “deeply missed” after Buckingham Palace confirmed she has passed away.

In a statement, President Higgins said he was expressing his “heartfelt sympathy” to the royal family on behalf of the people of Ireland.

He said: “It is with profound regret and a deep personal sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my heartfelt sympathy to His Majesty King Charles and to the royal family on their very great personal loss.

“May I offer my deepest condolences to the British people and to the members of the Commonwealth on the loss of a unique, committed and deeply respected Head of State.” 

Exceptional dignity

He said the queen served the British people with exceptional dignity.

“Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as queen, which will hold a unique place in British history,” he added.

He said: “Her reign of 70 years encompassed periods of enormous change, during which she represented a remarkable source of reassurance to the British people.

“This was a reassurance based on a realism of the significance of present events, rather than any narrow conception of history.

Queen Elizabeth with Uachtarán CLG Criostóir Ó Cuana, President Mary McAleese and the Duke of Edinburgh during the queen's state visit to Ireland in 2011. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

“This was so well reflected by a remarkable generosity of spirit which helped to foster a more inclusive relationship both with the British people themselves and with those with whom her country has experienced a complex, and often difficult, history.” 

President Higgins said he recalls “the exceptional hospitality afforded to Sabina and myself by the Queen and the late Prince Philip on our four-day State Visit to Britain in 2014.” 

He said this meeting celebrated the deeply personal interconnection between the Irish and British people, a connection embodied by the hundreds of thousands of families who have moved between our shores over the centuries.

He added: “As we know, the queen often spoke of how much she enjoyed her own historic State Visit to Ireland in 2011, the first such visit by a British monarch since Irish independence, and during which she did so much through eloquent word and generous gesture to improve relations between our two islands.

Queen Elizabeth’s visit was pivotal in laying a firm basis for an authentic and ethical understanding between our countries.

“During those memorable few days 11 years ago, the queen did not shy away from the shadows of the past.

“Her moving words and gestures of respect were deeply appreciated and admired by the people of Ireland and set out a new, forward looking relationship between our nations — one of respect, close partnership and sincere friendship.

“As we offer our condolences to all our neighbours in the United Kingdom, following the loss of a remarkable friend of Ireland, we remember the role Queen Elizabeth played in celebrating the warm and enduring friendship, and her great impact on the bonds of mutual understanding, between our two peoples.

“She will be deeply missed.”

Defence Forces military police lower the Irish flag to half-mast outside government buildings in Dublin after the announcement of the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. Picture: Government Information Service

Tanáiste Leo Varadkar said Queen Elizabeth will be remembered as someone who built bridges between Ireland and the UK.

Paying tribute, he said he was honoured to meet her and will always recall her warmth, her grace, and most especially her humour.

In a statement, Mr Varadkar said: “Ireland has had a complex and deeply troubled relationship with the British monarchy over many centuries.

“Queen Elizabeth will be remembered as someone who built bridges between Ireland and the UK, and restored connections between our nations.

Irish visit a watershed moment

“From our perspective, she will always be remembered as the first British monarch to visit an independent Ireland, a visit which was a watershed moment on the long road to reconciliation.

“Symbolism matters, and the visit showed that it is possible to move beyond a painful history, and use our shared experiences to build a new future in a spirit of hope and forgiveness.

“Ireland has had a complex and deeply troubled relationship with the British monarchy over many centuries.

“Queen Elizabeth will be remembered as someone who built bridges between Ireland and the UK, and restored connections between our nations.

“May she rest in peace, and may her successors help to continue the long and ongoing work of reconciliation between Ireland and the UK.”