Queen Elizabeth II, 1926 – 2022
09 September 2022
The SMP mourns the loss of HM Queen Elizabeth II, who endlessly championed a Commonwealth of Nations underpinned by dignity, friendship and shared humanity. For seventy years she played a crucial role supporting international cooperation, helping to bind diverse nations together for the collective good.
Queen Elizabeth II had a deep and real love for Scotland; it is reported that this is where she found happiness and peace, and we are pleased that she was able to spend her final days here. She cared deeply about the local community in Royal Deeside, as she did about all parts of the UK and the Commonwealth.
Queen Elizabeth II was briefly also Queen of Malawi, from 1964-66, when Malawi was an independent sovereign state and a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations.
She visited Malawi in July 1979, as part of a royal tour coinciding with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Lusaka. The aim of the tour, with the United Nations, was to support peace and justice in Southern Africa and to play an active part in the development and strengthening of the Commonwealth by promoting successful co-operation between countries, for the benefit of all.
The Queen was adamant that even the smallest nations, through the Commonwealth, always had a voice and a vote: she ensured everyone was treated with the same dignity and respect.
We have received a number of messages from friends in Malawi passing their condolences, including in Government, and we therefore stand together as two nations, marking the sad loss but remembering with great happiness the vision and values which underpinned the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
May she rest in peace.
Munyengo Imeneyi tipempha Mzimu oyera kuti uafungatira banja lonse la ofedwa ndi mzika zonse za dziko la Britain. (We pray that the Spirit of God comforts the bereaved family and all British nationals at this trying time)
Mzimu wao uwuse mumtendere (May her soul rest in peace)
Read our piece in ‘The Scotsman’ on ‘Mourning a champion of the Commonwealth’