Elton John, Viola Davis, world leaders remember Queen Elizabeth II: ‘She defined an era’

Thursday erupted with tributes and homages.

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. It defined an era,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

She continued: “In an ever-changing world, he has been a constant presence and a source of comfort and pride to generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without him. A great admiration for Queen Elizabeth II has united the people of Commonwealth The seven decades of his historic reign witnessed an era of unprecedented human progress and advancement of human dignity.

“She was the first British monarch that people around the world could feel an immediate and personal connection with, whether listening to her on the radio as a young princess, talking to UK children or gathering around the television. for her. coronation.”, or saw her recent platinum Christmas or birthday speech on their phones. Instead, she’s dedicated her entire life to serving them.

“Supported by her beloved Prince Philip for 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II has always led with grace, an unwavering commitment to duty and the unparalleled power of her example. He has endured the dangers and hardships of a world war with the British people and has united them in the ravages of a global pandemic to look forward to better days. Through his sponsorship and dedication to charities, he has supported causes that uplift people and expand opportunities. By showing friendship and respect to newly independent nations around the world, he furthered the cause of freedom and fostered strong bonds that helped strengthen the community he loved so much, a community of peace and shared values.

“Queen Elizabeth II was a statesman of unparalleled dignity and steadfastness who deepened the founding alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. It helped make our relationship special.

“We first met the Queen in 1982 when we were traveling to the UK as part of a Senate delegation. We were honored to host her on our first trip abroad as President and First Lady in June 2021, where she impressed us with her intelligence, touched us with her kindness and generously shared her wisdom. He is said to have met with 14 American presidents. He helped Americans celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the bicentennial of our independence. And he sympathized with America during our darkest days since 9/11, when he poignantly reminded us that “pain is the price we pay for love.”

We look forward to continuing our close friendship with the King and Queen for years to come. The thoughts and prayers of the people across the United States today are with the grieving people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Our deepest condolences to the royal family, who are mourning not only their queen, but also their beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. His legacy will feature prominently on the pages of British history and the history of our world. “

on appeal the hollywood reporter Helen Mirren said: “I regret, along with the rest of my country, the passing of a great queen. I am proud to call myself an Elizabethan. “If there was a definition of nobility, Elizabeth Windsor embodied it.”

BAFTA also released a statement highlighting the Queen’s support of the UK’s creative industries through her various sponsorships, including the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Royal Diversity Charity and the Film and Television Endowment Fund. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen, whose close association with the Academy lasted 50 years.

The statement read: “Over the years, the Queen has visited various film and television organizations, supporting their efforts and highlighting their work. The new BAFTA headquarters was officially opened in March 1976 at 195 Piccadilly by the Queen and was attended by the organization’s former presidents, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Princess Anne, who was then president. . On its official opening day, the Society of Film and Television Arts was renamed the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Five decades later, 195 Piccadilly remains the iconic London home of the BAFTAs and is at the center of the Academy’s philanthropic activities.

“The Queen was instrumental in one of the most ambitious international initiatives ever undertaken by the Academy, when in 1990 the Library of Congress in Washington invited BAFTA to organize a joint festival of British film and television. The Academy organized a major British cultural program in 1991 for the Queen and the Duke’s first state visit to Washington since 1976. The Queen supported many events during the festival, including an exhibition of Images of Great Britain at the Library of Congress. 100 feature films were shown in one week. The Queen also attended the BAFTA luncheon at the Jefferson Building with the Duke, which included Sir Richard Attenborough’s presentation of a special British Academy Award to actress Angela Lansbury.

“In 1996, when the Academy celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special event at 195 Piccadilly, the Queen and Duke witnessed this milestone in the organization’s history and, to mark the occasion, the director was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. for photography Freddie Young and a BAFTA scholarship were awarded to Maggie Smith.

“The Queen received her BAFTA on 4 April 2013 at a British film industry reception hosted by Her Majesty at Windsor Castle. Sir Kenneth Branagh presented a special honorary award from the British Academy in recognition of the Queen’s outstanding patronage of the film and television industry. The Queen has a unique place in Academy history and will be sorely missed.”

Sir Roger Deakins expressed his sadness at the loss of the Queen, writing in a statement THR, “One of my earliest childhood memories was seeing him crowned. We have a black and white TV for the occasion. She was a great force in history and she was an extraordinary woman. It’s a sad day.”

Read on to see what more Hollywood stars and public figures are saying about Queen Elizabeth II.