Former US President Barack Obama has shared a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, recalling her as a monarch who “wore her lofty titles with a light touch.”
The full statement issued on behalf of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama reads:
“From the day of her coronation 70 years ago—the first ever televised—to this very moment, as countless tributes are being posted online in her honour, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has captivated the world. Today, Michelle and I join so many others who are celebrating her life and mourning her passing.
“Her Majesty was just 25 years old when she took on the enormous task of helming one of the world’s greatest democracies. In the decades that followed, she would go on to make the role of Queen her own—with a reign defined by grace, elegance, and a tireless work ethic, defying the odds and expectations placed on women in her generation.”
President Obama continued, writing about the former monarch’s wartime service and how, throughout her 70-year reign, “She served as a beacon of hope and stability for the people of the United Kingdom and the world” and was “as willing to act in a comic sketch for the London Olympics as she was to record steadying messages for the people of the UK during the COVID-19 lockdowns.”
President Obama ended his statement with personal remembrances of his personal relationship with Queen Elizabeth II during his time served as President from 2008 to 2012:
“Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us. Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity. Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humour and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.
“Like so many, Michelle and I are grateful to have witnessed Her Majesty’s dedicated leadership, and we are awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service. Our thoughts are with her family and the people of the United Kingdom at this difficult time.”
