French President Emmanuel Macron and former US President Barack Obama have led the tributes that poured in for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
In a video message, which he published on his social media accounts, President Macron praised the Queen for being one of the “very few constants at the international level”.
He said: “Through these transformations, your devotion to our alliance and our friendship has remained and has helped build the trust that has brought freedom and prosperity to our country”, adding “you are the golden thread that binds our two countries, the proof of the unwavering friendship between our nations”.
The video message was delivered in both English and French, and is particularly poignant, seen as though France and the UK don’t share the smoothest of relationships, historically. The President also remarked on the UK’s role in World War II, and how his country still honours the sacrifices of the Allied soldiers who “have fought for the freedom we now enjoy”.
President Macron will also unite France in the celebrations all around the world, as at 6:30pm Paris time he will preside over a ceremony to revive the flame under Arc de Triomphe in the French Capital, “on the occasion of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee”, says the official agenda entry.
Another touching tribute came from former United States President Barack Obama. Broadcast during the BBC livestream of Trooping the Colour, President Obama began his tribute by saying: “When you’re president of the United States, you meet a lot of remarkable people, and you try under all circumstances to retain your composure, but that’s harder than you think when you’re visiting Her Majesty”.
He went on to say: “Getting to know her was one of the great privileges of my years in office. And I learned so much from seeing the example she set for all of us who have the privilege to serve”.
It is no secret that President Obama holds The Queen in high regard. In 2016, following one of their last meetings, he said that Her Majesty is “one of my favourite people”.
Tributes have been steadily pouring in from all over the world, including from Denmark, where Queen Margrethe celebrated her Golden Jubilee earlier this year, since the 6th of February, the date that actually marked the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth becoming Queen, following the passing of her father, King George VI.
