Queen Elizabeth II – 1926 – 2022

Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, Buckingham Palace announced

Marlborough will pay respect and gratitude to Her Majesty

Details will be announced later, we will bring news as we hear

Wiltshire Council are inviting residents to share their thoughts and memories of Her Majesty The Queen in a special online book of condolence

The book will be available until the day after the funeral

There will also be books of condolence set up in all Wiltshire Council libraries

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Rose Troughton said:

“It is with very great sadness that we have learnt of the death of Her Majesty The Queen. 

“As HM Lord-Lieutenant and on behalf of the people of Wiltshire and Swindon, I would like to send heartfelt condolences and prayers to Her Majesty’s immediate family.

“Her Majesty visited our county many times during her reign; to her regiments based here, to Salisbury for HM’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in 2010 and most recently to Porton Down in 2020. 

“Her Majesty’s long, unique reign, and her wonderful life of service and devotion to the nation will be remembered with deep affection and gratitude.

“We can of course look forward with confidence to His Majesty The King as her true successor and assure him and his family of Wiltshire’s loyalty and support.”

Chairman of Wiltshire Council, Cllr Stuart Wheeler, said:

“I, like so many of us, cannot remember a time when Her Majesty The Queen did not sit on the throne. The Queen has led this country setting a shining example of service, dedication and dignity in office, committed to all her subjects and her country. I would encourage those with memories of Her Majesty to join me in writing them down in our online book of remembrance.”

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said:

“This is a very sad time for all of us.

“We have lost one of the most important figures of our time who has led our nation with grace and dignity. The Queen never wavered from her dedication to her subjects, to her country and to the Commonwealth.

“I know there is much love for her and her family in this county. I know many people will be in shock and grief at this time and we all share that sadness.

“People can write down their own memories and thoughts in our online book of condolence. I hope people will take a few minutes to put into words what The Queen meant to them so we have a permanent record of the way The Queen touched the lives of people in Wiltshire.”

Philip Wilkinson, Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire said:

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II exemplified public service and the news of her death today will be felt keenly across Wiltshire and the entire nation. 

“For more than 70 years she has remained a constant source of stability, wisdom and comfort to the country.

“The Queen was, and remains, an inspiration to us all and my deepest respects and condolences go out to members of the Royal Family during this momentously sad and difficult time.

“Over the coming days I will work with our Chief Constable to ensure that Wiltshire Police are able to play a proactive role in supporting our communities and keeping them safe during this important time of national mourning.”

The Rt Revd Stephen Lake, The Bishop of Salisbury, issued the following statement: 

It is with the most profound sadness that we mourn the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. 
Almost all of us alive today have known only this great monarch as our Queen. Her life of service, of constancy and faithfulness, underpinned by her own very personal faith, has been an inspiration to people across the world. Seventy years ago, the Queen asked us to pray that God would grant her wisdom and strength: these prayers that were answered in abundance. 

Now we continue to pray: for her family and all who grieve, and for all of us as we come to terms with the loss of our Queen. On behalf of all our worshipping communities and schools in the diocese as we commend Her Majesty in prayer into the loving arms of Jesus Christ her Saviour. 

May she rest in peace and rise in glory. 

The image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is by Dorothy Wilding
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2022