I am deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 1952, at the young age of 25, Queen Elizabeth was officially crowned as our sovereign and in Westminster Abbey, she pledged herself to serve our nation. Words cannot describe the incredible commitment of the late Queen Elizabeth to public duty, and I know that everyone found a special place in their hearts for her.
Likewise, I know that my constituents in Solihull had the utmost respect, appreciation and devotion to the late Queen Elizabeth, and she demonstrated her personal love for the Borough of Solihull, and its people, on numerous occasions. In 2002, Queen Elizabeth visited Solihull where she was escorted through the Town Centre by the former Mayor, Mrs Kate Wild. She visited the then state-of-the-art Touchwood Shopping Centre and the Library. On the same day, she unveiled a plaque to open the Jubilee Gardens on Homer Road. This was a special day for Solihull and one that will remain in the history books for many centuries to come.
On a personal level, one of my earliest memories in life was attending a silver Jubilee party on a bright summer’s day at my Infants School. On that day I was awarded a 50p commemorative coin to remember the Silver Jubilee and I still have the coin to this day.
From my time in Government, serving as the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Mongolia, I know just how much respect Queen Elizabeth commanded on the international stage. In 2019, I was invited to Buckingham Palace where Queen Elizabeth met with those trying to forge stronger trade links between the UK and other nations. It struck me, in particular in her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth, just how much she personally strived to help assist the UK and the Commonwealth in forging new trade agreements for the good of our people.
Today, our country faces a new chapter in its history. As we depart from the second Elizabethan era, I know that my constituents will clearly want to spend time mourning this sad occasion. I am in no doubt that the late Queen Elizabeth would wish us all to pledge our allegiance, devotion and support to our new Sovereign, His Majesty King Charles III.
God save the King.
