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Throughout her reign, the Queen has demonstrated an extraordinary sense of
public duty and commitment to her nation.
Her Majesty oversaw the United Kingdom through many decades of change,
leading us through the post-war years into the modern, inclusive 21st Century
nation we are today.
We fondly recall a number of visits from Her Majesty, memorably in 2002, when
she and the Duke of Edinburgh visited All Saints Parish Church to unveil a
stone commemorating the 1100th anniversary of the coronation of King Edward
the Elder, in Kingston.
Cllr Yogan Yoganathan, Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames,
said:
“As a Royal Borough, Kingston upon Thames has always had a strong connection
to the Queen and the Royal Family, and we feel her loss deeply.
“On behalf of both the local authority and the
people of Kingston upon Thames, I express great sadness at her passing and
offer our sincere condolences to the royal family for their loss.”
As a symbol of our mourning, all flags at the Guildhall are being flown at
half mast. Books of Condolence will be opened at the Guildhall building in
Kingston, Surbiton Library, New Malden Library and the Hook Centre in
Chessington (also known as Hook and Chessington Library) tomorrow, Friday 9
September. We have also set up an eBook of Condolence for the people of
the borough to express their grief and gratitude to Her Majesty, and share
memories. For more information about both the online and physical
Books of Condolence, please visit Kingston Council's community remembrance
webpage. These will later be memorialised in Kingston’s treasured
archives.
During this difficult period, the Mayor’s programme of events will be amended
as a sign of respect.
This is a period of public grief when all communities should come together to
mourn a national icon who has been a powerful and resilient figurehead
throughout our lives, and whose loss we all share together.
Residents wishing to lay floral tributes to mark the Monarch’s passing are
welcome to do so, and more information on this can be found on our community remembrance webpage. Residents may
want to consider a donation to one of the many charities and patronages
that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II supported.
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