Prime Minister Liz Truss: 'Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built' and speaking just days after meeting her at Balmoral added that 'she was the very spirit of Great Britain and that spirit will endure'
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Prime Minister Liz Truss in a live broadcast from Downing Street led the tributes to Her Majesty just days after meeting the late Queen at Balmoral to be invited to form the government.
In her address the Prime Minister highlighted what Britain was when Her Majesty came to the throne and what it was now.
She praised the Queen, saying: "Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her."
The Prime Minister said: "We are all devastated by the news that we have heard from Balmoral.
"The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world. Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.
"Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her.
"She ascended to the throne just after the Second World War, she championed the development of the Commonwealth from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world
"We are now a modern, thriving dynamic nation. Through thick and thin Queen Elizabeth II has provided us with stability and the strength that we needed. She was the very spirit of Great Britain and that spirit will endure.
"She has been our longest ever reigning monarch and it has been an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.
"Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories and in return she was loved and admired by the people of the United Kingdom and all around the world.
"She has been a personal inspiration to me and people all around the country and her devotion to duty is an example to us all.
"Earlier this week at 96 she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th Prime Minister.
"Throughout her life she has visited more than 100 countries and she has touched the lives of millions around the world.
"In the difficult days ahead we will come together with our friends across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service.
"It is a day of great loss but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy. Today the crown passes as it has done for more than 1000 years to our new monarch, King Charles III."
