The following statement issued from Buckingham Palace yesterday evening: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
On behalf of the Cayman Islands Government Office in the UK and the people of the Cayman Islands in the United Kingdom, I extend our sincerest and deepest condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle on 8 September 2022.
Her Majesty was an exemplary leader and as we recall her reign over the past 70 years what it most striking is her demonstration of service above self. As we reflect on her legacy, we will remember Her Majesty as a symbol of strength and grace.
Her Majesty visited the Cayman Islands twice during her reign, in 1983 and 1994. These visits encouraged bonds of friendship and connection between our islands, The Commonwealth and the Royal Family.
I fondly remember her visit in 1983 when I was a child of nine years old. During that visit she opened the Queen’s Highway; a coastal road named in her honour which connected the districts of East End and North Side. I can recall standing on the side of the road, waving excitedly as she passed. I have always been struck by her unwavering sense of duty and in my own life she has been a source of inspiration.
In commemoration of the life of Her Majesty, all flags in the Cayman Islands will be flown at half-mast until 8am on the day after the State Funeral. For members of the Cayman community in the United Kingdom who wish to extend their sympathies to the Royal Family, a condolence book will be located at the Cayman Islands Government Office in the UK in London from Monday, 12 September.
We join the Royal Family and people from around the world in mourning her loss. We extend our thoughts and prayers to The King and Queen Consort as they return to London today. Her Majesty will forever be in our hearts.