15 September 2022
Mr. Secretary-General,?
Excellencies, Members of the General Assembly,
Good morning.?
We are here to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Today¡¯s tribute provides an opportunity to reflect on leadership.
This is a quality that is always dearly needed for noble pursuits, particularly in times of crisis.¡±
When visiting the United Nations in 2010, Her Majesty expressed admiration for those who have the talent to lead, particularly in public service and in diplomatic life.? ? ?
In her remarks to the General Assembly on that visit, she observed that quote ¡°some attributes of leadership are universal, and often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration, to work together.¡± ?
When the United Nations is judged by future generations, her hope, she said, would be that ¡°our sincerity, our willingness to take a lead, and our determination to do the right thing, will stand the test of time.¡± ?
The parallels between the words spoken by Her Majesty and a description of her attributes are clear.
Her Majesty devoted her life to public service, and to improving the lives of people within the Commonwealth. ?
I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the Royal family, the people of the United Kingdom, and the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Thank you.