Security sector pays tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Born in April 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor became monarch in 1952, aged just 27, following her father’s death and was crowned Queen at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.

In a joint statement, Heather Baily (chair) and Michelle Russell (CEO) of the Security Industry Authority said: “We are deeply saddened to learn the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We join with the rest of the nation in mourning the loss of our monarch who served us all with such dignity, warmth and kindness for more than 70 years. On behalf of the Board and all of the staff here at the Security Industry Authority, we extend our profound sympathy and sincere condolences to the Royal Family.”

GCHQ director Sir Jeremy Fleming has also offered his condolences to the Royal Family. “It is with great sadness that we received the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen. I, and the whole of GCHQ, extend our deep condolences to the Royal Family. Her Majesty was the longest-serving recipient of GCHQ’s intelligence reports. She has been a constant in all of our lives and will be very much missed.”

In a statement on the Home Page of its website, The Security Institute has observed: “The Security Institute would like to send its condolences and deepest sympathies to our Royal Family on the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – and specifically our Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal – at this sad time.”

The British Security Industry Association has commented: “On behalf of our members and the wider security industry we remember Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth, and thank her for 70 years of public duty.”

Untiring commitment

ADS CEO Kevin Craven said: “We at ADS are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Across the whole of the UK, and around the world in the nations of the Commonwealth, people will be shocked by this news. Throughout her long reign, Her Majesty The Queen has shown an untiring commitment to public service, including through her close and deep relationship with the UK’s Armed Forces. Her sense of duty and resilience over decades was an inspiration to us all.”

Craven concluded: “The Queen’s passing is a loss to us all and, on behalf of ADS and its members, our thoughts are with the Royal Family.”

The Rt Hon Sir David Lidington KCB CBE, chair of the Royal United Services Institute, has commented: “We offer our deepest regrets and sympathy to all members of the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We recall with pride the fact that, during Her Late Majesty’s many decades as our Patron, the Institute grew from strength to strength, expanding the scope and nature of its activities, as well as the size of its staff and headquarters located in Whitehall.”

Sir David continued: “In that, we believe, we mirrored what will be the hallmark of Her Majesty’s long and glorious reign: progress and adaptation to new circumstances, while remaining truthful to our heritage and traditions.”

Further, Sir David stated: “We reiterate our gratitude for Her Late Majesty’s decision to follow the example of all her illustrious predecessors as far back as William IV by becoming the Patron of our Institute at the time of her accession to the throne. We also record our deep appreciation for Her Late Majesty’s visits to the Institute, for her approval of changes and amendments in the Institute’s Royal Charter and Byelaws and for her support for the establishment of an annual Prince Philip Memorial Lecture on Military Education.”

In conclusion, Sir David noted: “We are determined to remain one of the United Kingdom’s leading security Think Tanks and beg to affirm our devotion to His Majesty King Charles III.”