How World Leaders Are Reacting To News Of Queen Elizabeth II's Passing

"She defined an era," writes President Joe Biden.

Queen Elizabeth II receives Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during an audience at Windsor Castle, on March 7, 2022 in Windsor, England.
(Image credit: Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

On the afternoon on September 8, Queen Elizabeth II passed away, just hours after Buckingham Palace stated that the monarch's health had begun to sharply decline. The Queen was the longest-serving female monarch in global history, overseeing more than half a century's worth of political and cultural change. In addition to the 15 prime ministers who served during her reign, the Queen developed unique relationships with a myriad of world leaders both in the United Kingdom and abroad, from Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher to Mikhail Gorbachev to Barack Obama

Now, politicians around the world are reacting to this loss within the British monarchy, both by expressing their deep grief and by reflecting on the queen's legendary influence throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. 

British Prime Minister Liz Truss

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American President Joe Biden

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

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Former American President Barack Obama

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British Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle

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British Liberal Democratic Leader Ed Davey

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British Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer

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First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon

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First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford

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Former British Prime Minister David Cameron

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The Archbishop of Canterbury

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Irish President Michael D. Higgins

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Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Former American President Bill Clinton

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Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo

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U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

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U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell

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President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola

French President Emmanuel Macron

Dutch President Mark Rutte

Gabrielle Ulubay
Beauty Writer

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. She has also written about sexual wellness, fashion, culture, and politics both at Marie Claire and for publications like The New York Times, Bustle, and HuffPost Personal. She has worked extensively in the e-commerce and sales spaces since 2020, including two years at Drizly, where she developed an expertise in finding the best, highest quality goods and experiences money can buy. As a film school graduate, she loves all things media and can be found making art when she's not busy writing.