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Category: Queen Elizabeth II

  • Nigeria flags to be flown at half mast over passage of Queen Elizabeth

    Nigeria flags to be flown at half mast over passage of Queen Elizabeth

    The Nigeria’s flags, home and in foreign missions, are to be flown at half mast in honour of the passage of Queen Elizabeth II, the Federal Government declared on Friday night..

    According to a statement by Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the flags would be flown at half mast on Sunday 11 to Monday 12, 2022.

    The government commiserated with the government and people of the United Kingdom and all the affected people of the Commonwealth and the World on the passage of the Queen.

    Read Also: EPL games postponed over Queen Elizabeth 11 death

    The statement reads:” In honour of Queen Elizabeth II, the sovereign of the United Kingdom, Chairman of the Commonwealth and an eminent global personality whose passage to eternity was announced yesterday, the Ministry of Interior of the Federal Republic of Nigeria declares that all flags in Nigeria and our missions abroad be flown at half mast on Sunday September 11, 2022 and Monday 12, 2022.

    “We commiserate with the government and people of the United Kingdom and all the affected people of the Commonwealth and the World.

    “The Queen is dead, long live the king.”

  • Iwobi, others pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

    Iwobi, others pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

    After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the world is mourning the demise of a globally reputable monarch, and Super Eagles players – past and present have joined in the tributes

    Super Eagles midfielder, Alex Iwobi posted a photo of the deceased Queen on his Twitter page while former Super Eagles forward, Kanu Nwankwo also posted a photo he took at Buckingham Palace. Kanu shook the hands of the Queen in the photo.

    Victor Moses also posted a photo of the Queen and tagged it “the end of an era”

  • Outrage as Nigerian-born Professor wishes Queen Elizabeth II ‘excruciating’ death

    Outrage as Nigerian-born Professor wishes Queen Elizabeth II ‘excruciating’ death

    Outrage has trailed the now-deleted post of an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, critical sociolinguistics and critical discourse at Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Uju Anya wishing Queen Elizabeth II an ‘excruciating’ death.

    But the varsity where she lectures had expressed reservations over Uju’s tweets.

    After many people reported the tweet, Twitter deleted the post for violating a rule that prohibited “wishing or hoping that someone experiences physical harm.”

    The university, in reaction to the development, said although it believes in “free expression”, it does not condone the views expressed by the professor.

    “We do not condone the offensive and objectionable messages posted by Uju Anya today on her personal social media account,” the post reads.

    Uju also accused Queen Elizabeth II of sponsoring the “genocide” that led to her family being displaced.

    In another tweet, she referenced the alleged role of the British empire in supplying the Nigerian government with arms and ammunition during the nation’s civil war which spanned 1967 – 1970.

    She said: “If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star,”

    Her post attracted a flurry of reactions including criticisms and backlash.

    Before now, there have been previous calls for Uju to be fired from her job over her controversial remarks.

    Anya was called out for using the ethnic slur ‘Akata’ but she apologised.

    Among those who have reacted to the academic’s latest comments include the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, Piers Morgan, others.

    “This is someone supposedly working to make the world better? I don’t think so. Wow” Bezos wrote.

    But she replied Bezos saying “Otoro gba gbue gi. May everyone you and your merciless greed have harmed in this world remember you as fondly as I remember my colonizers.”

    President Buhari’s aide Bashir Ahmed tweeted: “Don’t know that Uju Anya until I saw some of her tweets for the first time on my timeline this evening, her tweets about late Queen Elizabeth II were so unfortunately unnecessary.”

    Another user, @Damola said: “Uju Anya is saying everything you are scared to say.”

    @Mochievous posited: “I stand with Uju Anya. What Jeff Bezos did was absolute trash. It is the audacity to think that he can contribute to this conversation and attack her. Wtf?”

    Dr. Ayo Sogunro said: “My thoughts really go to Uju Anya because it is going to be some trying days ahead. The Western world only allows rejoicing at the deaths of leaders from Africa, the Middle East, China, and Eastern Europe. The death of any Western leader is a sacrosanct and sober affair.

    “People wrote, justifiably, extremely gleeful articles and tweets when Gadaffi and Mugabe died. The Queen should not be immune from similar expressions by people who truly dislike her and the institution she represents.”

    Piers Morgan wrote: “You vile disgusting moron.”

  • EPL games postponed over Queen Elizabeth 11 death

    EPL games postponed over Queen Elizabeth 11 death

    Premier league has postponed this weekend and Mondays game due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

    As a mark of respect, following the passing of Her Majesty, The Queen Elizabeth II, the EPL games has been postponed.

    Until further notice, other games next week will still go ahead.

  • Queen Elizabeth II: Tributes pour in from dignitaries and world leaders

    Queen Elizabeth II: Tributes pour in from dignitaries and world leaders

    World leaders have started sending tributes and reactions on the passing of the British monarch:

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

    “As the United Kingdom’s longest-lived and longest-reigning Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world. She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth.
    “Queen Elizabeth II was a good friend of the United Nations, and visited our New York Headquarters twice, more than fifty years apart. She was deeply committed to many charitable and environmental causes and spoke movingly to delegates at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow. I would like to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II for her unwavering, lifelong dedication to serving her people. The world will long remember her devotion and leadership.”

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

    “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a stalwart of our times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. She personified dignity and decency in public life. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and people of UK in this sad hour.”

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

    “It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”

    White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

    “Our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the Queen, (go) to the people of the United Kingdom … Our relationship with the people in the United Kingdom, and this is something the president has said himself, has grown stronger and stronger.”

    U.S. Senate Republican Mitch McConnell

    “For 70 long years, from the aftermath of World War II well into the 21st century, across 15 different Prime Ministers, through great triumphs and great challenges, the Queen’s steady leadership safeguarded the land she loved. Despite spending nearly three quarters of a century as one of the most famous and admired individuals on the planet, the Queen made sure her reign was never really about herself — not her fame, not her feelings, not her personal wants or needs. She guided venerable institutions through modern times using timeless virtues like duty, dignity, and sacrifice. She offered our contemporary world a living master class it needed badly.”

    European Council President Charles Michel

    “Our thoughts are with the royal family and all those who mourn Queen Elizabeth II in the UK and worldwide. Once called Elizabeth the Steadfast, she never failed to show us the importance of lasting values in a modern world with her service and commitment.”

    EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell

    “Queen Elizabeth Il’s remarkable reign oversaw key events of the 20th & 21st century. The EU pays tribute to her unique contribution to building peace & reconciliation. While her loss will be felt around the world, our immediate thoughts are with her family & the people of the UK.”

    Dutch King Willem-Alexander

    “We remember Queen Elizabeth II with deep respect and great affection. Steadfast and wise, she dedicated her long life to serving the British people. We feel a strong bond with the United Kingdom and its royal family, and we share their sorrow at this time.”

    The Royal House of Norway

    “The Royal Family is deeply saddened to receive the news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away.”

    German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

    “Queen Elizabeth II is a woman who shaped the century. She witnessed and written the contemporary history.”

    Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi

    “Queen Elizabeth was a major player in world history over the last seventy years. She represented the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with balance, wisdom, respect for institutions and democracy. She has been the most beloved symbol of her country and has garnered respect, affection and warm feelings everywhere. She ensured stability in times of crisis and kept the value of tradition alive in a society in constant and profound evolution.”

  • 10 things to happen after Queen Elizabeth’s death

    10 things to happen after Queen Elizabeth’s death

    The death of Queen Elizabeth II is being mourned in Britain and across the world.

    The longest-serving British monarch was 96.

    The Queen served as the U.K.’s reigning monarch for 70 years, making her the second-longest serving sovereign in history.

    Born on April 21, 1926, the Queen is 96 years old. She ascended the throne in February 1952.

    But what will actually happen after her demise? What protocol is followed when a reigning monarch dies? Here are things to know:

    1. Operation London Bridge — Once the Queen has passed, Operation London Bridge begins. There will be 10 days of activity from the Queen’s death to her funeral.

    2. Meeting the Queen’s coffin: Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was just received by the Queen earlier this week, and her Cabinet will meet the Queen’s coffin at St. Pancras station.

    3. Prince Charles, who is first in line to the throne will tour the U.K. before the Queen’s funeral. He will stop in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales to attend services.

    Read Also: The life and times of Mikhail Gorbachev

    4. Ceremonially, flags across Whitehall will be lowered to half-mast. The royal family’s website will change to a black holding page with the statement announcing the Queen’s passing.

    5. Charles will be proclaimed as the new sovereign but the coronation of King Charles III will be planned a few months after the funeral, and the title of Prince of Wales will move to Prince William.

    6. The Queen’s coffin will remain in the Palace of Westminster for three days where the public will be able to visit and pay their respects. Parliamentary business in the U.K. will be suspended for 10 days.

    7. On the 10th day, the Queen’s body will be moved to Westminister Abbey for a state funeral. The funeral will be attended by state officials from all over the world and will be coordinated by the armed forces and Government.

    8. At the BBC, there’s an alarm that signals national emergencies. Many who work there have no idea what it sounds like, but it goes off when the Queen dies. At that point, the BBC’s logo, which is usually red, will be changed to black. And all anchors will wear black suits and ties.

    9. Elizabeth is expected to then be buried next to her late husband, Prince Philip, and her father, King George VI.

    10. Charles will officially become king and Camilla will become the U.K.’s queen.

  • BREAKING: UK monarch Queen Elizabeth dies at 96

    BREAKING: UK monarch Queen Elizabeth dies at 96

    Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.

    Her family gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier on Thursday.

    The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.

    With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms.

    In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “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.”

    All the Queen’s children travelled to Balmoral, near Aberdeen, after doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision.

    Her grandson, Prince William, is also there, with his brother, Prince Harry, on his way.

    Queen Elizabeth II‘s tenure as head of state spanned post-war austerity, the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK’s entry into – and withdrawal from – the European Union.

    Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Liz Truss, born 101 years later in 1975, and appointed by the Queen earlier this week.

    She held weekly audiences with her prime minister throughout her reign.

    At Buckingham Palace in London, crowds awaiting updates on the Queen’s condition began crying as they heard of her death. The Union flag on top of the palace was lowered to half-mast at 18:30 BST.

    The Queen was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, in Mayfair, London, on 21 April 1926.

    Few could have foreseen she would become monarch but in December 1936 her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated from the throne to marry the twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson.

    Elizabeth’s father became King George VI and, at age 10, Lilibet, as she was known in the family, became heir to the throne.

    Within three years, Britain was at war with Nazi Germany. Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, spent much of wartime at Windsor Castle after their parents rejected suggestions they be evacuated to Canada.

    After turning 18, Elizabeth spent five months with the Auxiliary Territorial Service and learned basic motor mechanic and driving skills. “I began to understand the esprit de corps that flourishes in the face of adversity,” she recalled later.

    Through the war, she exchanged letters with her third cousin, Philip, Prince of Greece, who was serving in the Royal Navy. Their romance blossomed and couple married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947, with the prince taking the title of Duke of Edinburgh.

    She would later describe him as “my strength and stay” through 74 years of marriage, before his death in 2021, aged 99. BBC

  • Queen Elizabeth II under medical supervision

    Queen Elizabeth II under medical supervision

    Queen Elizabeth II has been placed under medical supervision because doctors are “concerned for Her Majesty’s health,” Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.

    Members of the royal family are urgently travelling to Scotland to be with the 96-year-old monarch.

    The palace declined to provide further details about the seriousness of the queen’s condition, but there were other worrying signs as Prime Minister Liz Truss said “the whole country will be deeply concerned by the news” and other politicians expressed their disquiet.

    The announcement by the palace came a day after the queen canceled a virtual meeting of her Privy Council when doctors advised her to rest following a full day of events on Tuesday, when she formally asked Truss to become prime minister.

    “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” a palace spokesperson said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with customary policy. “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”

    Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, along with his wife, Camilla, and sister, Princess Anne, are already with the queen at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland. Prince William, Charles’ eldest son, is also en route to Balmoral, as is his brother, Prince Harry, his wife, Meghan, Prince Andrew and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

    The gathering of the House of Windsor comes just three months after people across Britain paused over a long holiday weekend to celebrate the queen’s 70 years on the throne. While crowds of cheering, flag-waving fans filled the streets around Buckingham Palace throughout four days of festivities, the queen herself made only two brief appearances on the palace balcony to wave to her subjects.

    Elizabeth has increasingly handed over duties to Charles and other members of the royal family in recent months as she recovered from a bout of COVID-19, began using a cane and struggled to get around.

    “The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime,” Truss said on Twitter.

    “My thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”

    Since assuming the throne after the death of her father on Feb. 6, 1952, Elizabeth has been a symbol of stability as Britain negotiated the end of empire, the dawn of the information age and the mass migration that transformed the country into a multicultural society.

    Throughout it all, the queen has built a bond with the nation through a seemingly endless series of public appearance as she opened libraries, dedicated hospitals and bestowed honors on deserving citizens.

    She worked steadily into the twilight of her reign. But the death of Prince Philip, her husband of more than 70 years, in April of last year reminded the U.K. that the reign of the queen, the only monarch most of her subjects have ever known, is finite.

    That truth was the subtext of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations as newspapers, television news shows and even the walls of the palace were filled with images of Elizabeth as she changed from a glamorous young queen in crown and diamonds to a kind of global grandmother known for her omnipresent handbag and love of horses and corgis.

    Charles was front and centre throughout the festivities as he stood in for his mother and demonstrated that he was ready to take on her mantle.

    Wearing a ceremonial scarlet tunic and bearskin hat, he reviewed the troops during the Queen’s Birthday Parade on the opening day of the jubilee.

    The next day, he was the last guest to enter St. Paul’s Cathedral and took his seat at the front of the church for a service of thanksgiving in honor of the queen. At a star-studded concert in front of Buckingham Palace, he delivered the main tribute to the woman he addressed as, “Your Majesty, mummy.”

  • UK ‘deeply concerned’ about Queen Elizabeth’s health, says PM Truss

    UK ‘deeply concerned’ about Queen Elizabeth’s health, says PM Truss

    Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss said the whole country would be “deeply concerned” about Queen Elizabeth’s health after doctors said the 96-year-old should remain under medical supervision.

    “The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime,” she said.

    “My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”

    Buckingham Palace said that the queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health, BBC reported.

    The Palace, in a statement this morning, said, “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.

    “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.” (Reuters/NAN)

  • ‘Queen Elizabeth II alive, death reports false’

    ‘Queen Elizabeth II alive, death reports false’

    The rumoured death of Queen Elizabeth II is false, Nigerian-British, Dayo Okewale has stated.

    Okewale, who is the Chief of Staff within the House of Lords, dismissed the reports on his Twitter handle.

    He said: “Hollywood unlocked posting the Queen is dead???? There is no credible source that verifies this. #False.”

    The Queen was at the centre of a viral fake news outcry after a gossip website, Hollywood Unlocked proclaimed her death.

    The website with 2.8 million Instagram followers published a story the 95-year-old Monarch, who tested positive to COVID-19, had been found dead shortly before she was expected at British Vogue editor Edward Enninful’s wedding.

    READ ALSO: Queen Elizabeth tests positive

    The claim was published late in the evening U.K. time on Tuesday, allowing it to go viral in America while many people in Britain were asleep.

    According to Newsweek, a US online news, Buckingham Palace does not comment on internet rumours of this kind when contacted.

    They reported that it was business as usual at Kensington Palace on Wednesday morning.

    However, Jason Lee, founder of Hollywood Unlocked, stood by his coverage on Twitter.

    He said: “We don’t post lies and I always stand by my sources. Waiting for an official statement from the palace.”