Statement by Northern Ireland Minister on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Press release

Minister of State Steve Baker’s statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, Steve Baker MP, has issued the below statement in response to the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II:

Following the sad news today of the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, I would like to echo the words of the Secretary of State and other members of Cabinet.

Her Majesty was unwavering in her dedication, selflessness and duty to the people of the UK and wider Commonwealth nations during her reign.

This was particularly true for the people of Northern Ireland and her efforts to build reconciliation and a better future here.

My thoughts today will be with The King and the entire Royal Family and I offer them my sincere condolences.

Published 8 September 2022

Flag flying guidance following the death of Her Majesty The Queen

Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, all official flags, including the Union Flag, should be half-masted from as soon as possible today until 08.00 the day following The Queen’s State Funeral. Flags may be flown overnight during this period but should remain at half-mast.

Official flags in this instance are defined as national flags of the home nations, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, Ensigns and Ships’ colours.

Any non-official flags flying or due to be flown, such as the Rainbow Flag or the Armed Forces Day Flag, should be taken down and replaced with a Union Flag at half-mast. Other official flags scheduled to be flown can be flown as normal, but at half-mast.

Half-mast means the flag is flown a third of the way down the flagpole from the top, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the flagpole.

On poles that are more than 45° from the vertical, flags cannot be flown at half-mast and should not be flown at all.

The Union Flag must be flown the correct way up – in the half of the flag nearest the flagpole, the wider diagonal white stripe must be above the red diagonal stripe. Please see the College of Arms website

Royal Standard

The Royal Standard is never flown at half-mast even after the death of a monarch, as there is always a Sovereign on the throne and it would therefore be inappropriate for it to fly at half-mast. The Union Flag will be flown at half mast on all Royal Residences.

Exceptions for half-masting during this period of mourning

The only exception to half-masting during this period of mourning is on the day of the Accession Council on 10 September when His Majesty The King is formally proclaimed. The Union Flag and all other official flags should be raised to full mast between the hours of 09:00 and 10:30 and remain at full mast until 13:00 the following day, at which time the Union and official flags should return to being flown at half mast.

Published 8 September 2022
Last updated 9 September 2022 + show all updates

9 September 2022
Information on exceptions for half-masting during this period of mourning added
8 September 2022
First published.

Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

News story

We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II this afternoon.

On hearing of Her Majesty’s passing, Chief Constable Simon Chesterman OBE, QPM said: “It is with great sadness that we learnt of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II today. On behalf of everyone at the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, I send our deepest condolences to The Royal Family at this very sad time.

“As Crown Servants, it is a particularly poignant moment for the policing family to hear of her passing. During her unprecedented reign of 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II has been a source of inspiration to millions globally.

“Flags at CNC premises will now be flown at half-mast to mark the national period of mourning.”

A book of condolence will be available for anyone who would like to pass on their messages to the Royal Family on their website

Published 8 September 2022

Statement by Northern Ireland Secretary on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

Press release

Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris’ statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Rt Hon Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has issued the following statement in response to the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II:

I am deeply saddened at the news of the loss of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Throughout her reign, Her Majesty has been the matriarch and pillar of our country and the Commonwealth. She has always provided wise counsel, admirably and selflessly, fulfilling a lifetime commitment to public service.

Her Majesty dedicated herself to our family of nations, no more so was this apparent than in Northern Ireland, We will always be greatly indebted for her efforts to promote reconciliation and the fostering of better community relations, ensuring peace and stability.

I want to offer my sincere condolences to The King and the entire Royal Family on their loss. The thoughts of the people of Northern Ireland, like the rest of the United Kingdom and around the world, are with them at this time.

Published 8 September 2022

Prime Minister’s statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Prime Minister Liz Truss’s statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

We are all devastated by the news we have just heard from Balmoral.

The death of Her Majesty The Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.

Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.

Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.

Britain is the great country it is today because of her.

She ascended the throne just after the Second World War.

She championed the development of the Commonwealth – from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world.

We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation.

Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed.

She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure.

She has been our longest-ever reigning monarch.

It is an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.

Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.

In return, she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.

She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all.

Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th Prime Minister.

Throughout her life she has visited more than 100 countries and she has touched the lives of millions around the world.

In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends…

….across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world…

…to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service.

It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy.

Today the Crown passes – as it is has done for more than a thousand years – to our new monarch, our new head of state:

His Majesty King Charles III.

With the King’s family, we mourn the loss of his mother.

And as we mourn, we must come together as a people to support him.

To help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all.

We offer him our loyalty and devotion just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long.

And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country,

– exactly as Her Majesty would have wished –

by saying the words…

God save the King.