German leaders have added their words to the flood of condolence messages coming in from all over the world following the news that Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Thursday aged 96. 

Queen Elizabeth II dies at Balmoral aged 96

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral [her home in Scotland] this afternoon,” Buckingham palace said in a statement on Thursday evening. “The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” 

Queen Elizabeth II is succeeded by her eldest son, who will now take the throne and the title King Charles III. In a statement on Thursday, the new monarch said, “The death of my beloved mother Her Majesty the Queen is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.”

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” 

Elizabeth II hailed as key driver of German-British reconciliation

German leaders took the opportunity to highlight the role the Queen played in reconciling Germany and the UK in the years after the Second World War. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the queen was “an example and inspiration to millions, also here in Germany. Her commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War II will never be forgotten. She will be missed, not least for her wonderful humour.”

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier added: “Her natural authority, her immense experience, her exemplary performance of duty will remain in our living memory.” He described her as “a woman who shaped a century, in the UK and beyond… Here in Germany, she was admired and revered.” 

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock tweeted, “She was a source of strength and confidence for her country… Germany remains eternally grateful to her for reaching out to us for reconciliation after the terror of the Second World War.” 

Queen Elizabeth II made five state visits to Germany

The Queen’s state visit to Germany in 1965 signalled the end of the federal republic’s postwar outcast status, and set the tone for the following 60 years of friendship and cooperation between Germany and the UK. 

In total, the Queen made five state visits to Germany, the last in 2015, when she met with Angela Merkel and made visits to Frankfurt am Main and the Bergen-Belsen memorial site. She also visited in 1987 to mark the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin and in 2000 to attend the opening of the new British Embassy. Angela Merkel, who met the Queen on several occasions, said in a statement, “There are no words that can even come close to acknowledging the outstanding importance of this queen.” 

Among others, tributes also came in from US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, Barack and Michelle Obama, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy, Chinese President Xi Jinping, the kings of the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Spain, and even Russian President Vladimir Putin

The Queen ruled from 1952 to 2022, seeing through 15 prime ministers, from Winston Churchill, who was born in 1874, to Liz Truss, who was born 101 years later in 1975. 

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