Evening Update Friday 9 September 2022

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco has written to His Majesty King Charles III to express his "profound sadness" at the passing away of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Albert said that "Her Majesty’s unwavering commitment and dedication to duty during Her reign has always been extremely inspiring" and that "she truly represented the unity and dignity of the United Kingdom throughout the last seven decades". The Prince said that his family and the people of Monaco join him in sending their "wholehearted thoughts and prayers".

President Macron has paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen in a three minute video in English posted on social media today. The President said that the Queen's death "leaves us with a sense of emptiness". He said that she "mastered our language, loved our culture and touched our hearts". He expressed his sincere condolances to His Majesty the King, to the royal family, to the British people and to all those who loved the Queen".

A tribute ceremony has been held today in Nice in remebrance of Her Majesty. The well attended ceremony on the Promenade des Anglais was held in the  presence of mayor Christian Estrosi and British Honorary Consul Simone Paissoni. The mayor said on social media that her Majesty's passing deeply saddens the people of Nice. He said that the city wishes to assure British people of the sympathy of all its inhabitants and of its desire to closely maintain the ties which unite us. He said that "we will always be grateful"  for the fact that "the most beaut