‘She was extraordinary,’ says New Zealand PM Ardern as the world mourns the Queen

By Lucy Craymer and Jill Gralow

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the demise of Queen Elizabeth as the tip of a chapter in historical past, as leaders throughout the Pacific mourned the demise of the 96-year-old monarch.

Following Elizabeth’s demise on Thursday, her eldest son Charles turned monarch of the UK and the top of state of 14 different realms together with Australia, New Zealand, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

“Younger or previous, there isn’t a doubt {that a} chapter is closing right this moment, and with that we share our thanks for an unbelievable girl who we had been fortunate sufficient to name our Queen,” Ardern stated in a information convention. “She was extraordinary.”

Ardern stated she was woken early to be given the information.

“I had a police officer shine a torch into my room at about 4.50am this morning. When that torch mild got here into my room I knew instantly what it meant,” Ardern stated.

In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the Queen’s demise was a loss felt deeply in Australia.

“By way of the noise and turbulence of the years she embodied and exhibited a timeless decency and a permanent calm,” he stated.

Condolences had been shared from throughout the Pacific.

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape stated she was fondly referred to as “Mama Queen as a result of she was the matriarch of our nation as a lot as she was to her household and Sovereign realms.”

The Queen visited lots of the Pacific nations she ruled within the Pacific throughout her 70-year reign.

“We had been lucky to have the Queen go to us … and we recognise her unbelievable dedication to service,” stated Tuvalu’s Performing Prime Minister Simon Kofe.

The Royal Household’s official web site describes how on visiting Tuvalu in 1982 they had been taken ashore in a fleet of native canoes after which borne aloft and carried ashore.

MOURNING

Flags had been lowered throughout each New Zealand and Australia. Australia suspended parliament, whereas in New Zealand politicians had been anticipated to assemble subsequent week to pay their respects.

Each nations are constitutional monarchies, with the British monarch as head of state, though the position is essentially ceremonial.

However there was debate in each nations for a while on whether or not to turn into a republic, with a citizen as the top of state. A 1999 referendum in Australia on changing into a republic was narrowly defeated.

The accession of King Charles stirred calls within the Caribbean for the elimination of the monarch as head of state, which had been echoed in some quarters in Australia.

“Now Australia should transfer ahead. We want Treaty with First Nations folks, and we have to turn into a Republic,” Australian Greens Get together chief Adam Bandt stated on Twitter, though he was accused by some supporters of being disrespectful.

The Australian Republic Motion famous the Queen had backed Australia’s proper to turn into a totally unbiased nation through the 1999 referendum, including that it was “a problem for the Australian folks and them alone to resolve.”

Commenting on the accession of King Charles, Sydney resident Katherine stated: “He is been bred to do that his complete life.”

“I believe he’ll do high quality. I’m a giant fan of his son, William and his spouse Catherine and their youngsters … I believe that they’ve a spot in our world, I actually do.”

Requested in a radio interview if the Queen’s demise takes Australia nearer to being a republic, Australian Premier Albanese stated it was not the time to speak about it.

“Immediately’s a day for one subject and one subject solely, which is to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.”

(Further reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney, writing by Praveen Menon; modifying by Lincoln Feast and Richard Pullin)