The Turkish, Azerbaijani, and Turkish Cypriot presidents have joined leaders from around the world in paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday afternoon aged 96.
Tweeting in Turkish from his personal account on Thursday evening, Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: “It is with sadness that I learned of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing today.
“My deepest condolences to the Royal Family and our friends and ally, the people and government of the United Kingdom.”
Ersin Tatar, the President of the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, also tweeted his message of condolence to the Queen: “It is with great sorrow and sadness that I have learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, British people & the Commonwealth.”
In a positive move, the new British High Commissioner to Cyprus, Irfan Siddiq, acknowledged President Tatar’s message: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her life to working for the Commonwealth and its citizens. I thank @ersinrTatar for his kind words on behalf of Turkish Cypriots as we mourn her passing.”
Kraliçe II. Elizabeth’in vefatını bugün üzüntüyle öğrendim.
Kraliyet Ailesi ile dost ve müttefik Birleşik Krallık halkı ve hükûmetine en içten taziyelerimi sunuyorum.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) September 8, 2022
It is with great sorrow and sadness that I have learned of the passing away of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our deepest condolences to the @RoyalFamily, British people & the Commonwealth.” pic.twitter.com/4yge8R4usn
— Ersin Tatar (@ErsinrTatar) September 8, 2022
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II dedicated her life to working for the Commonwealth and its citizens. I thank @ersinrTatar for his kind words on behalf of Turkish Cypriots as we mourn her passing.
— Irfan Siddiq (@IrfanUKAmb) September 9, 2022
President Aliyev’s heartfelt message to King Charles III
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev issued a longer, more heartfelt public letter of condolence to the Queen’s eldest son and heir, King Charles III, whom he addressed as “Your Majesty”:
“We have been deeply saddened by the news of the death of your mother Her Majesty Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the outstanding head of state of our time.
“I share in the sadness over this heavy loss with you and your whole family. I offer my deepest condolences on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, and wish you patience.
“The Queen, who was an example of an honourable life, was always faithful to universal ideals, showed firm determination, indomitable will and perseverance, and rendered unparalleled services to the happy future of the United Kingdom.
“I will always cherish the most pleasant memories of my meeting with the Queen in 2009.”
President Aliyev ended his message by again offering his “deepest condolences” to King Charles, his family and the people of the United Kingdom.
Paying tribute to his beloved mother, the late Queen, King Charles III said on Thursday that the death was a “moment of great sadness” for him and his family and that her loss would be “deeply felt” around the world.
He said: “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.”
