“It is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-serving monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a constant presence in our lives — and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history,” said Trudeau in a tweet. Speaking later at a cabinet meeting in Vancouver, a tearful Trudeau said he was struggling to come to terms with the queen’s death. “I find it hard to believe that my last meeting with her was my last,” Trudeau said, referring to their meeting in March 2022 at Windsor Castle. Trudeau was the queen’s first audience since her recovery from COVID — a sign, some palace observers said, of the queen’s affection for the prime minister. “I’m going to miss those conversations a lot,” Trudeau said. In this March 2022 file photo, Queen Elizabeth receives Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during an audience at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England. (Steve Parsons/AP Photo) Trudeau, the queen’s 12th Canadian prime minister, said the monarch was “thoughtful, wise, curious, helpful, funny and so much more.” “In a complicated world, her steadfast grace and determination brought comfort and strength to us all. Canada is in mourning,” he added. “He was one of my favorite people in the world and I will miss him dearly.” WATCH: Trudeau reacts to Queen Elizabeth’s death
Trudeau reacts to Queen Elizabeth’s death
Justin Trudeau gives statement on Queen Elizabeth’s death. The Queen’s death was announced around 1:30 p.m. Ottawa time. She was Canada’s longest-reigning monarch and was the country’s queen for almost half of the country’s existence, having served more than 25,000 days on the throne. While she was head of state of many countries during her reign, the Queen had a particularly close personal relationship with Canada, a place she repeatedly referred to as “home” while in Canada and abroad. He made 22 official visits to the country, visiting every province and region. During her last visit in 2010, the Queen told then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper that her mother “once said that this country felt like a home away from home for the Queen of Canada. Prime Minister, I am pleased to report that he still does.” When she visited Canada for the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002, the Queen said she valued her place “in the life of Canada and my bond with Canadians everywhere”. “It is my privilege to serve you as Queen of Canada to the best of my ability, to play my part in Canadian identity, to uphold Canadian traditions and heritage,” she said. SEE: The Queen in Canada Queen Elizabeth has visited Canada 22 times, starting her royal tours as a princess in 1951, where she met aboriginal people in Alberta. Trudeau said Canadians will long remember that bond. “As we look back on her life and her decades-long reign, Canadians will always remember and appreciate Her Majesty’s wisdom, compassion and warmth. Our thoughts are with the members of the royal family during this of the most difficult moment,” Trudeau said. Governor General Mary Simon also expressed her sadness and said it was a great honor to meet the Queen when she was appointed as her representative. “When I was growing up, my grandmother respected the Queen, as did many in the Arctic. She told us stories about Her Majesty, her role and her commitment,” he said. “Her Majesty’s warm welcome when we spent time with her earlier this year was a profound moment in our lives and a memory we will cherish forever.” Queen Elizabeth welcomes Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser for tea in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle on March 15. (Steve Parsons/Pool via AP Photo) Interim Conservative leader Candace Bergen also issued a statement on Thursday, expressing the party’s “deepest condolences to the royal family”. Bergen said that, as citizens of a “proud Commonwealth country,” Canadians are experiencing “unspeakable sadness.” “Her Majesty’s sense of duty to Canada was so deeply held and demonstrated in her actions. As Queen of Canada, she was not only a witness to our historic development as a modern, confident and self-confident nation – she was an active participant,” said the Bergen. Recalling that the Queen signed the Constitution Act in 1982, Bergen said Canada had begun “a new era … as a fully self-governing nation” in her view, while still maintaining “strong ties to the history that made us who we are ». “While our country is in mourning, our thoughts are with all her family, and especially His Majesty, Charles. Long may he reign,” Bergen said. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh — who has argued that Canada should be a democracy and doesn’t see the monarchy’s “relevance” in the 21st century — said Thursday that the queen lived “a life of history and duty.” “She was also a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. My thoughts today are with her family who have lost a pillar of strength in their lives,” Singh said in a statement. “Like many people around the world and in Canada, my thoughts are with Queen Elizabeth II and members of the Royal Family at this difficult time.” Speaking later from Halifax, Singh said her decades-long reign represented “stability” and her loss would be keenly felt.
