London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2025

Woken at 5am by police at the bedroom door: How Commonwealth leaders heard the Queen had died

Woken at 5am by police at the bedroom door: How Commonwealth leaders heard the Queen had died

Queen Elizabeth was mourned across the 54-nation Commonwealth, a group built around Britain and its former colonies.

The prime minister of New Zealand has told how she was woken at 5am by a police officer shining a torch into her bedroom to tell her the news of the Queen's death.

Jacinda Ardern's anecdote, and subsequent heartfelt tribute to Her Majesty, is one of many from the heads of Commonwealth nations.

New Zealand


Under New Zealand's constitutional arrangements, the queen was also the country's monarch and head of state, and Ms Ardern described her as "extraordinary".

"The last days of the queen's life captures who she was in so many ways - working until the very end on behalf of the people she loved," she said.

She added that, like many other people, she was feeling not only deep sadness but also deep gratitude.

"Here is a woman who gave her life, utterly, to the service of others. And regardless of what anyone thinks of the role of monarchies around the world, there is undeniably, I think here, a display of someone who gave everything on behalf of her people, and her people included the people of Aotearoa New Zealand."

Nigeria


Another of the Commonwealth nations, Nigeria, gained independence from the British in 1960, four years after the late Queen's first official visit to the West African nation.

When the monarch last visited in 2003, she spoke of Nigeria's critical role in the Commonwealth and applauded the country for its "leading part in the new partnership for Africa's development".

Muhammadu Buhari, its president, expressed "immense sadness" over her death.


"Her late Majesty was the only British sovereign known to 90% of our population," he said, describing the late Queen's reign as "unique and wonderful".

He added: "The story of modern Nigeria will never be complete without a chapter on Queen Elizabeth ll, a towering global personality and an outstanding leader.

"She dedicated her life to making her nation, the Commonwealth and the entire world a better place."

The Queen's death comes as a growing number of British territories in the Caribbean seek to replace the monarch with their own heads of state, as demands grow that Britain apologises for its colonial-era abuses and award its former colonies slavery reparations.

Nonetheless, Caribbean leaders from Jamaica to Bermuda and beyond mourned the Queen's death.

Jamaica


Andrew Holness, the Jamaican prime minister, noted that since she was crowned in 1953, the Queen visited the island every decade until 2002.

"Undoubtedly, she formed a special bond with the people of Jamaica during her reign," he said. "We are saddened that we will not see her light again, but we will remember her historic reign."

In March, when Prince William and Kate visited Jamaica as part of an official trip to the Caribbean, Mr Holness made an unexpected announcement in public that the British Commonwealth country intended to become fully independent.

Since then, Jamaica has established a Constitution Reform Committee and is scheduled to hold a referendum in 2025. If approved, it would join other republics in the region including Barbados, Dominica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after signing the condolence book at Parliament House in Canberra


Australia


The Queen was Australia's official head of state, though today the role is considered primarily ceremonial.

Anthony Albanese, the prime minister, said she is the only reigning monarch most Australians have known and the only one to visit their country.

"And over the course of a remarkable seven decades, Her Majesty was a rare and reassuring constant amidst rapid change," he said.

"Through the noise and turbulence of the years, she embodied and exhibited a timeless decency and an enduring calm."

Canada


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called her "a constant presence in our lives".

"Her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country's history," he said.

"I'm having trouble believing that my last sit-down with her was my last," Mr Trudeau added. "I will so miss those chats."

The Queen, who was Canada's head of state, visited the country 22 times as monarch.

Ghana


In Ghana, which became a member of the Commonwealth in 1957, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recalled Elizabeth's visits and praised "the friendliness, elegance, style and sheer joy she brought to the performance of her duties".

"We shall miss her inspiring presence, her calm, her steadiness, and, above all, her great love and belief in the higher purpose of the Commonwealth of Nations, and in its capacity to be a force for good in our world," he said.

Bermuda


Bermuda Premier David Burt noted her reign "has spanned decades of such immense change for the United Kingdom and the world".

He said she had lived a life of "undimmed duty" and was a "model of strength and devotion to country".

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
×