Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. The PM hailed her for providing ‘inspiring leadership to her nation and people’.

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a stalwart of our times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. She personified dignity and decency in public life. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and people of UK in this sad hour,” tweeted the PM.

He further said, “I had memorable meetings with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during my UK visits in 2015 and 2018. I will never forget her warmth and kindness. During one of the meetings she showed me the handkerchief Mahatma Gandhi gifted her on her wedding. I will always cherish that gesture.” 

I had memorable meetings with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during my UK visits in 2015 and 2018. I will never forget her warmth and kindness. During one of the meetings she showed me the handkerchief Mahatma Gandhi gifted her on her wedding. I will always cherish that gesture. pic.twitter.com/3aACbxhLgC

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 8, 2022

Later, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss also expressed condolences and said, “We’re all devastated by the news that we’ve just heard from Balmoral castle. The death of the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and the world. Queen Elizabeth II was a rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.”

Elizabeth breathed her last at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, one of her four ‘royal’ residences and possibly her favourite. Her family from near and afar had gathered there to be at her side in her final moments.

Soon after her demise, Prince Charles, 73, who had been heir to the crown for 70 years — the longest in the country’s history — has ascended the British throne.

Apart from Charles, his elder son William, now next in succession, Charles’ sister Anne, brothers Andrew and Edward and his wife Camilla were present.