King Felipe's Sweet Message Following Queen Elizabeth's Death
Few leaders have received such an outpouring of grief and affection from around the world as has Queen Elizabeth II following her tragic death on September 8. Her Majesty, who reigned over the United Kingdom for 70 years, is being remembered by world leaders as a loyal servant who provided inspirational leadership for as long as most can remember. Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde lauded the monarch as "an extraordinary personality" who showed "dignity, courage, and devotion" during her reign, while Chinese President Xi Jinping called her passing "a great loss to the British people" and offered his condolences, per BBC News.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain echoed many of the sentiments heard from leaders around the world. According to the Daily Mail, the king offered a tender-hearted farewell to his distant relative, Queen Elizabeth II, whom he affectionately knew as "Aunt Lilibet," per Express, and the somber note is sure to leave a few eyes watering.
The King of Spain said his final farewell to 'Aunt Lilibet'
In the hours following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at her beloved Balmoral Castle, His Majesty the King of Spain penned a touching tribute to his Aunt Lilibet. The message — addressed to King Charles — hailed the monarch as an example to be followed by all. "I would like to offer Your Majesty and the British people, on my behalf and on behalf of the Spanish Government and people, our most heartfelt condolences," he wrote, adding that Her Majesty's "sense of duty, commitment and a whole life devoted to serving the people of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland set an example for all of us and will remain as a solid and valuable legacy for future generations."
The king concluded his note with a solemn message to the United Kingdom's new king: "Queen Letizia and I send Your Majesty and the whole family our love and prayers. You are all in our hearts and thoughts. We will miss her dearly." According to NBC News, Both King Felipe and Queen Letizia were in attendance at Her Majesty's state funeral, which took place in London, as the official royals representing Spain.