Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands said:
“Queen Elizabeth II’s lifetime of dedication to this country, her people, and the Commonwealth is impossible to put into words.
“She has been a constant throughout all our lives, providing hope, strength, and unity through some of the country’s toughest times.
“Her standards and values made her the Queen she was, and it is these hallmarks that must continue to guide us.
“Many across the West Midlands will hold dear personal memories of Her Majesty, but on behalf of our region I simply want to say ‘thank you’. Thank you for your service, your dedication, and most of all for your unwavering commitment to your people.
“On this, the saddest day for our country, my thoughts are with the Royal Family.”
Laura Shoaf CBE, WMCA chief executive said:
“The sad news of Her Majesty’s death will be greeted with a profound sense of loss across the nation and beyond.
“She was a unique and wonderful Monarch who, over the course of more than 70 years, grew to become a reassuring and enduring symbol of this country.
“She was the only Monarch the vast majority of us have ever known and throughout her long reign she served this country with endurance, steadfastness and stoicism, those modest but solid virtues which epitomise the very best of British.
“She was a popular visitor to the West Midlands many, many times during her long reign and I’m sure many in our region will have fond memories.
“Her deep sense of duty was without measure. So too was her loyalty to the people of Britain and her beloved Commonwealth and while her passing marks the end of an era we must now work together to make sure her legacy of inclusion and tolerance continues to burn brightly.”
