ICN extends heartfelt condolences on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has sent a message of sincere condolence to King Charles III and the Royal Family, and all those affected by the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

ICN has sent messages of support and solidarity to the Royal College of Nursing, the Queen’s Nursing Institute in the UK, as well as the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Association, all of whom have been profoundly and personally touched by the death of the Queen.

On behalf of the global nursing community, ICN expresses its heartfelt best wishes to King Charles III and the Royal Family who are mourning the loss of their matriarch. The world’s nurses are also mourning her passing as well as giving thanks for a remarkable life of service that has made the world a better place and was the embodiment of public service.

ICN President Pamela Cipriano said, “The world’s nursing family mourns her passing and sends a message of solidarity to Charles III and the Royal Family at this profoundly difficult time. The Queen’s care, courage, and compassion shone out strongly across the globe, and her values reflected those of nurses. She was a stalwart global leader, an inspirational figure, and deeply respected. We pay tribute to her life of dedication and service.”

ICN CEO Howard Catton said, “As a British nurse I know that she has been a constant part of our lives for as long as many of us remember, having carried her people through some of the most difficult of times and this will be felt as a personal loss. It’s important now to mourn, to share and give thanks. She’s gone but her values live on – her ability to care, unite, lead and to make us smile and that’s a legacy nurses will commit to continue.”

Her patronage and support for Nursing during her reign around the world was steadfast. Most recently she spoke personally to the President of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation, Professor Kathleen McCourt, on International Nurses Day to again express her appreciation and gratitude to nurses.

Professor McCourt said, “On behalf of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation may I express sincere condolences to the Royal Family at this very sad time. The Queen will be greatly missed by all, but her legacy will remain and her commitment to the nursing and midwifery professions will never be forgotten.”

As the Head of State in 15 countries and a global leader, the Queen promoted understanding, collaboration and unity and showed a quiet strength that she deployed for the common good. In her Queen’s Speech in 2020, Her Majesty personally thanked nurses and other healthcare workers for their service and sacrifice during the pandemic.

RCN President Dr Denise Chaffer, expressing her condolences said, “Her Majesty was admired and respected by nursing staff from across the world for the way she tirelessly championed nurses and nursing issues. As patron of the Royal College of Nursing, she met with thousands of nursing staff and always took enormous interest in our work. The royal family are in our thoughts at this very difficult time.”

The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) expressed its sorrow and gratitude to the Queen for a life of service and said the Institute and the Queen’s Nurses would always be inextricably linked to the Queen as their Royal Patron.

Dr Crystal Oldman CBE, QNI Chief Executive said, “We are deeply saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II, our Patron. She was an outstanding supporter of the QNI and nursing, both nationally in the UK and internationally in the many years of her reign.”

Messages from National Nurses Associations all around the world speak to a shared loss of a woman, mother and queen who exemplified nursing values and will be greatly missed.

Photo courtesy of Jacob King PA Wire PA Images reproduced with permission