The TaxPayers’ Alliance mourns the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
We join the whole nation in thanking her for a life of exemplary service. The loss to the country is immeasurable. But the loss is also felt personally, by those whose lives she touched in some way.
Ahead of Her Majesty's funeral tomorrow our staff pay their tributes to the Queen and explained what her death means to them.
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Emma Bennett, finance director
I admired the Queen very much. I can't think of anyone with such a feeling of duty and service. I especially love hearing about her passion for horses and dogs. As a keen horseman, I hope I can still be around horses at 96! I was in the office on Thursday when the news trickled out and at home with the children by the time her death was announced. My 7 year old has been pouring over her Jubilee book ever since.
James Roberts, political director
She was a national treasure. I remember when I was lucky enough to see her and Philip when they came to my university. I rolled up to campus late on the day of the royal visit, appearing on the other side of the road to the security barriers and standing alone on the grass verge as the royal limo slowly rolled past. I waved awkwardly and they gave me a big smile and wave. Legends. I don’t reckon we’ll ever see her like again.
Joe Ventre, digital campaign manager
I loved the Queen and wish King Charles the very best. In 2002, Charles visited the library that my Mum worked at in Swansea. I was eager for the opportunity to meet the then Prince of Wales, and greeted him with a crudely coloured-in Welsh dragon and a daffodil pinned to my jumper. After explaining my artistic endeavours to the prince, my Mum plucked up the courage to ask him for his autograph. As her horrified bosses looked on, the bemused monarch obliged, jotting down his signature in pencil! I’m very proud to own that autograph.
Sara Rainwater, operations director
As Americans so often do, I always had an affinity for all things royal, but it wasn't until I moved here 20 years ago that I really understood just what the Queen meant to the British people. The day I pledged my allegiance to the Queen at my British citizenship ceremony was one of the proudest moments of my life. It is hard to imagine a world without her in it, and I thank her for dedicating her entire life to her country, a faithful servant until the end.
Elliot Keck, investigations campaign manager
I remember the time I saw the Queen. It was at Royal Ascot, where I was sat in the so-called "silver circle" (the field surrounding the race track). One enormous advantage of this position was that I got right up to the barriers as the royal procession rode past. Like everyone in the crowd, when she waved at us, I really believed, for a fleeting moment, that she was waving at me. That was the unique connection she had: in some respects above us, and yet in so many other respects, one of us. An enormous loss.
John O’Connell, chief executive
The Queen will be sorely missed. The royals have a big impact on people’s lives. My primary school was one of several choirs that sang at a war memorial service at St Martin's in the Field. Charles was there in the front pew. He was kind and friendly, chatting to mums, dads and children. I can't remember the song we sang, but I think it was We'll Meet Again. Those words really rang true when the Queen said it in her covid message. It’s very poignant now to think that we’ll never see her again.
Rest in peace, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. God save the King.
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