His Excellency the Governor John J. Rankin CMG and Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley paid their respects to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in London on behalf of the Government and People of the Virgin Islands.

King Charles III has approved Monday, 19 September, 2022 as a bank holiday across the United Kingdom (UK) in observance of the State Funeral of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley is away from the Territory from September 12 to 20 attending the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s Cayman Event 2022 in the Cayman Islands.

Deputy Governor, Mr. David Archer, Jr. has signed the condolence book for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

After remarks from His Excellency the Governor, Mr. John J. Rankin and Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, a 21 Gun salute was fired in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

The public is advised that tomorrow Friday, September 9, 2022, as a mark of respect to Her Majesty the Queen, a gun salute will be fired at 12:00 noon at Queen Elizabeth II Park.

Her Majesty The Queen passed away on 8 September 2022 after 70 years of loyal public service.  Further details will issue concerning the funeral, for which the Territory will be invited to observe two minutes’ silence in honour of Her Majesty The Queen.

The public is advised that due to the passing of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, the Territory will observe a national period of mourning.  

Like most of you, I was saddened to learn of the passing earlier today of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the British Overseas Territories, Crown Dependencies and other realms; and Head of the Commonwealth.

STATEMENT

FROM HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR JOHN RANKIN CMG 

THURSDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER:  

The following statement has issued from Buckingham Palace: