On this solemn and somber occasion, it is with a heavy heart that we have received news of the passing of our beloved Queen and Head of State of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty had lived a long and fulfilling life that spanned more than nine decades. She was very much on active duty until the very end, which was in the early hours of this morning, PNG time, and in the evening of the 8th of September 2022.
I have written to His Majesty Prince Charles III conveying our nation’s condolences on the passing of the Queen.
The Queen was the very essence of strength and fortitude that held together a nation, a kingdom and Commonwealth of Nations over many decades. The Queen also played a pivotal role in unifying our country of a thousand tribes and peoples as one nation.
As a constitutional monarchy, as system of government we adopted at Independence, Her Majesty became the Queen and Head of State of Papua New Guinea, when PNG gained independence in 1975. The Queen is represented by a Governor General.
The Queen has visited Papua New Guinea back in the 1970s and again in 1982. Members of the Royal family have also visited Papua New Guinea on numerous occasions since, the recent by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal in April of this year.
The Queen has often spoken affectionately of her visits to Papua New Guinea and recounted many memorable occasions on the various locations she traveled to.
Throughout her life, she has stayed the course and true to her promise to dedicate her life to the service of the Commonwealth, and what a life she has lived! She has shown incredible strength, poise, resilience and commitment to her role and this very character has stood her throughout her life and the many challenges she encountered throughout her 70-year reign as the longest reigning monarch and Head of the Commonwealth.
The Queen’s enduring fortitude shone like a light beyond the darkness and offered hope despite the sadness to many the world over. She was the symbol of unity that offered stability in an otherwise divided world.
As the Queen’s representative, I am greatly saddened that we have lost our Head of State and our Queen whom we have come to regard affectionately as ‘Misis Kwin’ and as Members of the Royal Family would often remark, ‘Mama bilong big family’.
Her Majesty the Queen, was and will continue to be an integral part of Papua New Guinea’s history and her legacy will live on in generations to come.
In my congratulatory message to the Queen on the 70th platinum anniversary of her reign, I remarked that Her Majesty had lived a remarkable life of service and duty that is unmatched. Indeed, the Queen stayed true to her promise right till the very end.
We thank you Your Majesty for your service to our country as our Queen and Head of State. Farewell our beloved Misis Kwin.
Thank you
Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae, GCL, GCMG, KStJ
Governor General of Papua New Guinea