Following the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, on Thursday, 8^th September 2022, our heartfelt condolences go to her family – as she was a mother, Grandmother and Great grandmother. In a life well served, she has epitomised loyalty, integrity, resilience, service, grace, and dignity even in the most difficult episodes of our history. She was an example to us all and never wavered in the promise she made as a young lady of twenty-one, that she would devote her life to our service. At the age of 96, we can all agree she was a woman of her word. We are grateful for her remarkable service and her constancy that is respected throughout the world

We know that Her Majesty was a friend of Milton Keynes and recently made it a City. Many of us have seen her and even had the privilege of meeting her. Many of us will mourn her passing but as Her Majesty said, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

Nationally, there will be a 10-day period of mourning. Businesses and organisations are advised continue to operate in those ten days. The funeral will take place on Monday 19^th September 2022, which has been declared a Bank Holiday, by our newly proclaimed Monarch, King Charles III. All 3 of our schools will be closed on that day.

We wish the new King and the Queen Consort Godspeed and a long and prosperous reign.

We would like to end with this quote from a 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth, from her broadcast to the children of the Commonwealth in October 1940: “And when peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place”.