“Shaken and saddened”: Hungarian politicians’ condolences to royal family, UK

“We bid farewell to a woman, a mother, the Queen and a European head of state,” Hungarian President Katalin Novák wrote on Thursday in response to news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Novák wrote on Facebook that she was “deeply shocked” to learn of the death of Queen Elizabeth, and she expressed her heart-felt condolences to members of the royal family. “It is with heavy heart and respect that we bid farewell to one of the 20th century’s most decisive figures in British and European history. We Hungarians learned much from Elizabeth II, who stood for the nation and the family,” Novak wrote. “We will keep the memory of Elizabeth in our hearts!”

The Queen died peacefully in the 97th year of her life in the 71st year of her reign at her summer residence of Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Her eldest son, Charles, assumes the throne.

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Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sent a telegram to his UK counterpart, Liz Truss, expressing his sympathies to her and the people of the United Kingdom over the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the PM’s press chief said on Friday.

Orbán said he was “shaken and saddened” to hear of Queen Elizabeth’s passing.

“Her commitment and service sets an example to us all,” Bertalan Havasi cited Orban as saying. The Queen’s visit to Hungary (in 1993) “remains a fond memory which further strengthened ties between our countries,” Orban said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the people of the United Kingdom,” he said.

• Read also: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96

Speaker of Parliament László Kövér has expressed his condolences to the speakers of the United Kingdom’s Houses of Commons and Lords over the death of Queen Elizabeth II. “It was with deep sadness that I learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” Kövér wrote in his messages to House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and House of Lords Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith.

The queen’s entire life, “which she dedicated to the service of her people, is an example to us all”, Kover said, highlighting the queen’s commitment “to the importance of tradition and enduring values in the modern world”. “Let me avail myself of this opportunity to express the deep condolences of the Hungarian National Assembly and the Hungarian people to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom,” Kövér said. “Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration,” he said, concluding his message.

Leader of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) Ferenc Gyurcsány and his wife, MEP Klara Dobrev, on Thursday expressed their condolences over the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Gyurcsany called the Queen “an epochal monarch of a historic era” whom he respected “from very far, from what seems to be a completely different world”.

It was during her reign that the British Empire collapsed and it was she who led her country to a new era with “staggering humility” but with confidence nevertheless, Gyurcsány said on Facebook. Dobrev said that in the course of Elizabeth II’s reign the British empire had segued into a country, “but a proud, strong, successful country. One of the strongest and most successful countries in the world.”

Elizabeth II did not yield to hatred and did not let lamentation over the past consume the future, Dobrev said on Facebook.

Below are some further Facebook posts expressing condolences:

Gergely Karácsony, the mayor of Budapest, said Queen Elizabeth understood the changing times and could connect to the different generations of politicians surrounding her:

János Csák, Hungary’s minister of culture and innovation, could even post a photo with Her Majesty since he served as the ambassador of Hungary in London: