The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said this Sunday that standing in front of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, in Westminster Hall, was like standing in front of nearly a hundred years of history, reminding us that we have made the United Kingdom “a part of our independence”. .
Asked by Portuguese journalists in London about the fact that three days of mourning had been declared in Portugal for the death of Isabel II, Marcelo recalled that “there is a certain protocol” and that three days of mourning had already been declared for the death, among others by the Japanese Emperor Hirohito. “And a number of other important heads of state, but not so important in terms of Portugal’s history,” he said, recalling that the Queen “represented six and a half centuries of history” and was someone “to whom we indirectly, the country that represented a large part of our independence”.
“It was a tribute not only to His Majesty, but also to the historic role at crucial moments that first England and then the United Kingdom, working for our independence in the 14th century, working again in the 17th century, was part of our independence.” is because of this country,” he said.
Marcelo was questioned by Portuguese journalists at the Portuguese embassy in London, after the reception of King Carlos III to world leaders, at Buckingham Palace, on a day when he also paid tribute to Isabel II walking through Westminster Hall, where he found himself in a burning room. , and signed the condolence register.
“I had the opportunity to record, first in writing, in a longer form, and then in a shortened form [num vídeo] and thereafter, on behalf of the Portuguese people, I orally conveyed to His Majesty King Carlos and to the Queen Consort the sympathy and pain that accompanied Portugal at this moment,” said the President of the Portuguese Republic.
“A moment of recognition, gratitude and admiration for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for her courage, for her sense of state, for her knowledge of people, wisdom, experience, stability, the condescension with which she lived successive periods and difficult in the history of the world.
“I remembered our alliance that will celebrate the year 650 years, the longest, the oldest Portuguese alliance and perhaps one of the oldest, if not the oldest, also in the United Kingdom. The Queen’s State Visits to Unforgettable Isabel II in 1957 and 1985. And all this I was able to personally convey to His Majesty King Charles.
The president later said the king thought the anniversary of the relationship was already being celebrated, with Marcelo recalling it will be next year, with Carlos III explaining that he sponsored the events, as Prince of Wales. “It immediately came to his memory and it was non-formal greetings, at a reception with hundreds of heads of state and government, it was very felt,” he said.
Marcelo also spoke about his trip to Westminster Hall, where Isabel II’s coffin is. “It’s going to be a hundred years of history,” he said. “It went through World War II, the post-war period, the euphoric period that followed, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the change in the world, the entry and exit of European communities. All of this came to my mind,” he added. up. .
“It was a unique and unforgettable moment, because I felt I was representing Portugal,” Marcelo told journalists in London.
message in english
“On behalf of Portugal and the Portuguese, I would very much like to convey to His Majesty, King Charles III, the Royal Family and the British, the greetings and the deep admiration and gratitude of the Portuguese, without ever forgetting our 650th anniversary . alliance,” Marcelo said in a brief statement in English after signing the condolence register at Lancaster House.
Source: DN
