Dear Editor,

Queen Elizabeth II was a queen beyond Britain.

As head of the Commonwealth, in particular, her sense of caring for its unifying principles and her dutiful commitment in advancing their discharge made her a global asset. For that Commonwealth of 54 countries her leadership rested not in allegiance but affection.

Having served closely as Commonwealth secretary general for 15 years, I attribute the Commonwealth’s survival over the years of Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in Rhodesia and apartheid in South Africa to The Queen’s deep caring for the new Commonwealth she had inherited and her unqualified sense of duty. Few remember that it was The Queen who gave Marlborough House — her grandmother’s home — as a Commonwealth centre. Such was her caring for her new wider family, throughout which there will be remembrances, this week, of friendly country visits on every continent.

The whole world has benefited from Queen Elizabeth’s life being long, in the context of her vow of service as her reign began.

Sir Shridath Ramphal

Former Commonwealth secretary general