It is with deep sadness that we have heard of the death of our Monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Her Majesty was crowned our Monarch after the sad death of her father and she committed to giving her life over to public service throughout her Empire which she has done. Always showing incredible respect and understanding for the many people that she has met, she has always shown herself able to adapt to changing politics and the way that we all live our lives.
She has been a truly formidable servant to our country and also the other countries that are, or have been in the past part of our nation. When she was young the Queen was a Girl Guide, however she has always been a very good supporter of our Scout Movement and it is great that she has showed her support for Scouts in many ways over many years. I would like to think that there are many things that we can learn by following her example when she was doing what she felt was her duty to her people.
I would invite you all to take some time to think about what a wonderful person she was, the Scout Promise asks that we should always do our best and some versions ask that we do our duty to God and to the Queen. That means being respectful, abiding by our laws etc, in times such as these she would have wanted us all to be there for our friends and family, as she always has been for her own family.
The Nation has lost an incredible person today, may we all think of her and her family in our thoughts today.
Paul Bell, County Commissioner for Hampshire Scouts.
