Speaker Todd Gilbert issued the following statement:

“The United Kingdom has lost a towering monarch, and the Commonwealth of Virginia has lost a good friend. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II exemplified grace and dignity. When she embarked on her reign, she pledged herself to her people, and served them faithfully until the last. Hers is an example all of us entrusted with public office should emulate.

“Her kindness and decency, which she demonstrated so powerfully on one of our country and Commonwealth’s worst days, warmed hearts and comforted the grieving. When our Commonwealth mourned our losses at Virginia Tech, she once again reached out to Virginia in our time of grief.

“In her speech to the General Assembly in 2007, Queen Elizabeth remarked on the friendship between our nation and hers, and how thankful she was for it. Virginians are thankful as well, for the friendship of such a remarkable woman. We shall not see her like again.”