Follow Us on Google
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has said that Queen Elizabeth II, was the most travelled monarch in the world.
In this exclusive interview with Daily Sun in Abuja, Laing disclosed that the Queen visited 110 countries, six continents and undertook over 260 official visits overseas, including nearly 100 state visits.
The British envoy further disclosed that the late sovereign of the United Kingdom, during her reign, covered at least 1,032,513 miles and visited almost every country in the Commonwealth, with the exception of Cameroon, Rwanda, Gabon and Togo.
Laing stated that the new sovereign, King Charles III, will deepen relations between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, as well as other Commonwealth nations.
How would you appraise the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II?
Her Majesty has been a constant and steady presence in all our lives, for over seven decades, providing unstinting service to the UK, to the other Realms and to the Commonwealth.
Her exceptional dedication to promoting the UK’s international standing and global relationships alongside her charm, wisdom and the depth and range of her international experience through countless engagements unquestionably made her our greatest diplomat.
Her travels took her to 110 countries across six continents. Her Majesty was the most travelled monarch in the world.
She undertook over 260 official visits overseas, including nearly 100 state visits. She was our most travelled monarch in history. She covered at least 1,032,513 miles during her reign.
During her reign, The Queen visited almost every country in the Commonwealth, with the exception of Cameroon, which joined in 1995, Rwanda, which joined in 2009, and Gabon and Togo, which both joined this year, 2022.
With the Queen’s passing, what will the government and people of the UK miss in Queen Elizabeth II?
The death of Her Majesty the Queen, on Thursday, September 8, 2022, is a moment of great sadness for the UK and for so many around the world, including in Nigeria.
Her presence was felt by millions in the UK, Nigeria, across the wider Commonwealth, and around the world over the last 70 years.
We mourn as a country the passing of our cherished sovereign. Queen Elizabeth the second served her country with dignity and grace for 70 years.
She was the rock on which modern Britain was built and the UK has grown and flourished under her reign.
From your point of view, what is King Charles III bringing to bear on relations between the UK and Nigeria and other Commonwealth nations?
King Charles the Third will undoubtedly maintain his interest and affection for Nigeria.
He has long expressed a strong interest in ways to strengthen existing ties between Nigeria and Britain, including the Nigeria-Britain relationships in environment and education.
King Charles III is now the head of the Commonwealth, which Nigeria is a key member of. The Commonwealth brings together 2.6 billion people around the world with shared values and interests in a common future.
As King Charles III said at CHOGM in Rwanda this year, the relationships between countries in the Commonwealth are more important than ever as we rebuild together, following the pandemic, fight climate change and biodiversity loss and see lives destroyed by the aggression of violent forces.
The closeness of our relationship is also demonstrated through the Commonwealth, which is an expanding alliance united behind values of democracy, human rights and sovereignty.
In an increasingly geopolitical world where sovereignty is being challenged, the Commonwealth is a vital and growing bulwark for self-determination and a network of prospering free nations.
The UK looks forward to capitalising on the opportunity to work with partners to further modernise the Commonwealth, making it fit for the 21st century and ensuring it delivers clear value and tangible benefits for all members.
What does Nigeria stand to gain with the assumption of the throne by King Charles III?
Nigeria matters to the UK. Our relationship is broad and deep and underpinned by strong people-people ties. This will continue under King Charles III.
The Nigeria-UK partnership is built on mutual respect and deep and longstanding cooperation across a wide range of areas. We look forward to this continuing in earnest with King Charles III and with the UK government.
One of the things Queen Elizabeth II was passionate about was the environment and climate change; the King was aware of it and has identified the importance of protecting the environment. King Charles III is also very passionate about the environment, that’s the area of focus as we head towards COP27, the next major international summit on climate change, which is due to take place in Egypt later this year.
Will there be a paradigm shift in bilateral relations between both countries, or is it going to be the same as we witnessed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II?
Nigeria matters to the UK. Our relationship is broad and deep and underpinned by strong people-people ties. This will continue under King Charles III.
The Nigeria-UK partnership is built on mutual respect and deep and longstanding cooperation across a wide range of areas. We look forward to this continuing with King Charles III and with the UK government.
The relevance of the Commonwealth has become a nagging issue. There are those who believe it has outlived its usefulness. Is the United Kingdom also thinking in this direction?
The Commonwealth is an expanding alliance united behind values of democracy, human rights and sovereignty. We see the Commonwealth as more important than ever – and our shared values, goals and friendships transcend the ties of shared history, as we saw in welcoming Togo and Gabon to this great family of nations earlier this year.
The Commonwealth has been modernising to deliver clear value and tangible benefits for all members. In an increasingly geopolitical world, where sovereignty is being challenged, the Commonwealth is a vital and growing bulwark for self-determination and a network of prospering free nations.
Like other regional blocs, is the Commonwealth planning to have military obligations for member countries such as MINUSMA and MNJTF?
No, there are no plans for this.
