LONDON – As the United Kingdom began a period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, members of the fashion industry paid tribute to the country’s longest-reigning monarch.
The Queen has reigned for 70 years and celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this year in June with a four-day holiday weekend around Britain and Commonwealth countries with strong ties to Britain.
Her health had been declining over the past year, although she continued to work and perform public and private engagements.
Earlier this week she asked her 15th prime minister, Liz Truss, to form a government after Boris Johnson resigned. Two days later she died peacefully at her beloved Scottish home, Balmoral, surrounded by her children and Princes William and Harry.
“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and supported by our knowledge of the deep respect and affection in which the Queen was so widely held,” said King Charles III, 73, who passed away his grown up getting ready. to become Britain’s monarch and progressively take over the duties previously performed by the queen.
He will make his first televised address to the nation on Friday evening. Buckingham Palace said on Friday morning that the period of mourning will last up to seven days after the Queen’s funeral, the date of which will be announced in the coming hours.
As Charles steps into his new role, the line of succession has changed, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge taking the new title of Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge. In England, the eldest son of the monarch automatically takes the title of Duke of Cornwall.
William, 40, is now first in line to the throne and his eldest son Prince George, 9, is second in line, followed by George’s siblings Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4 years old.
The Queen’s death reverberated around the world, with the fashion industry paying tribute to her on social media. Donatella Versace, Stella McCartney, Paul Smith, Victoria Beckham and many other industry figures have expressed their condolences on Instagram.
“We have lost one of the greatest women in the world. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II showed us how to live our lives,” Versace wrote. “She lived with grace, courage, hard work, loyalty and kindness. She was an inspiration to us all. I send my deepest and personal condolences to King Charles III and the entire royal family.”
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Richard Quinn, who often references the Queen in his shows and received the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for Design in 2018, said her death “is a moment of great sadness, for me and for the whole nation. Her legacy will never be forgotten. It was an honor to meet him and I will carry the memory with me forever.”
McCartney posted a black-and-white image of the Queen with one of her horses, writing: “It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Her Majesty The Queen today. On behalf of the Stella McCartney team, I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to the Royal Family.
Giorgio Armani wrote that “to imagine, all of a sudden, the world without Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth in the collective imagination, is very difficult for me. I think it is for all those who in these long years of reign have loved him even though they are not British. The idea of monarchy always makes it a dream: it is connected with history and fairy tales.
He added that she represented “the epitome of the queen: balanced, loyal, undisturbed despite the inevitable scandals. It was symbolic even in the smallest gesture. As a designer I have always admired her personal way of dressing and communicating, as well as her reserve. I would never have changed a thing about him. It saddens me to hear of her loss.”
Burberry’s new CEO, Jonathan Akeroyd, said the company was “deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty The Queen. Queen Elizabeth II will forever be remembered with deep admiration, respect and love by everyone at Burberry. We join the royal family in mourning her loss.”
Burberry has been a Royal Warrant holder, or purveyor of choice, to the Queen and her family since the 1950s.
Designer Harris Reed said “the queen is a woman I have always looked up to for strength, style and the most beautiful choices of color and elegance. She was a true inspiration to so many and someone I deeply admired.”
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