On behalf of the people and communities of Islwyn, I want to place on record our appreciation of the loyal and dedicated public servant that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been and remains today. Nobody, irrespective of whatever position taken on the monarchy, would not have been seriously moved, as was I, by the sight last year of Her Majesty sat alone in the chapel at Windsor at the funeral of her husband. It was yet a further symbol, if one were needed, of this iconic woman who has truly lived up to her oath at her coronation to serve her people.

As the Labour representative on the Senedd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, I have also seen first-hand and heard for myself how admired and respected the Queen is across the Commonwealth and how she strengthens, personally, our international reputation. There is no doubt that there are indeed very strong and differing views on the institution of monarchy across this Chamber, as there are in Islwyn and as there are across the Commonwealth, and how she strengthens that personal reputation for us, and we saw that recently when Barbados became a republic, and we note the differing Scandinavian models, but this debate, though, is not the time or the place.

So, however, in the genuine spirit within which I feel this debate has been laid, I want to say 'thank you' to our Queen. Whatever our perspective on the need or otherwise for a modern monarchy, let us all conjoin around the fact that there are and there remains something quite profound and stabilising that she has been our Queen throughout the most difficult times for British history and that she has reigned throughout the lives of every single Member of this Senedd. Through the changing decades and times, Queen Elizabeth II has been a constant star in an ever-changing and often perplexing world. Let the Queen's dedication to public service be her crown in perpetuity and her commitment to public duty be an inspiration to us all.

And to conclude, Llywydd, when the sixth Senedd was formally opened, I enjoyed listening to Her Majesty and I was struck by her truly genuine laughter at my recounting a tale of Alun Davies, which she recalled. And as a proud feminist, there is something strong to admire in this woman, a real strength, and real substance, where other so-called leading figures dissolve in front of our eyes, for she has been a leading figure, our representative and our Queen, and she has been the leading lady on that world stage for the last seven decades. We have been fortunate and I also wish Her Majesty many more years to reign over us. God bless you, Your Majesty, and thank you.