The next item is the debate on the Platinum Jubilee, and I call on the First Minister to move the motion—Mark Drakeford. 

Motion NDM8006 Lesley Griffiths

Supported by Darren Millar

To propose that the Senedd:

Congratulates Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee and pays tribute to her steadfast support for Wales over the last 70 years.

Motion moved.

Diolch yn fawr, Llywydd. Well, 70 years ago, 1952 did not begin well in Wales. On 10 January, an Aer Lingus flight going from Dublin to London crashed in Snowdonia, killing its 22 passengers and all three crew. Less than a month later, King George VI was dead, and what the Prime Minister of the time, Winston Churchill, called 'a new Elizabethan age' had begun. In the intertwining of those two lives—a Prime Minister towards the end of his working life and a sovereign at the start of hers—we see a remarkable thread connecting our lives today, in the second decade of the twenty-first century, right back through the whole of the twentieth century to the final quarter of the nineteenth century. By the time Prime Minister Churchill became the first of 14 Prime Ministers who have now met weekly with the Queen, he could look back to escaping from a prisoner of war camp during the Boer war in the reign of Queen Victoria. He was a member of the great reforming Liberal Government of 1906 when King Edward VII was on the throne. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer for a whole parliamentary term when George V was the monarch. He was the leader of the King's party during the brief reign of King Edward VIII, and Prime Minister to George VI, and now a second Queen Elizabeth. In that year, in 1952, he presided over the abolition of identity cards introduced during the second world war, the introduction of prescription charges—5p for every item, the ending of tea rationing, and the first performance of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap.

Now, it would have been a brave person who could look ahead with any certainty to the 70 years of continuity and change that were to follow, because the pace of change over those 70 years has quite certainly been enormous. Here in Wales, heavy industry has largely given way to financial and other services. The United Kingdom itself is very different to that of 1952. It's no longer a centralised unitary state; constitutional reforms have fostered a more plural society, where power is dispersed to other Parliaments in the four nations of the United Kingdom. Movement to and from the Commonwealth, the European Union and beyond has fashioned a more diverse and multicultural people. 

Having said that, Llywydd, some things have not changed. During 70 years of huge change, Her Majesty the Queen has been ever present in the lives of the people of Wales and beyond. We think of the way in which she has committed to carrying out her duty. She has been faithful to the pledge that she took at the time of her coronation. We also think of dignity and good nature that she always shows as she undertakes her duties.

Last year, it would have been difficult not to have been moved as she grieved following the death of her husband. She joined with many thousands of her citizens who respect the law and adhered to the restrictions that were required to keep others safe. The Queen has spent so much of her private life in the public eye, but that image in particular will remain for evermore.

Over the years, the Queen has often visited Wales, from her first visit as a young princess and the coronation tour of 1953, to opening the National Assembly and the Senedd during more recent years. Over those 70 years, the Queen has visited all parts of Wales. On occasion, it was a time for celebration, at others it was a time to join in periods of deep grief and remembrance, for example when she visited Aberfan.  

Now, next week, Llywydd, many throughout Wales will use the opportunity of the extended public holiday to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee—from a concert in Cardiff castle to a picnic in Llantrisant, a tea party in Burry Port to a regatta in Tremadog bay. Llywydd, it's part of the responsibility of being First Minister in this Senedd to become a member of the Queen's Privy Council and, as such, on 2 June, I will represent the Government and people here in Wales at the royal gun salute and the festival of music in Cardiff Bay, together with, I'm sure, thousands of other Welsh citizens. The following day, I will attend the service of thanksgiving for the Platinum Jubilee at St Paul's Cathedral. And, on 4 June, I will be at Buckingham Palace for the culmination of the weekend's celebrations.

But, far beyond those more formal events, there will, of course, be far more other opportunities to mark the Platinum Jubilee. There will be the lighting of beacons throughout Wales—in Newport, Bridgend, Brecon, Montgomery, Llanidloes and Rhyl—joining over 1,500 such beacons across the United Kingdom and far beyond the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth. In a speech on the day of her coronation, the Queen, having pledged herself to the service of her people, vowed,

'Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.'

And there is no doubt, Llywydd, that that trust has been earned over the 70 years that have followed. The celebration and events of the coming weeks will be an indication of the deep respect in which the Queen is held, and an expression of the gratitude for her many years of selfless service. It's on that basis that I invite all Members of the Senedd to support the proposition in front of us this afternoon, that we congratulate the Queen on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee and pay tribute to her steadfast support for Wales over the last 70 years. Diolch yn fawr.

As someone who, back in 1977, joined the fancy-dress parade in our local village to celebrate the Silver Jubilee—I won't tell you what I was dressed up as—[Interruption.]—little did I think that, in 2022, I'd be standing with a suit and tie on reflecting on a reign of 70 years that has endeared Her Majesty the Queen to every sector of society, I would suggest. I appreciate in a democracy there are republicans and there are monarchists, but no-one can really say that the Queen hasn't earned the respect of this country for the public duty and public service that she has done throughout her entire reign. And it is a fact, as the First Minister touched on, that she has had 14 Prime Ministers serve herself, there have been 13 American Presidents—only one President has not met her; that's Lyndon Johnson—and 10 French Presidents have met Her Majesty the Queen. She has undertaken 152 state visits. There have been five Popes in her time, and in the time that I've been in this Senedd, she has come on four occasions to the official opening of the Senedd.

Many Members will recognise that I wasn't here in October when she came to open the Senedd for this current term of the Senedd's mandate, but watching on television, to see her face and the pleasure she was genuinely getting—and I think the Presiding Officer might endorse this—the genuine pleasure that she was getting by going around meeting not just Members, but the community groups that had assembled upstairs—that wasn't an act, that was genuine warmth and pleasure at being here in Wales and being here at the home of Welsh democracy, to open it for its term of office. And I think that's something we can be immensely proud of, that we have a monarch that recognises that the country does change and the monarchy changes with the country to be relevant. 

It is fact that when the Queen was born in 1926, she was not the person who was the heir, she was not the natural choice to go through and become the monarch, but through the abdication of 1937, her whole life and her family's life were changed beyond belief. The war years saw her take active service with the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and ultimately then, after a short, brief time with her husband in Malta, the poor health of her father—King George VI, obviously—ended up with the premature death of His Majesty and the Queen becoming the monarch in 1952.

We look back at an era when that type of news would have to have been relayed by the telegraph, rather than a quick press of a button and the internet, or picking up your phone and getting news at the click of a switch. We also see the steam trains bombing around in the old black-and-white films and we now have electric trains. We also see the world at a time when it was a big thing to fly round the world. Today the world has opened up to every man, woman and child, if they so wish to go around it, and ultimately we are pushing the boundaries into space. And it is important to reflect that all this has happened in a reign of 70 years.

It is worth reflecting on the fact that the Queen has held Wales deeply in her heart, in particular the patronage that she has shown to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, to the Welsh Rugby Union, and numerous charities and organisations, of which she has helped raise their profile, and shown keen interest in those organisations. And as the First Minister touched on, the tragedy of Aberfan was just one tragedy amongst others that she has identified herself with and shown a keen interest in the way those communities have healed, never forgetting the hurt of those accidents and tragedies that has befallen the communities, wherever they may be in Wales.

It is also worth reflecting on her strong connection to the armed forces, as commander in chief, and, obviously, Wales has played its active part in sending more, proportionately, than its population into those armed forces, whether it be the army, the navy or the RAF, and the strong affiliation that many people feel with the royal family who have served in our armed forces, from whatever communities they might come from. And as one of the Members this afternoon touched on, and the Member for Clwyd West highlighted, one of the long-lasting traits of this Jubilee will be Wrexham becoming a city, and it's something that we can identify with as another celebratory note, with all the other cities that have been identified in various other Jubilees, such as the Golden Jubilee, the Silver Jubilee and obviously the Platinum Jubilee that we're celebrating in 2022.

It's also worth reflecting that faith is a major part of the Queen's make-up, and while she is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she does recognise that the country that was the 1950s United Kingdom is not the 2022 country, and we are a multifaith society, which is something that she and others celebrate greatly. And it's this make-up of the modern Britain that we celebrate every day.

For me, something that stands out very clearly in the recent COVID crisis was Her Majesty's address to the country in April 2020, when she did say, 'We will meet again.' Ultimately, at that moment, when there was real, real darkness, and people were looking over the precipice back in April 2020, she spoke genuinely and movingly of her belief that this country would come through that crisis and we would see better times. Thankfully, we have come through the crisis and we are seeing better times, but we do not forget those who lost loved ones and the massive sacrifices that many, many have had to endure.

It is also a fact that the royal family themselves have had to endure many tragedies, and many, many intrusions into their lives. But we do believe passionately that the Queen and the experience that she has gained over the 70 years has held what's best about Wales and what's best about Britain in every decision she has made for this country, our united country, standing tall in the world.

I join the First Minister in endorsing the motion on the order paper this afternoon, and I know full well that the celebratory weekend that is coming up will be marked in many corners of this country, not just here in Wales, not just here in the United Kingdom, but across the Commonwealth of nations that she heads up and leads up with such pride and passion. And I, on behalf of my group and the party, have no hesitation in commending the motion that's before the Parliament today.

At the risk of starting a trend, I did win 'best dressed in carnival' in the Llanwnnen Jubilee carnival in 1977—and there are photos. 

Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price.

Diolch. [Interruption.] Yes, follow that, yes. Among her predecessors, Elizabeth II cannot claim to have spent the longest duration of time in Wales—the two Henrys and single Edward, actually born here, can battle it out for that particular crown—but she is, without a doubt, the British monarch who will have visited Wales most often, and the First Minister has referred to some of those occasions. Even at the start, our nation loomed large in the life of this unintended Queen. During the war, historians inform us, plans were drawn up to quell Welsh nationalism by affiliating Elizabeth more closely with Wales. Appointing her constable of Caernarfon castle was rejected as geographically impractical, making her a patron of the Urdd was considered too radical an option, so she had to settle instead for being inducted into the Gorsedd, aged 20, by the then archdruid, Crwys.

Elizabeth's first official visit to Wales was on 28 March 1944. This happened to be the day on which MPs in Westminster voted to pay women teachers the same as men, an important milestone in the movement towards equality that has been one of the many strands woven into the tapestry of Elizabeth II's long life and reign. Monarch-to-be she may have been, but that very equality was denied her at the outset; in the days preceding a visit to Wales, Welsh local authorities, in what used to be known as the Welsh Parliamentary Party, petitioned for her to be declared Princess of Wales. She was refused that right, because at that time a woman could only be heir presumptive, not heir apparent.

In response to being given the freedom of the city of Cardiff, plain Princess Elizabeth declared she had a very personal connection with Wales nonetheless. She may well have had in mind Y Bwthyn Bach—this was the fully functional model house that was presented to her by the people of Wales in 1932, on her sixth birthday. Located in Windsor Great Park, it included a kitchen with a stove and a fridge, a living room known as Y Siambr Fach, with electric lighting and a working telephone, two bedrooms and a bathroom that came with hot and cold running water and even a heated towel rail. In the circumstances of the time back home in Wales, this scaled-down cottage would have seemed every bit as palatial as Windsor itself.

Years later, as newly crowned Queen Elizabeth, she repaid our collective generosity by formally opening the national library in Aberystwyth, where 44 years earlier, her grandfather, King George V, had laid the foundation stone; nation building in Wales has always been a slow and painstaking affair. She described the library as having preserved

'the distinct character of a small but individual member of my family of nations', a family that under her stewardship was rapidly transforming itself from an empire to a Commonwealth of independent nations—a status we hope, in our party, Wales will also one day enjoy.

Perhaps the most significant and long-lasting connection between Wales and the Queen grew out of her empathy, as has already been referenced, following the Aberfan disaster. It was a rare occasion when she was reported as shedding a tear in public. One mother told a television reporter:

'I remember the Queen walking through the mud. It felt like she was with us from the beginning.'

Queen Elizabeth never forgot Aberfan. She visited in 1973 to open the new community centre, and again in 1997 to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the tragedy.

Llywydd, we in the Senedd have a special reason to acknowledge the role of the Queen in the life of Wales. Her inaugural opening of our Parliament following the first elections in 1999 served to underline, through her presence, the significance of that new beginning in our national democratic journey—against the wishes, it seems, of the then Prime Minister. Now, on the threshold of emerging as a fully self-governing nation, Wales has changed beyond recognition when compared with our circumstances in 1952—a country without a capital, let alone a Parliament. Inscribed within this Jubilee, therefore, is also our own journey from Siambr fach to Siambr fwy, for our history is also, in part at least, her story too.

There is no denying that Her Majesty the Queen is a remarkable woman who has served this country and the Commonwealth with great loyalty and dedication. It is a great privilege to be standing here today in this Chamber, amongst you all, paying tribute to Her Majesty as the country comes together to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.

Her Majesty the Queen has broken countless records since her accession to the throne 70 years ago and is now the third-longest reigning monarch in the world. During her 70-year reign, the Queen and the rest of the royal family have made countless visits to Wales, as we've heard already, strengthening their very strong connections to our country. Only last year, Her Majesty was in this very Chamber amongst us all for the Parliament's official opening, with crowds lining the streets outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of our great monarch. And can I just say, I was hugely honoured to meet Her Majesty when she came here, as I know many of my Welsh Conservative colleagues were as well?

Over the years, the Queen has opened her doors, not just to those of us from the UK but from across the Commonwealth, to groups, individuals and organisations to attend her annual garden party, and she's honoured countless people for their contributions within their professional fields and for their charity work as well. The Queen has personally carried out more than 325 overseas visits in 130 countries, met more than 100 heads of state, and become the first monarch in 100 hundred years to visit the Republic of Ireland. Quite simply, she has been an inspiration, a role model and a huge stalwart to millions of people here in Wales, the rest of the United Kingdom, and across the globe.

She hasn't put a foot wrong throughout her reign, and has been a constant figurehead for the UK during times of enormous change. I've said it here before in the Chamber, but one of the greatest achievements of the Queen's reign has been the transformation of the empire to the Commonwealth. Made up of 53 independent countries, with a combined population of 2.4 billion, we have all shared goals to promote democracy, development and, ultimately, peace. Despite some countries being expelled or leaving over the years, today the Commonwealth stands united as a force for promoting racial equality, democracy and human rights.

One of the things that I love the most about Her Majesty is her passion for animals and some of the fantastic work she has done for them. It is estimated that the Queen has owned over 30 corgis, in particular—and I'm sure many of my colleagues will be happy to hear—the Pembroke Welsh corgis, alongside countless horses and some more exotic animals, such as sloths and a colony of bats. Her Majesty is a patron of more than 30 animal charities, including the RSPCA, the Labrador Retriever Club and the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. It is clear that she's an animal lover through and through.

Times have been particularly hard for Her Majesty and her family with the recent tragic loss of her beloved husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. As we all come together to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, whether it be at an event in your community or just marking the occasion with friends and family, we should take a moment to reflect on the Queen's long reign and all the good that she has done across the globe. Next week, I hope that everyone inside of this Chamber and outside of this Welsh Parliament will raise a glass to Her Majesty and in honour of Prince Philip, who was by the Queen's side for many years and is sadly no longer amongst us. There is no doubt that Her Majesty remains at the very heart of our nation, and may she continue to reign over us for many, many years to come. Thank you.

To spoil the trend, I am yet to win a best-dressed competition, but I hope that might change next week at the Ruabon Platinum Jubilee celebrations. I'd like to begin, though, by saying just what a pleasure it is to contribute to this debate and to support the motion, and to thank every organisation in Clwyd South that is organising such a diverse range of celebratory events for the Platinum Jubilee. I think, whether you're a monarchist or a republication or, indeed, indifferent, this special moment in our time really does recognise something that we can all agree on: we're celebrating relentless hard work, tireless commitment, loyalty, dignity and respect for duty by the longest serving monarch in British history. And this is a time for us all to come together in recognising these incredible attributes and to pay our respects to Her Majesty the Queen. The Platinum Jubilee will offer us a rare chance for the nation to put aside divisions and to take time to value community, public service and loyalty to others. 

Now, the Queen has never expressed extraordinary views; instead she has been extraordinary in putting the unity and the well-being of her people first in discharging such an incredibly difficult duty. And in a world where division has become increasingly apparent at the international and the national and regional level, the Queen has striven to ensure that the Commonwealth remains as relevant as ever. She's always placed unity of nations, international unity and unity of regions right at the heart of her work.

Now, some people might not choose to celebrate the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in this coming week, but I do hope that everybody will salute the unparalleled and very positive contribution that the Queen has made to our history. And as we approach 2023 and thereafter 2024, let's hope that the Queen goes on to become not just Britain's, but the entire world's longest serving monarch. Diolch.

The Deputy Presiding Officer (David Rees) took the Chair.

It's an honour to be able to contribute to this debate today and pay tribute to our longest serving monarch, Her Majesty the Queen. Her Majesty the Queen's life and reign can be summed up by one word: duty. At the age of 19, Her Majesty enlisted during world war two to serve in the women's Auxiliary Territorial Service, and this was just the beginning of a life of commitment to our country and its people. Her lifelong commitment to the country was optimised in her famous speech in Cape Town, South Africa, where she said:

'I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service'.

As our longest serving monarch in British history, she has remained a stable and calming influence over the country. She has reigned, as my leader said earlier, over 14 Prime Ministers in total in her time, which is an incredible achievement. She has modernised the monarchy and turned it into the much-loved institution that it is today, with a global reach that attracts many, many visitors to Britain each year.

Her Majesty the Queen is an icon for me and women around the world—the way she holds herself, her strength and her steadfast commitment to her role. Her sense of duty can be seen clearly through her dedication to her countless charities, being patron or president to over 600 charities in her time. It's not just her dedication to her country that we should all be in awe of; the Queen has remained a great champion of the Commonwealth, as has just been said, over the years, working to build relationships and keep its members together since 1952. When Her Majesty was crowned, the Commonwealth had eight member states; today, there are 54. The Queen has overseen a process in which practically the entire British empire has been transformed into a voluntary association of sovereign nations working together, hand in hand. Quite simply, the Queen has been steadfast as head of state and monarch. We will forever be in her debt. And I think I speak for the whole Chamber when I say: long may she reign; God save the Queen.

I'm thrilled today that we are having this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the life of service given to the people of Great Britain and the Commonwealth by an amazing person, someone who has put duty and service and dedication above all other things. That person is Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

For 70 years, the Queen has served us with distinction, and I and my constituents in Brecon and Radnorshire will be forever grateful for Her Majesty's service and Her Majesty's visits to my constituency, like the visit to Elan Valley in 1952 or the visit to Dolau in 2002 for Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee, and, more recently, Her Majesty visited Glan Usk near Crickhowell in 2012 for her Diamond Jubilee. It was a horrendous day, I can remember it well, and she just got on with the job of meeting people and making everybody feel special, and I think the Duke of Edinburgh at the time took the best option and sat in the car and greeted people from the window. I, along with many of my constituents, am very grateful for the time they came to Brecon and Radnorshire.

Throughout Her Majesty's long reign, the Queen has connected with the Welsh people during both times of joy and suffering. This has been seen in the messages given during the opening of the Welsh Parliament, and, more recently, during the coronavirus pandemic. Every year, the royal family conducts over 2,000 royal engagements, both in the UK and overseas. The Queen has personally conducted over 325 visits overseas in 130 countries, and, furthermore, the Queen has met heads of state of all types of political persuasions, and 14 Prime Ministers. As the late Duke of Edinburgh said, the Queen must have patience in abundance. It does show that she is the greatest ambassador that our country has ever had. 

At the age of 18, she joined the auxiliary service and the Queen insisted that she joined, and the late King George VI ensured that she did not have any special treatment because of who she was; she just wanted to get on with the job of serving her country. Her Majesty's love of the outdoors has been a mark of her reign, and I did see this first-hand when Her Majesty and I spoke about farming at the opening of the Senedd, and I can confirm that she was very well informed about farming practices and she even taught me a thing or two that I didn't know.

Her role for our nation has been long and varied. After the sad passing of her long-term husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen has continued to serve the people of Wales and the world, showing that there are no signs of slowing down. We saw that yesterday, when Her Majesty attended the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in a golf buggy nicknamed the 'Queenmobile'. So, she will live up to her statement that she will always need to be seen to be believed. Even at an age when many people would consider retiring and living a quiet life, the Queen continues to be at the forefront of our nation, serving as a royal emblem and acting as a uniting figure. I swore my oath to Her Majesty in joining this Parliament, and it gives me great pleasure to say: God save the Queen, and happy Platinum Jubilee, Your Majesty.  

As the elected Member for Aberconwy, this is, indeed, an honour and a privilege to take this opportunity to congratulate Her Majesty on the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee, and also to say thank you for the invaluable service that she continues to provide here in Wales.

We've had the honour of her presence in north Wales on numerous occasions. In fact, my home town of Llandudno welcomed her in 1963, 1977 and 2010. Such is the respect for Her Majesty and the royal family that our town has a park called Mountbatten Green and a care home called Queen Elizabeth Court. In fact, I know that we will be seeing celebrations across Llandudno and the rest of the constituency, because the local authority has already received eight road closure applications for Jubilee street parties. Of course, there will be many more planning tea parties in their gardens and watching the celebrations from the comfort of their sofa. But I would just ask as many as possible to take a moment to participate in the Big Jubilee Lunch. On Sunday, we will be encouraged to celebrate local connections and get to know our neighbours just that little bit better. Whether it's sharing a cup of tea on the doorstep or a bigger bash in the street, we can all do our part to help combat loneliness and isolation. None of us can ever forget that Her Majesty sat alone as she bid farewell to the late Duke of Edinburgh. 'Alone in her grief' wrote the Sunday People. 'Sitting alone, the Queen bids her final farewell', led The Sunday Telegraph, and 'The loneliest goodbye' reported the Sunday Mirror. Fifty-seven per cent of older people report feeling lonely sometimes. So, let's follow Her Majesty's example and think what we can do to support others far less fortunate than us.

On her twenty-first birthday, in a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, Her Majesty dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth. She said,

'I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.'

And she remains true to that promise. For example, for the benefit of our nation, Her Majesty is royal patron or president of 600 charities. For the benefit of our nation and international relations, Her Majesty has hosted 152 official state visits, including 13 Presidents of the United States of America and five Popes. And for the benefit of people globally, Her Majesty served as the head of the Commonwealth. We are fortunate to have a monarch who has pioneered innovation. The coronation was the first to be fully televised, despite being objected to by many officials. Her Majesty was the first monarch to produce a live televised Christmas message and the first British monarch to tweet. In fact, I think it's admirable that Her Majesty has made a concerted effort to remain modern and in touch with the challenges of our time. This is no surprise, given that she has already seen 14 Prime Ministers and four First Ministers of Wales. Even most recently, in response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, the palace has advised that they are assisting in a number of ways.

We would certainly all be expecting somebody or anybody of 96 years of age to relax. However, this Platinum Jubilee, as Andrew Marr put it, 'marks 70 years of being the uncomplaining servant of her subjects.' So, I hope you will all join with me in expressing a hope that long may Her Majesty continue to serve our nation, our world, and to fill our hearts. Congratulations and God bless, Your Majesty.

I call on the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution to reply to the debate.

Dirprwy Lywydd, I'm sure Members will appreciate how difficult it is to add to the tributes that have been paid to the Queen today. The theme that has run through all the speeches today is one that is familiar to us. It is one we hold high as politicians. It is that of public service. In a world of social media, of instant news, the one theme that resonates is that of public service, and, whatever one's views of the issue of monarchy, whatever one's politics, whatever one's beliefs, there is one view that I believe transcends all these differences, which is that, throughout her life, she has been an exemplar of the importance of public duty.

What is also undeniable is the depth of affection and respect in which she is held, both across this Chamber and by many of those we represent. And it is an affection and respect that has not been taken for granted. It would have been tempting, being born into a position of privilege, to have sought loyalty and deference by right, as perhaps her medieval predecessors might have done. But, through her actions, she has always strived to earn the trust of the people, demonstrated in the stories and the anecdotes that we have heard today.

In our constitutional monarchy, she quite rightly does not speak publicly on matters of politics. She does, however, sometimes seem to communicate her views in more subtle ways, most recently, in the display of flowers in the colours of the Ukrainian flag in the background when she met with the Canadian Prime Minister earlier this year. And I think few here will forget or disagree with those discreetly overheard comments at the recent opening of the Senedd, when discussing COP26 with our Presiding Officer, I recall, how she was irritated by people—I suspect she might have meant politicians—who talk but they don't do.

I thank Members for their contributions today. It is right that we took some time to reflect on the character and contribution of our longest lived and longest surviving monarch. As we look forward to celebrating with the Queen next week, I'm sure Members will join with me once again in expressing our nation's recognition of her devotion and service, and our congratulations on reaching such a momentous milestone. Diolch.

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.