Carry On Camping: Barbara Windsor stars in classic trailer

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Britain and the Commonwealth are set to go into 17 days of mourning following Thursday’s historic, and devastating, announcement that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away. Aged 96, Her Majesty had ruled with distinction throughout her 70 years on the throne, becoming in the process the longest reigning monarch in British history. In tribute to his mother, the newly named King Charles III said: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother.

“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.”

Across the globe politicians, celebrities and other influential figures have expressed their condolences to the Royal Family, and citizens of Britain and the Commonwealth.

In 2015, the Royal Family surprisingly spoke out years before another Queen sadly passed away. On that occasion, it was Dame Barbara Windsor.

Dame Barbara, also known as Babs, was an iconic figure in British entertainment, earning iconic status among TV fans as Peggy Mitchell on the BBC’s EastEnders.

She sadly passed away in 2020, but in an unexpected move, a Buckingham Palace source told The Sun about the Queen’s thoughts on Dame Barbara when she was nominated for a Damehood seven years ago.

The source said: “The Queen was delighted when Barbara’s name was put forward. Like Her Majesty, she is someone who has been part of the fabric of the way of life in Britain for years.”

Speaking after she was given her honour, Dame Barbara said it was nice to meet “another small lady”, the actress poking fun at her own small stature.

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She added that she was stunned by Her Majesty’s “gorgeous skin”, and even asked: “I wonder what she uses.”

More recently, the likes of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who met Her Majesty on a number of occasions, was among the leaders paying their respects to the Queen.

In a statement, he said: “It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”

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Joe Biden, the US President, released a joint statement with his wife Jill, the First Lady of the United States, also marking the monarch’s passing.

They praised her for rallying the UK and Commonwealth during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as “enduring the dangers and deprivations of a world war alongside the British people”.

The pair added: “Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special.”

Similarly, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted: “It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“On behalf of the people, we extend sincere condolences to the Royal Family, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”

King Charles III is expected to deliver a televised address to the nation on Friday.

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