Councillor Andrew Johnson, Chair of Harlow Council, has written to the Private Secretary to His Majesty The King to express the town’s condolences following the loss of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.
In the letter the chair also reflects on the time that Her Late Majesty visited Harlow in 1957. The Chair of the Council wrote:
Dear Sir,
On behalf of the Councillors and Officers of Harlow Council, and the people of Harlow, I write to pass on our sincere condolences and offer our most heartfelt sympathies to His Majesty The King on the loss of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Our thoughts and prayers are with His Majesty and the Royal Family during this difficult time. We share the sentiments of loss and sorrow felt all over the world at the passing of such a loyal and steadfast public servant whose life has been devoted to her country as well as advocating peace and the importance of nations working together.
We know that many of Harlow’s earliest residents will have very fond memories of when Her Majesty visited our town during the early years of Harlow’s development as a new town. During Her Majesty’s visit to Harlow in October 1957 ‘Elizabeth Way’ was officially named and opened. Her Majesty was accompanied on that visit by the late Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. This visit also saw Her Majesty and His Royal Highness tour a local school and the newly built Harlow town centre. Thousands of spectators turned out that day to welcome Her Majesty to the town. We will always remember her visit for the kindness she showed local people and the time she took to talk to them.
Most recently the Harlow community came together to mark the Platinum Jubilee by holding events and street parties celebrating Her Majesty’s 70 years of service. These occasions will live forever in our memories and showed just how much residents loved their Queen.
Her Majesty will always have a connection to our town. Her memory and legacy will live on for many years to come and her place in history is surely secure as one of the greatest reigning monarchs.
Yours faithfully,
Councillor Andrew Johnson
Chair of Harlow Council
