Queen Elizabeth II was warm, kind and was always concerned about others, recalls our King

By: Patrick Beech

The royal couple’s last meeting with the British monarch in 2019 at Buckingham Palace. – Pic courtesy of Al-Sultan Abdullah’s personal archive (from NST)

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah said Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Sept 8, was an inspiring figure who was warm, kind and demonstrated her concern for all.

He said his friendship with the Queen began in 1977, when he had played polo in the United Kingdom.

Al-Sultan Abdullah has been friends with King Charles III for more than four decades and played polo together as teenagers at various levels of international tournaments.

Al-Sultan Abdullah’s last meeting with the Queen was at a luncheon she hosted in Buckingham Palace in Dec 13, 2019 in conjunction with his and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah’s visit to England.

Al-Sultan Abdullah said he remembered Queen Elizabeth II as someone who always demonstrated concern over the welfare of Malaysia as well as his own family.

This is what we should learn from her. She reached out to the people,” he said.

The King also noted that the outpouring of grief and the huge number of people who turned out to pay their last respects to her was a testament to how much she was loved.

“She went through many momentous events, 15 prime ministers, numerous cabinet members and countless crisis. But she braved through it all,” he said.

Al-Sultan Abdullah was speaking in conjunction with his visit to the UK pay his last respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

Malaysia and the UK have enjoyed close bilateral relations since Malaysia’s independence 65 years ago.