A message from the vice-chancellor and president

Dear University Community,

It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, who died yesterday at the age of 96.

We hold heartfelt gratitude for a lifetime of service by Her Majesty. The University of East London was privileged to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness, the late Duke of Edinburgh, in 2007 to the University's Royal Docks Campus when Her Majesty opened our innovative Knowledge Dock site, Library and Business School and supported our enterprise endeavours of that time. We are a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, for whom the Queen was Patron, and have close ties to many of the Commonwealth nations in our community and in our partnerships.

On behalf of the whole University community, I extend our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, to all in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth and to the wider global community whose lives Her Majesty touched.

The United Kingdom's new sovereign and new Head of the Commonwealth is King Charles III. He is scheduled to give a recorded televised address today and he will be formally proclaimed King tomorrow (10 September). The government will confirm the length of national mourning, which will lead up to the Queen's funeral, the date of which is still to be confirmed but expected to be 19 September.

Over the coming days, the University will not be publishing regular content on our communication channels, with external activity aligned with the national mourning period, although all University business will continue as planned during this period, including the Graduation Ceremonies for 2022 alumni next week.

The University of East London will close on the day of the state funeral. Essential workers who are on campus are asked to join the nation in two minutes' silence immediately prior to the commencement of the funeral at 11 am. Members of the University of East London community are invited to share their thoughts or memories of Her Majesty The Queen. Buckingham Palace has set up an online Book of Condolence.

In God's arms may she gently rest.

In sympathy,

Professor Amanda J. Broderick
BA (Hons) PhD DipM DipMRS PGCTL FRSA MBGS FCIM PFHEA
Vice-Chancellor & President