Barack Obama and his wife Michelle released a statement paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, reflecting that he was “grateful” to have witnessed the reign of one of the world’s longest-serving monarchs.
The former first couple put out a statement mid-afternoon on Thursady, shortly after Buckingham Palace announced the news.
“Like so many of you, Michelle and I are grateful to have witnessed Her Majesty’s dedicated leadership, and we are awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service,” said the former president.
“Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us,” he went on, adding that “she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity”.
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