Biden, Mick Jagger and more pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth after British monarch’s death at 96

Presidents, prime ministers, pop stars and the pope paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following the longtime British monarch’s death Thursday at age 96, sharing in the pain felt around the world.

President Biden, Mick Jagger and Helen Mirren joined the legions of public figures who celebrated the queen’s 70 years of service, which spanned 15 British prime ministers, 14 American presidents and considerable changes to the world map.

“In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her,” Biden said in a joint statement with First Lady Jill Biden.

“The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.”

Across the pond, both living Beatles — Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr — raised a rhetorical toast to the almost mythic monarch, each tweeting: “God bless Queen Elizabeth.”

Jagger, front man for the English rock band the Rolling Stones, offered personal recollections as he underscored his appreciation for the queen’s reign.

“In my childhood I can recall watching her wedding highlights on TV,” Jagger wrote on Instagram. “I remember her as a beautiful young lady, to the much beloved grandmother of the nation.”

Elton John said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” by Elizabeth’s death, describing her as “huge part” of his life whom he will miss “dearly.”

Britain’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, said in a statement that the queen was “the rock on which modern Britain was built,” adding that her death brought a “day of great loss” to the U.K.

And the British prime minister who left office earlier this week, Boris Johnson, summed up the feelings of many in his nation in a lengthy statement, saying that the queen “seemed so timeless and wonderful that I am afraid we had come to believe, like children, that she would just go on and on.”

By the time of her death, Elizabeth had become Britain’s longest-serving monarch. The steely leader rose to the throne in the winter of 1952, at age 25.

Pope Francis sent a telegram to the new King Charles III, the 73-year-old son of Elizabeth, offering his “heartfelt condolences” to the royal family and the British public, according to the Vatican.

The London-born Mirren, who won an Oscar for best actress in 2007 for her portrayal of Elizabeth in “The Queen,’” said in a statement: “If there was a definition of nobility, Elizabeth Windsor embodied it.”

In New York, Gov. Hochul called the queen a “force on the world stage for decades and an inspiring female leader who leaves a lasting legacy.”

“New York joins the people of the United Kingdom and all those who are mourning in honoring her life, and we send our prayers to her family,” Hochul tweeted.

Mayor Adams ordered that flags on all New York City government buildings fly at half-staff. In a statement, the mayor described the queen as a “global force.”

The messages of mourning spanned the U.S.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the queen “a devoted friend of freedom,” and reflected on personal encounters with the monarch.

“Queen Elizabeth embodied the highest spirit of civic duty: earning the reverence of her people and the respect of the world,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Under history’s brightest spotlight, Queen Elizabeth offered a masterclass in grace and strength, power and poise.”

“Her extraordinary life and leadership will continue to inspire young women and girls in public service, now and for generations to come,” Pelosi added in the statement.

Elizabeth, who became queen when Winston Churchill was prime minister, left an outsized imprint on a dizzying array of nations.

Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, called the queen “a constant presence in our lives” and said “her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.”

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that Elizabeth “embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century.”

And in the U.S., several past presidents poured praise on Elizabeth, joining Biden.

Bill and Hillary Clinton reflected on the queen’s legacy and thanked her for showing kindness when they visited Buckingham Palace.

“Throughout her remarkable 70-year reign, she led Britain through great transformation with unfailing grace, dignity, and genuine care for the welfare of her people,” the former president and first lady said in a joint statement. “In sunshine or storm, she was a source of stability, serenity and strength.”

Former President Barack Obama said in a statement that he had been struck by her warm touch and the “way she put people at ease,” bringing her “considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.”

And ex-President George W. Bush issued a statement describing the queen as a “woman of great intellect, charm and wit.”

“Our world benefitted from her steady resolve, and we are grateful for her decades of service as sovereign,” Bush said in the statement.

“Americans in particular,” he added in the statement, “appreciate her strong and steadfast friendship.”

With Tim Balk