I first met her majesty when I was seven years old and her presence throughout my life had been constant, inspiring and graceful. As Prime Minister, I benefited from her council, her thoughtfulness, her curiosity, her sense of humor, and the engagement that showed a deep, deep and abiding interest in and love for Canadians. She was our queen for almost half of our country's existence. We came of age under her reign. We adopted a new flag. We repatriated our constitution, created the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And her steadiness and steadfastness inspired us all. We are in a world full of challenges and difficulties. But her grace and her strength, our spirits will always be better. We are all benefitted from what we have done. We endure as she endures in our hearts, in our vision of a better world and a better Canada for all.