On the evening of 8 September, the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was announced.
As the news reverberated around the world, the IFoA also paused to reflect on Her Majesty’s remarkable reign and life of extraordinary service. For many of us in the UK she is the only monarch we have ever known, and her reign has provided the backdrop to our nation for over 70 years.
Queen Elizabeth II presided over a period of immense historical change and significance. At the time of her accession to the throne in 1952, Britain was still reeling from the aftermath of World War II – a period when life expectancy at birth was just 66 for men and 72 for women. Thankfully, much has changed and improved since then, and we are proud that the actuarial profession has played its part in contributing to the social good, helping to ensure financial stability, security and peace of mind for individuals and organisations.
The IFoA also has the immense honour of being the holder of a Royal Charter, originally granted by Queen Victoria to the Faculty of Actuaries in Scotland in 1868 and to the Institute of Actuaries in London in 1884. Following our merger as the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in 2010, our renewed Royal Charter continues our commitment to working in the public interest. We know that our members, wherever they are based, are immensely proud to belong to a profession that places the public good at the heart of its work.
We saw from the incredible expressions of grief and emotion how much people were touched by Her Majesty’s death, not just in the UK but around the world, perhaps because many of the qualities she embodied – diligence, responsibility, seriousness of purpose, a devotion to duty, a belief in the value of service to others – transcend nationhood and are universal in their appeal. It can sometimes feel as if these values belong to another era, but Her Majesty’s life continually demonstrated their relevance and significance.
As the light passes from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III, we extend our warmest wishes and support to our new monarch.
IFoA statement on the death of Her Majesty The Queen
We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty The Queen. I join with Council members and employees at the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in the UK, the Commonwealth and across the world in expressing our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family at this very sad time. As a Royal Chartered body, we are very grateful for the Queen's many decades of public service.
Matt Saker, President, Institute and Faculty of Actuaries
Image credit | Getty
