Celebrating our late Patron, HM Queen Elizabeth Il

Last week, we were deeply saddened to hear the news of HM Queen Elizabeth Il’s death, our Patron for over 65 years.

Many of you have shared your appreciation for Her Majesty’s work in our Book of Condolence, including visits with nursing staff both in hospitals and the community, and how she took the time to speak with you and listen to your experiences of nursing. I have found it heartwarming to read your messages and how her service has positively influenced the work that you do. You can also leave written messages in our books of condolence in each of our country offices.

On Tuesday, Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Director, had the great honour of representing RCN Scotland and joined hundreds of other dignitaries attending the service of thanksgiving for the life of the Queen at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. In Wales, Richard Jones MBE, RCN Wales Board Chair laid a wreath at Cardiff City Hall this week in remembrance of HM Queen Elizabeth II. And in Northern Ireland, Rita Devlin, RCN Northern Ireland Director and Fiona Devlin, Chair of the RCN Northern Ireland Board, represented the RCN at a service reflecting on the life of the Queen at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast, attended by HM King Charles III and the Queen Consort.

The Queen’s 65-year patronage of the RCN has included some of our key milestones, from opening our library in London while she was still HRH Princess Elizabeth in 1945, to opening the new HQ of the RCN Scottish Board’s in 1994, and most recently paying tribute to nursing staff across the globe on International Nurses Day in 2020 for their contribution to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During her reign, she witnessed nursing evolve into today’s highly skilled, safety-critical profession.

Following the news of Her Majesty’s death, we took the decision to postpone our NHS pay ballot on strike action. Our campaigning paused during this period of national mourning as we remembered HM Queen Elizabeth II, our patron for over 65 years.

Yesterday we announced the new dates for the ballot, which will now be held from Thursday 6 October to Wednesday 2 November 2022. We emailed all eligible members to inform you of these dates yesterday and we will be in touch in the coming weeks to make sure you have all the information you need to take part.