Andrew Lloyd Webber was one of the thousands of people who crowded around Buckingham Palace in London to mourn the loss of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
Webber, 74, was seen holding a bouquet of flowers as he stood outside in the rainy weather along with the masses to say goodbye to his Queen in a video exclusively obtained by Page Six.
“She is the most extraordinary,” the playwright said about the longest-reigning British monarch in front of the palace gates.
The London native added, “All she has done is to be someone positive for the world” and that there will never be anybody like her.
Webber recently honored the late sovereign when he took to the stage with Lin Manuel Miranda to perform at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee festivities in June 2022.
The Queen has long held a special place in the legendary composer’s heart.
Back in 1986, the Queen’s son, Prince Edward, commissioned Webber and Tim Rice to write a short musical for his mom’s 60th birthday celebration. “Cricket” was first performed at Windsor Castle and several of the show’s tunes were later used in Webber’s musicals, “Aspects of Love” and “Sunset Boulevard.”
And the Queen has clearly remained a big fan, as she visited Webber in his home to hear him perform ahead of the Platinum Jubilee festivities.
“She came round to my home and I was preparing with Gary Barlow for a song we were doing for the last jubilee called ‘Sing’ and we got a choir together of all the various racing trainers – they were terrible by the way!” Andrew Lloyd Webber told ITV News in June 2022.
“But it was the first try out of the song, so we thought it would be great. What an honor and a privilege to be able to play the song in your own home to her!” he added. “She was wonderfully gracious – she said she liked the song! I hope she did!”
The Royal Family announced that the Queen died at the age of 96 on Thursday in an official statement.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the royal family tweeted. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The announcement came just hours after Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II was put under “medical supervision” after doctors raised concerns from her health.
Her immediate family members rushed to be by her side before she died, though her grandson, Prince Harry, did not make it in time.
The Queen’s health has been deteriorating for some time now and she has had to cancel several royal engagements over the last year.
The Queen’s 73-year-old son Charles immediately became king upon her death.
Leave a Reply