Pharmacy bodies offer condolences following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be “deeply felt” by the pharmacy family, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said.

The Queen died on 8 September 2022, aged 96 years, at the Royal Family’s Balmoral residence in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

In a response issued later that day, the Society said: “It is with great regret that we learnt of the death of our patron, Queen Elizabeth II, today.

“Her Majesty gave 70 years of public service to this country. She was the much-valued patron of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and her death will be deeply felt by pharmacists and the whole pharmacy family”.

The statement added that Claire Anderson, president of the RPS, will write to the Royal Family to express sincere condolences from the Society.

The Queen became patron of the RPS following the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952.

In 1955, the Queen’s husband, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, became the first honorary Fellow of the Society. In 1988, the Queen agreed to grant the title of “Royal” to the then ‘Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain’.

Other pharmacy representative bodies also shared their condolences and tributes to the Queen.

Andrew Lane, chair of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), said the NPA is “very saddened at the news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen, after her long service to the nation”.

He added: “She was truly a towering figure in our nation and around the world.

“We pay tribute to King Charles III, who so recently welcomed hundreds of pharmacists into Clarence House to recognise the NPA’s centenary and recognise the work of our members.”

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of Her Majesty the Queen. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the Royal Family.

“At this time of national mourning, we would like to pay tribute to the Queen’s long and dedicated service to the country.”

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) added that it was “very saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty the Queen”.

“At this time of national mourning, we join the rest of the country in sending our thoughts and condolences to the Royal Family.”

In a statement on Twitter, Community Pharmacy Scotland (CPS) said: “We join in mourning the death of Her Majesty, The Queen, and would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Royal Family.”

A statement from Community Pharmacy Wales (CPW) said: “Community Pharmacy Wales mourns the passing of Her Majesty The Queen. We extend our sincere sympathy to the Royal Family and the people of the UK and beyond. God save the King.”

Richard Torbett, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), offered condolences to the Royal Family on behalf of the ABPI and the pharmaceutical industry in the UK.

“The Queen led a life of duty and service to the people of the UK and Commonwealth and was an inspirational figurehead for the UK around the world,” he said. 

“She leaves behind an unmatched legacy of dignified leadership and our industry joins with the rest of the nation in mourning at this sad time.”

Commenting on the death of the Queen, David Webb, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said: “I’m incredibly saddened by the loss of our Queen who gave unique, enduring, exemplary service [and] leadership to our country. I’m sure pharmacy colleagues are trying to take in the news as I am. This period of national mourning will be a time to honour her immense contribution.”

• This story was updated on 12 September 2022 to clarify that the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was the full official title in 1988