The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

2022

Sir John Major’s Interview on CBS Evening News Following the Death of HM Queen Elizabeth II – 8 September 2022

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Sir John Major’s interview with Norah O’Donnell, broadcast on CBS Evening News on 8 September 2022.

INTERVIEWER’S INTRODUCTION

Sir John Major was one of the first to pay tribute to the Queen today, saying that in her public duty she was selfless and wise with a wonderful generosity of spirit. That is how she lived and how she led. The former Prime Minister told us those traits were especially apparent during difficult times.

SIR JOHN MAJOR

One of the many gifts the Queen has is that when she faces great difficulty, she has the capacity to be a stoic. She puts her head down, she ploughs on and she knows whatever the problems are she will come through the other end of that.

INTERVIEWER

Where did she get that resilience?

SIR JOHN MAJOR

I think it is part of the training for Monarchy. Self evidently you need to be very selfless, you need to have a great understanding of the way your nation works and the way people think and act in order to be a successful Monarchy. You need a great capacity to discharge your obligations and your duty. The Queen had a remarkable sense of duty all her life. As a young lady she pledged in a radio broadcast she made from South Africa when she was very young to pledge the whole of her life to the service of our nation.

INTERVIEWER

You describe her as a stoic, certainly publicly, but personally, was she emotional? Was she warm? Was she funny?

SIR JOHN MAJOR

Oh, gosh, she was very funny, yes. The conversations with her weren’t starchy, dull or boring. They were very lively, you were talking to someone with a lively intellect. No, no, she was fun to be with.

INTERVIEWER

And what do you think was the essence of her leadership style?

SIR JOHN MAJOR

The great thing the Queen left our country with was her example. It is difficult to find a public figure so dedicated to her duty and her responsibilities and her obligations as the Queen has been from her early 20s when she became Monarch to the age of 96. That will pass on to our new King and will pass on to our new Prince of Wales as well.