The UK’s biggest financial services brands paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II this morning, the day after Buckingham Palace officially confirmed her death.
The world’s longest-living monarch died yesterday at her Scottish country residence in Balmoral. The markets are still open today, although there is no doubt that a sombre atmosphere of reflection has descended on the City of London.
In a statement, Barclays Bank said the Queen had been a “remarkable, much-loved and well-respected figure”, adding that it “extended our condolences to the Royal Family at this extremely sad time”.
Banking giant Lloyds Banking Group has also replaced its website header with a banner of the Queen as a mark of respect and said online it was with “great sadness” that it joined the nation in mourning her death.
Coutts, who counted the Queen among his celebrity private banking clients, said he was preparing a book of condolence for clients and colleagues to sign in tribute to Her Majesty.
“Coutts has had a lifelong connection with the Royal Family and we were privileged to have Her Majesty The Queen officially launch the opening of our 440 Strand building in 1978 and again in 2016,” said chairman Lord Waldegrave.
“As a mark of respect, the Coutts flags at 440 have been taken down and we are flying the Union Jack at half-mast. We will set up a book of condolence at Garden Court, 440 Strand, where customers and colleagues will be. cheered to write their messages.”
In the insurance world, Legal & General, which is publicly traded on the UK’s FTSE 100, ditched its iconic multi-coloured umbrella logo and replaced it with the silhouette of a closed umbrella.
Hargreaves Lansdown, meanwhile, suspended all social media operations, saying only that it was “deeply saddened” by the Queen’s passing.
In asset management, few brands chose to make statements, although one, Blackfinch Group, released a tribute from its chief executive, Richard Cook.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he said.
“As our monarch for the past 70 years, her commitment to the crown and her duties required her to constantly adapt to periods of great political, technological and social change.
“We join the country in mourning his great leadership and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, 1926-2022
