Her Majesty The Queen - a monarch who meant business

In this period of national mourning there's only one topic that it'd be appropriate for me to start my regular column with: Her Majesty the Queen, writes Henrietta Brealey.

We all know The Queen as matriarch to the nation and an icon of dedicated public service. For many of us, prior to King Charles III taking up the mantel last week, she was the only monarch we have ever known.

From a Chamber of Commerce perspective, she was also an advocate and global ambassador for British business. Her Queen's Awards for Enterprise saw outstanding UK businesses recognised as leaders in their fields (including a number of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce members such as Flexeserve, Brandauer and 3P Innovation).

Her iconic dress sense brought British fashion designers to an international audience. Her dedication to championing British designers continued throughout her long reign. In 2018 she unveiled the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design with the British Fashion Council.

She was Patron of the British Chambers of Commerce, having taken up the role on 23 June, 1952, just a few months after ascending to the throne. She travelled more widely than any previous monarch, visiting over 100 countries on official state visits to the Commonwealth and beyond. In doing so, she built diplomatic links and catapulted brand Britain into the minds of many.

Just last year, she wrote to Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce to send her best wishes for our Commonwealth Opportunities Week - a range of activity aimed at supporting bilateral trade with Commonwealth nations.

So all in all, a monarch that meant business - primarily in terms of her unwavering commitment to her role, but also in championing UK industry.

We look forward to our new King, His Majesty Charles III, continuing in this spirit. His opening speech at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (a mere month and a half ago) in which he warmly welcome athletes and visitors from across the Commonwealth to our 'pioneering city ' certainly struck a positive chord.

While the Queen 's death marks the end of an era for the nation it also marks the loss of a loved one for those closest to her. I know the thoughts of many will be with her family and friends.

On a practical level, this will be a challenging time for our new Prime Minister Liz Truss to strike the right balance. To both pay respects and celebrate the life of this phenomenal individual and ensure that the right strategy and action is in place for urgently addressing the pressing needs of businesses and citizens.

We are living in a time of unprecedented events as the biggest change in the UK 's political and trading relationships for a generation (Brexit), the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and energy crisis catalysed by the shocking Russian invasion of Ukraine, all collide.

Due to the period of national mourning, Parliament has been suspended until 21 September. Then as it currently stands, it is scheduled to head straight into recess for party conferences between 22 September and 17 October. At this moment in time, I 'm conscious of just how deeply the cost of doing business crisis is starting to bite those industries most affected.

Publicly, it is understandable that the passing of HRH Her Majesty the Queen is taking centre stage. Behind the scenes, work to navigate the country through these turbulent times must continue at pace.

Henrietta Brealey is chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

This column first appeared in the Birmingham Post