The Prince of Wales has issued an emotional statement to express his ‘sadness’ over the death of former MI6 chief, Sir Alex Younger, who died at the age of 62
Prince William has issued an emotional statement to share his sadness over the death of former MI6 boss Sir Alex Younger, who died at the age of 62 after a battle with cancer.
The Prince of Wales took to Kensington Palace’s social media accounts, which he shares with Princess Kate, to share his condolences and praise his impressive 30-year career. Sir Alex led the Secret Intelligence Service, the agency also known as MI6, between 2014 and 2020 after first joining the force in 1991.
William’s message read: “I was saddened to hear of the death of Alex Younger. He embodied the very best of what the Secret Intelligence Service stands for – integrity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to protecting this country and its people.
“Britain has lost an exceptional public servant. My thoughts are with Lady Younger and their family.” He signed the message with his initial, “W”. In 2019, William spent three weeks working with MI5, MI6 and GCHQ to learn how the UK’s security and intelligence agencies work.
Following Sir Alex’s death, prime minister Keir Starmer led the tributes as he said: “I was saddened to learn of the news of the death of Sir Alex Younger. Sir Alex Younger led an exemplary life and career, ultimately serving as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service from 2014 to 2020.
“He will be remembered by the many ministers, colleagues, friends, and family for his utmost dedication to British public life and protecting our nation. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also honoured the former chief, saying: “I am deeply saddened by the death of Sir Alex Younger. His dedication, integrity and outstanding leadership as chief of MI6 kept us all safe, and the country owes him an enormous debt of gratitude. I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and his friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
Blaise Metreweli, the current chief of MI6, honoured her predecessor saying: “It is with immense sadness that I am sharing the news that former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger died today after fighting cancer for some time. Alex embodied my service’s values of integrity, courage, creativity and respect.
“We remember Alex’s deep commitment to public service and the security of the UK. He made a lasting and distinctive contribution to our country and indeed to global security. Today my thoughts and those of the whole of MI6 are with Alex’s loved ones.”
Before taking charge of the Secret Intelligence Service, Sir Alex built an extensive career spanning postings across Europe, the Middle East and Afghanistan, having previously served as a British Army officer. Sir Alex then rose to lead MI6’s counter-terrorism operations, a role that encompassed major security preparations for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
During his six years at the helm of MI6, Sir Alex confronted a complex array of security threats and his tenure was extended by a year beyond its planned 2019 conclusion to guide the agency through Brexit.
He became known for his memorable remarks about James Bond, noting in 2016 that the fictional spy would need to “change his ways” to pass MI6’s recruitment process, despite having “created a powerful brand” for the service.