HRH Queen Elizabeth has died. Her family travelled to Balmoral today, where she peacefully passed away this afternoon. Queen Elizabeth was the UK’s longest-serving monarch.
Cllr John Cowe, said: “It is with great sadness that Moray Council learnt of the death Her Majesty The Queen. With her husband, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty was a regular visitor to Moray, and many residents hold fond and lifelong memories of these Royal visits to the region.
“As a mark of respect, flags will be flown at half-mast at key buildings across Moray, and books of condolence will open from 9am on Friday 9 September.”
Official books will be available to sign at St Laurence Church. There is also an online e-Book of Condolence open to the public on the Buckingham Palace website at www.royal.uk.
The Lord Lieutenant of Moray Major General Seymour Monro CBE LVO said: “Queen Elizabeth II was a truly wonderful monarch for the United Kingdom for 70 years. There were many challenging times during her reign, but the Queen always gave her people and her country superb leadership as our sovereign. She was an inspirational, steadying and wise influence over the country’s affairs.
“Queen Elizabeth succeeded her father, King George VI, at the young age of 24. She was on the throne for longer than any other British monarch. As Queen she visited every corner of her realm on many occasions. As Head of the Commonwealth she travelled around the world and played a major role in encouraging the countries of the Commonwealth to work and act together.
Devotion to duty
“Queen Elizabeth was a most active patron of hundreds of organisations who benefited from her support. She was head of the Armed Forces and took a keen, personal and constant interest in all three services.
“She was well known for her devotion to duty. This included the day to day business of being a constitutional monarch as well as giving weekly advice to her many prime ministers.
“Together with her consort, Prince Philip, she ensured that the Royal Family evolved over the years. Formal occasions were conducted with appropriate ceremony and to the highest standards, whilst the business of the day was carried out effectively and conscientiously.
“Our late Queen was very fond of Moray and of course saw her children regularly when they were at Gordonstoun. She and Prince Philip last visited Moray in 2014 when they went to RAF Lossiemouth and to 39 Engineer Regiment at Kinloss.
“Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as an outstanding Queen for her people, for the nation and for the Commonwealth. She was highly respected all over the world.
“We will all wish to pay our respects to this great lady in our own way. There will be books of condolence across Moray.
“The Proclamation of King Charles III will take place on the Plainstones here in Elgin, with details to be confirmed.
“God Save the King!”
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party have suspended all political activity with immediate effect.
Dedication
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “Her Majesty The Queen was a national treasure who represented the very best of our United Kingdom throughout her entire life.
“The dedication and commitment of Her Majesty to this country and her people was unmatched. For 70 years, The Queen led the country through good times and bad, an unwavering presence of strength in each and every national moment of adversity.
“There was nobody else like Her Majesty. This loss will be felt dearly across Scotland, the United Kingdom and around the world. Everyone will remember Her Majesty as a warm, loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and monarch.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family and the entire country at this very difficult time.”