Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness says Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered with 'affection and gratitude'
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The Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness, Lord Thurso, has spoken of the “outstanding service” given by Queen Elizabeth II over her 70-year reign and how she will be remembered with “affection and gratitude”.
Her Majesty passed away at Balmoral this afternoon at the age of 96. Her death brings to an end the longest reign of any monarch in the history of the United Kingdom.
Lord Thurso said: “The whole nation will be deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who, through a very long life, gave outstanding service to the nation.
“She will be mourned by everybody in the country but at the same time we will remember with great affection and gratitude all of the services that she rendered as our Sovereign.
“I know I speak for the whole of Caithness when I say that they will be saddened to hear the news, regret her passing and be extremely grateful for her life.”
Lord Thurso was speaking from London but he will be travelling back to the county on Friday morning.
Prince Charles becomes King Charles III. A proclamation will be made at Wick's market cross at 1.30pm on Sunday by Councillor Struan Mackie, with the Lord-Lieutenant in attendance.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
A statement was issued by the Royal Family on behalf of Charles in which he said: "The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved mother.
"I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth and by countless people around the world.
"During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held."
Elizabeth II became Queen on the death of her father, King George VI, in February 1952. Her coronation took place at Westminster Abbey the following year.
The Queen enjoyed many visits to Caithness when the Queen Mother was in residence at the Castle of Mey. It was at Dwarwick pier in August 1955 that the Queen first set foot in the county, stepping ashore from a motor launch as the Britannia lay at anchor in the bay.
The Queen Mother had bought the nearby Castle of Mey three years earlier following the death of George VI.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the county in 2002 as part of Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee tour.
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee was celebrated this summer.
Jamie Stone, the MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: “The Queen had been there for my entire life. She seemed as permanent as the mighty hill Lochnagar near Balmoral.
“Ever since I could remember, the Queen seemed to be summed up by one single picture. That is the famous one of her in her ATS [Auxiliary Territorial Service] uniform, changing the wheel of a lorry during the Second World War.
“Right from the United Kingdom's darkest hours of war to her sad death, she has been an example to us all in how she fulfilled her duty and got on with the job.
“On behalf of my constituents, I mourn the passing of a great lady and wish her family well.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss said: "We are all devastated by the news from Balmoral. The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.
"Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her.
"She ascended the throne just after the Second World War. She championed the development of the Commonwealth – from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world.
"We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation. Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed.
"She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure.
"She has been our longest-ever reigning monarch. It is an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.
"Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories. In return, she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.
"She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all."
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Her Majesty the Queen gave decades of her life in service and has died today here in Scotland as our longest-serving monarch.
“Our condolences are with the King, the Queen Consort and the wider Royal Family. Millions around the world will share their grief but only they will feel the loss of a mother and grandmother.
“The Queen was unflinching in her dedication to duty, unwavering in her commitment to public service and unmatched in her devotion to the people of this country and the wider Commonwealth.
“We are all saddened by today’s news and will come together in the days ahead to mourn.
“But it is right and proper that we celebrate the unparalleled contribution she made in her 70 years as Sovereign.
“The Queen came to the throne following the Second World War, reigned through decades of social change and lived to be the monarch who opened our Scottish Parliament in the age of devolution.
“Largely through her belief in the value of diverse nations coming together to celebrate humanity, The Queen played a leading role in creating the modern Commonwealth.
“Scotland was special to her and she was special to Scotland. Throughout her life, she had a particular fondness for Aberdeenshire and her home there at Balmoral, where she spent her final days.
“But her contribution to Scottish public life extended throughout our country and abroad and was deeply felt by thousands.
“In the coming days there will be ample opportunity for people to pay their respects by attending events across the country.
“Today is a day for reflection and remembrance. It is also a day for giving thanks to the Queen for her devotion to duty and the decades of public service she gave to the people of Scotland.”
