Watch: Top Highland civic leaders pay tribute to the Queen as remembrance garden and book of condolence is opened at Inverness Cathedral as Highland Council Convener Bill Lobban says 'no one in history, almost, has done so much for this country over so many years' while Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell-Sinclair says 'today my thoughts are with her family and the nation'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Some of the Highlands top civic leaders have observed a minute’s silence at Inverness Cathedral in honour of Her Majesty The Queen.
Highland Council convener Bill Lobban, Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell-Sinclair and the chief executive of the local authority Donna Manson all paid their respects.
Councillor Lobban said: “Coming together to express our respects and to share our condolences and to say our heartfelt sympathies are with the Royal Family.
“The gardens of remembrance will be a focus for many people to come and pay tribute to the life and service of her majesty.”
The Cllr Lobban, Cllr Campbell-Sinclair and Ms Manson then placed flowers at the cathedral before going inside to sign the book of condolence.
Speaking afterwards, the Convener Lobban said: “It is an extremely sad day for all of the people of the United Kingdom, especially those in Scotland, a place that her majesty loved so much.”
Asked if he agreed with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s sentiment that: “Scotland was special to her and she was special to Scotland,” he said: “That is indeed the case. No one in history, almost, has done so much for this country over so many years.”
Provost Campbell-Sinclair said: “I would echo the convener’s comments, she was an old lady and maybe she just needed her rest. She passed away in a place that she loved. She was certainly very inspiring but today my thoughts are with her family and the nation.”
Convener Lobban added: “I think that is something we all have to remember – she was beloved by her entire family, her children, and her grandchildren and that is the simple case, she was also beloved by the public at large and that is the most important thing.”
