'Her late Majesty was a reassuring figure'

MP for Ellesmere Port

PEOPLE in my constituency and across the country are taking part in a period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the grand old age of 96.

For many citizens the death of a much-loved Monarch, bringing with it the end of a unique 70-year-old reign, has taken them by unsettling shock.

Her late Majesty was a reassuring figure who, above all, always demonstrated the importance of duty and service.

She and her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, paid many visits to our region. Included in those occasions were visits to the Boat Museum and Ellesmere Port in 1979 and the official opening of the Blue Planet Aquarium in 1998.

She also visited Chester as the county town on many occasions including the formal opening of Storyhouse in Chester in June 2018 when she was accompanied by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

There are books of condolence at the library and the Portal in Ellesmere Port. Floral tributes can also be left outside Ellesmere Port Civic Hall.

Flags at council buildings were at half-mast following the sad death. They were raised to full mast at 11am on Saturday to coincide with the Reading of the Principal Proclamation in London. At 1pm on Sunday flags returned to half-mast for the remainder of the mourning period.

Services for the Proclamation of King Charles III were held at the Civic Square in Ellesmere Port and outside the Town Hall in Neston at 3pm on Sunday.

Mayors and other civic leaders had earlier arrived at Chester Town Hall to collect their Proclamations from Councillor Bob Rudd in his role as Chair of Cheshire West and Chester Council. They then returned to towns including Ellesmere Port and Neston for the Proclamations to be read to the public.

Following tributes to her late Majesty in special sittings of the Houses of Parliament over the weekend, the House of Commons will not sit this week. No parliamentary business will be conducted until after the State Funeral which will take place at Westminster Abbey next Monday, September 19, which will be a Bank Holiday. Before the funeral The Queen will Lie-in-State in Westminster Hall for four days to allow the public to pay their respects.

A national one-minute silence will be held in honour of the Queen at 8pm on Sunday.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The public are invited to come together and observe the National Moment of Reflection to mourn and reflect on the life and the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II.

"The silence can be marked privately at home on your own or with friends and neighbours, out on your doorstep or street with neighbours, or at any locally arranged community events and vigils.”

Most of us will have never known anyone other than Queen Elizabeth II as our Monarch and so it will inevitably feel very different having King Charles instead. He will no doubt bring his own personality to the role but he has had a long time to prepare and if he tries to emulate his Mother’s steadfastness in the role then he wont go far wrong. When one thinks back to what the world was like 70 years ago it was a very different place; that the Queen has remained a constant figure throughout is a tribute to her qualities and dedication to the role.