Statement from Lord Lieutenant of Moray Major General Seymour Monro CBE LVO on the death of Her Majesty The Queen.
“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.
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!”