A period of national mourning has begun following the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday.
Leading tributes in Hampshire, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq, said: “We have learned with great sorrow and profound grief, of the sad news of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Words cannot begin to express the magnitude of our sadness, and the outpouring of sentiment across Hampshire and sense of great loss we all feel is an accurate and loving tribute to Her Majesty’s quality as our Queen.
“Her Majesty’s reign was the longest of any British Sovereign, and a symbol of stability during wartime, peacetime and decades in which the world has seen many changes. The death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, represents a day of very great sadness across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and the loss of the Head of a worldwide family of 2.5 billion people.
“On behalf of the people of Hampshire, we will be writing to the Royal Family, to express our deepest sympathy, and our humble and heartfelt condolence for the loss that they are experiencing at this time.”
Leader of the County Council, Councillor Rob Humby, said: “Hampshire County Council extends our deepest sympathies to the Royal Family following the news of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth – our longest-reigning Monarch and beloved Queen. Hampshire has great pride in its royal associations, with a strong history of connections to the monarchy. Over the years, our county has had the honour and privilege of welcoming Her Majesty on many visits to Hampshire and we now remember with warmth and fondness these treasured memories.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the whole of the Royal Family, in sincere condolence as we mourn with the rest of the nation and Commonwealth at this very sad time.”
Across the county, flags have been lowered to half mast, church bells rung, public books of condolence opened, and floral tributes left.