United in grief, we mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II

The people of Cheshire, the UK and throughout the world are saddened and united in grief as we mourn the passing of our Queen, Elizabeth II, who devoted her life to serve her people here and across the Commonwealth.

At the age of 96, she was Britain’s longest serving monarch, for 70 years carrying out her royal duties, even as recently as this week when she received her 15th Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral.

The Queen’s passing was officially announced by Buckingham Palace yesterday evening. Surrounded by her closest family, the Queen had died earlier in the afternoon.

As the UK enters a period of mourning, the constitutional change is immediate; the new monarch, King Charles III will travel to London today and is expected to address the nation on television later today. As well as taking on responsibilities as the new head of state, Charles will also be dealing with his own very personal grief following the loss of his mother.

Speaking on Sky News, contemporary historian Sir Anthony Seldon said Charles would be in “absolute anguish” at the loss of his mother but will have to “immediately step up” taking on his new role and duties, a daunting task just hours after his mother’s death.

In central London, a 96 gun salute celebrating each year of her life, will be fired in tribute to our late Queen and bells will ring out at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Local church bells will toll from noon today and a book of condolences a book of condolence is now open for people to sign between the hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday at the Reception, Stockport Town Hall.

“We are saddened by the loss of our beloved Queen – an amazing inspiration to us all, a beacon of morality and the epitome of loyalty. Our thoughts are with her family.”

Marketing WAM team.

A national e-book of condolence is available on the Royal website (www.royal.uk).