The Queen’s representative for Renfrewshire, Colonel Peter McCarthy, has paid tribute as he prepares to attend her funeral.
The death of the UK’s longest-serving monarch, at the age of 96, was announced in a statement from Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening.
Her family had earlier gathered at Balmoral after her health declined.
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Colonel McCarthy, Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, said people should be “thankful” for the Queen’s dedication over seven decades as flags were lowered to half mast across the local authority area.
“This is a day of real sadness for the country and the commonwealth,” he said.
“It’s time to reflect on the remarkable long reign of the Queen in which she has been a constant in an ever changing world.
“Over the 70 years that she has been Queen she has honoured the commitments that she made at her coronation and her dedication to the country has been second to none.
“We should be thankful for that.”
Colonel McCarthy met the Queen on two occasions and says he will remember her for the way she engaged with people from all walks of life at countless occasions.
He added: “I have met the Queen on two occasions in recent years. What comes across is her warmth, her smile and the way she engages with people.
“We have seen countless times over seven decades - captured in beautiful photographs - how she enjoys and is interested in the people she is speaking with and that is a wonderful visual memory of the Queen which will always stay with me.
“All of us should now be looking back with gratitude at the service to the nation of the late Her Majesty the Queen and look forward and offering support and loyalty to King Charles III.”
Books of condolence have been opened at Renfrewshire House, Johnstone Town Hall, Renfrew Town Hall and Tweedie Hall, Linwood, as well as East Renfrewshire offices in Eastwood and Barrhead.
Hilary Smith, 86, from Paisley, was among the first to add her thoughts to the book in Paisley.
She told the Express: “The news of The Queen passing is a massive heartache for myself and many.
“She was our Queen, she devoted her life to our country and to serving us.
“I have admired her my whole life. She didn’t have an easy ride with taking the throne at just 25 years old but she always done her best for us and always made us proud.
“It’s important we all sign the book of condolences and keep the Royal family in our thoughts at this time as they, and the country are in mourning.
“It is the end of a truly magnificent era. She will sadly be missed.”
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “I wish to recognise The Queen’s commitment to public engagements which were respected across the globe.
“Over her reign, she witnessed a huge amount of social change across the decades and throughout this period, continued her support and patronage of a wide range of charities and organisations.
“The Queen made many visits to Renfrewshire, from officially opening Glasgow Airport to touring Paisley Abbey and members of the public will have opportunities to express their sympathies over the coming days, with books of condolence now available in locations across Renfrewshire.”
East Renfrewshire Provost Mary Montague laid a floral tribute outside the local authority headquarters and urged members of the public wishing to lay their own tributes do so on a grassed area outside Eastwood Park.
Ms Montague said: “The thoughts of the residents of East Renfrewshire are with the Royal Family at this extremely difficult time.
“The Queen demonstrated extraordinary dedication and commitment to duty throughout her reign and did so with a graceful strength and admirable determination.
“This is a period of public grief when people who do not know each other come together to mourn a national figure who has been consistent throughout our lives and for whom we have collective affection, despite not knowing her personally.”
Iain McMillan, leader of Renfrewshire Council’s Labour Group, said: “For over 70 years the Queen served this country with great dignity and humility, she has been a constant throughout most of our lives.
“The country has changed dramatically during her reign but she remained a loyal servant to the people of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom.
“The Labour Group on Renfrewshire Council wish to express their sorrow at her passing and our thoughts are very much with her family.”
Councillor Neill Graham, leader of the Conservative group, added: “Her Majesty The Queen was a national treasure who throughout her reign personified the very best of our United Kingdom.
“Her passing will be keenly felt across Paisley and Renfrewshire where she made many visits during her 70-year reign. They will not only remember her as someone dedicated to public duty, but also as a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
“My thoughts and the whole of the Renfrewshire Conservative Group are with the Royal Family at this hugely difficult time.”
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