The Mayor of Wirral has paid tribute to the "exceptional" Queen Elizabeth II following her death yesterday afternoon.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the monarch had passed away peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday evening (September 9), after releasing an earlier statement detailing concerns about her health. During her 70-year-reign, the Queen made several visits to Wirral, the most recent one coming in December 2011, when more than 500 people lined New Brighton’s promenade to catch a glimpse of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh as they inspected the £60m regeneration scheme at Marine Point.
In the wake of the Queen's passing, tributes have poured in from people and organisations across the borough. And now the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Jeff Green, has issued his own message honouring the country's longest-serving monarch.
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He said: "It was with great sadness that I, like the rest of the country, learnt about the passing of our Queen. We have lost a much-loved and respected Sovereign who, for 70 years, demonstrated an extraordinary sense of duty and devotion to our country, people and to public service.
"The high regard that people and communities held her in was so evident at every Platinum Jubilee celebration I had the honour of visiting earlier this summer. Over the coming days we will all have an opportunity to reflect on, and give thanks for, her exceptional life.
"Rest in Peace, Your Majesty. And God Save the King.”
Wirral, along with the rest of the nation and Commonwealth, is now in a period of mourning which will continue until the end of the day of the State Funeral on Monday 19 September. Flags at Birkenhead and Wallasey Town Halls as well as other civic buildings are now being flown at half-mast as a mark of respect.
Both Town Halls and the Gardens at Hamilton Square will also be illuminated purple each evening during the period of mourning. Books of condolence are now open at the following locations across the borough:
•Birkenhead Town Hall (9am-6pm, Mon-Fri)
•Eastham Library (9am-6pm, Mon-Sat)
•The Floral Pavilion, New Brighton (9am-6pm, Mon-Sun or until close on show nights)
•West Kirby Concourse (9am-6pm, Mon-Sat)
The National online Book of Condolence, which will be kept by the Royal Household, is also available to sign here.
At 12 noon today the bells of Birkenhead Town Hall tolled 96 times to mark each year of the life of the monarch.
Residents wishing to leave a floral tribute are invited to lay them close to the Cenotaph in Hamilton Square, Birkenhead. Details of Remembrance Services at Liverpool Cathedral, the Metropolitan Cathedral and Chester Cathedral will be provided shortly.
At 2.30pm on Sunday (September 11), a proclamation to announce the new King will be read from the balcony at Birkenhead Town Hall. Residents are invited to come along to view this centuries-old tradition.
We have turned comments off on this story but you can share your tribute in our online condolence book here.
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Queen Elizabeth II: Leave your tribute in the Liverpool ECHO's online condolence book
