On Monday, September 12 Perth and Kinross councillors held a special meeting to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The meeting - which lasted just over an hour - was called following Her Majesty's death at Balmoral on Thursday, September 8.
Dressed largely in black with male officers and councillors wearing black ties sporting the civic crest, they began the meeting in the council chambers by standing to observe a minute's silence.
Provost Xander McDade opened the afternoon's tributes as he tuned into the meeting virtually. The Provost was in Edinburgh to attend the service of thanksgiving at St Giles Cathedral .
Provost McDade said: "This is perhaps very appropriate for me as it is where - as a young child - I first saw the Queen and the late Queen Mother arrive to induct new members into the most ancient, most noble Order of the Thistle.
"I can still remember the excitement of getting to see the Queen and the electric atmosphere when she stepped out of the car. It therefore makes returning here all the more poignant to me today.
"Over the past number of days I've spoken to a number of people in Perth and Kinross who have expressed what the Queen meant to them - many with beautiful stories of both formal meetings and chance encounters. The recurring theme of these memories is of a sovereign who always puts her duty to her people and country first."
He went on to meet the Queen in 2012 when she granted Perth city status and said Her Majesty despite her smaller stature "could hold the entire room with a look".
The Provost - who convenes the Cairngorms National Park Authority - spoke of their shared love of the Cairngorms particularly for East Cairngorms and Royal Deeside.
The Independent Highland Perthshire councillor said: "I've been fortunate to see the interest Her Majesty took in this area and now His Majesty the King takes in this area of Scotland."
He finished: "As a community we will mourn Her Majesty's loss but we will also celebrate the fantastic service she gave us."
Each of the group leaders then paid tribute to the Queen and expressed their condolences and sympathies to the Royal Family.
SNP council leader Grant Laing said: "The passing of Queen Elizabeth II is obviously extremely sad but has touched millions of people.
"The fact that so many people felt they knew her and looked on her as a constant within an ever-changing world is testament to the way she carried out duties with utmost dedication, a degree of grit and even a splash of humour. She will be sadly missed by many many people."
Conservative councillor John Duff said: "Throughout the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and indeed the world, the strength of feeling surrounding her passing has been unprecedented – feelings not just of sorrow and grief but also of gratitude and of thanksgiving. Gratitude and thanksgiving for a life dedicated to duty and to serving her people.
" Queen Elizabeth was a truly remarkable and dignified lady whose steadfast presence saw us through times of celebration and joy and through times of sadness and loss."
Liberal Democrat councillor Peter Barrett said: " Thousands of people lined the route of the funeral cortège as it made its way from Balmoral to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh with Her Majesty’s coffin covered by the Royal Standard of Scotland yesterday,
"Those crowds who gathered in mourning to honour our longest reigning monarch expressed more tangibly than words, the solemn respect and love in which she was held by our nation.
"For generations the Queen has been the embodiment of sovereignty, the head of the Royal Family, the face of the nation and our greatest ambassador."
Labour's Bailie Alasdair Bailey said: "For over 70 years she put her country, and most importantly, its people, before all else, including herself. There is a valuable lesson there for us all. We who stand up to serve our communities should aspire to always put those people above ourselves, and follow her lead."
He added: "Many have said the Queen was a constant in this country, and that is true. But she didn’t shy away from change when it came. We move into a new era now, with King Charles III at the helm. Let us move forward with hope for the future, and remember the lessons of service and devotion from the past."
A number of councillors went on to pay tribute with chief executive Thomas Glen making the final tribute on behalf of council staff.
The council's chief said: "She embodied the very principles and values that underpin public service - something that I and the council's team aspire to as we serve the people of Perth and Kinross every day.
"If we can bring a fraction of the humility, commitment and good grace that she displayed then I am sure you will agree we will be doing well."
Depute Provost Andrew Parrott then drew the meeting to a close.
