A period of mourning will be observed from now until seven days after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Last night (Thursday September 8) Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen passed away peacefully during the afternoon at Balmoral, Aberdeenshire at the age of 96.
As the mourning period begins, many are wondering the impact this will have on public life, including the possible closure of schools.
READ MORE: The King leads tributes to his mother Queen Elizabeth following her death today at 96
Currently Scottish councils, including Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Lothian, Moray and South Lanarkshire have all confirmed that schools will remain open for the rest of the week.
Despite not shutting, it is expected that schools will close to allow all children to observe the official national day of mourning on the date of the funeral, which has yet to be announced.
It is estimated to take place around September 19, marking 10 days after the Monarch's passing. If schools do close, the Scottish Government and the Palace will make an announcement in the coming days.
According to the BBC, the funeral is "likely to be declared a bank holiday, but this will be confirmed by the palace and government. If a bank holiday is declared, schools will be closed".
Leading tributes to The Queen was Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who in a statement published from the Scottish Government said: "Her Majesty The Queen gave decades of her life in service and has died today here in Scotland as our longest-serving monarch.
“Our condolences are with The King, The Queen Consort and the wider Royal Family. Millions around the world will share their grief but only they will feel the loss of a mother and grandmother.
“The Queen was unflinching in her dedication to duty, unwavering in her commitment to public service and unmatched in her devotion to the people of this country and the wider Commonwealth.
“We are all saddened by today’s news and will come together in the days ahead to mourn. But it is right and proper that we celebrate the unparalleled contribution she made in her 70 years as Sovereign.
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“The Queen came to the throne following the Second World War, reigned through decades of social change and lived to be the monarch who opened our Scottish Parliament in the age of devolution.
“Largely through her belief in the value of diverse nations coming together to celebrate humanity, The Queen played a leading role in creating the modern Commonwealth – 53 countries across six continents working together.
“Scotland was special to her and she was special to Scotland. Throughout her life, she had a particular fondness for Aberdeenshire and her home there at Balmoral, where she spent her final days.
“But her contribution to Scottish public life extended throughout our country and abroad and was deeply felt by thousands. In the coming days there will be ample opportunity for people to pay their respects by attending events across the country.
“Today is a day for reflection and remembrance. It is also a day for giving thanks to The Queen for her devotion to duty and the decades of public service she gave to the people of Scotland.”
You can follow our rolling news blog on all the latest updates from her passing here.
