A former Northumberland vicar who was at Balmoral at the time of Her Majesty's death has spoken of the "deep grief" felt by the community who had come to think of the late Queen as their neighbour.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away on the afternoon of Thursday, September 8, at Balmoral Castle, aged 96. The location was thought to be particularly close to the Queen's heart and one where she would spend her annual summer holiday.
Former Berwick vicar, Canon Alan Hughes, was visiting the area with his wife Susan at the time and recalled the sombre atmosphere following Her Majesty's passing.
Canon Hughes said: "We were at Braemar and wanted to go to Ballater, as is our normal thing as we're up there regularly. As we were approaching Balmoral there was a lot of police activity and police on the road and the car park which is normally open was sealed off. It was then we learnt that the Queen had died."
Canon Hughes said he had heard from sources that the Queen was unwell, but acknowledged how she had continued her duties until the end. He stopped by Balmoral after learning the Queen had passed and said a prayer for her before heading to Ballater, a village around 15 minutes drive from Balmoral, where he spoke with locals who had come to think of Queen Elizabeth II as a neighbour.
Canon Hughes said: "We drove into Ballater, to people we knew who had businesses there, like the butcher who served her, the guy in the hardware shop who served her televisions and marigold gloves. She had a natural connection with people there and the atmosphere there was just sombre resignation and deep grief.
"People were so upset that they were shutting their shops and going home."
He added: "We reflected on this as we watched television coverage of her coffin being driven along the road which we had so recently travelled and slowly on through Ballater where The Queen loved to relax and shop, buying televisions, tea, toys and tuck for her grandchildren, now lined with hundreds of local mourners."
After watching the coverage, Canon Hughes drove to Morpeth to be with The High Sheriff Colonel James Royds as he read The Royal Proclamation of King Charles III Accession, along with Major Harry Chrisp The Under Sheriff and Her Grace The Duchess of Northumberland.
Canon Hughes said: "We are in a strange period, mourning our beloved Monarch Queen Elizabeth II and at the very same time celebrating the start of King Charles III's reign. The traditional cry 'The King is dead, Long live the King' in England dates back to 1272 when Henry III died whilst his son Edward I was fighting in the Crusades.
"To avoid any threat to succession the Royal Council declared 'The throne shall never be empty.' This tradition has been followed down the centuries.
"When the Queen's father died, the cry was given 'The King is dead, long live The Queen' when Queen Elizabeth died the cry was 'The Queen is dead, long live The King.'"
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