A special ceremony to mark King Charles III’s accession to the throne has been held in Paisley.
The Proclamation service, hosted by the Temporary Sheriff Principal of North Strathclyde, saw local people recognise the new sovereign in Renfrewshire.
Temporary Sheriff Principal Sean Murphy delivered the Proclamation in the presence of Colonel Peter McCarthy, Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire - the monarch’s representative for Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.
The public event, held at the flagpoles outside Renfrewshire House on Sunday morning, attracted a large crowd.
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Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “I welcome the accession of the new sovereign to the throne and wish him well in this role.
“Her Majesty The Queen was devoted and diligent in her role and her death was very saddening news. I would once again like to express my sincere condolences to the entire Royal Family from the people of Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire Council.
“I am sure many people across Renfrewshire have their own personal memories of The Queen and I would encourage people to sign the books of condolence and remember the important role she played as we continue to mourn her loss.”
Provost Mary Montague added: “I was honoured to represent East Renfrewshire at the event to mark the Proclamation of His Majesty the King Charles III.
“The long and dedicated service of the Queen was quite remarkable and as our new sovereign takes to the throne, I wish him well.
“As we continue to mourn the loss of the Queen I’d like to remind East Renfrewshire residents, who wish to do so, of the opportunity to sign our books of condolence at the council offices as we pay our respects.”
Like his mother, King Charles III - known as Baron of Renfrew - has visited Renfrewshire on several occasions.
In 1977 he visited Renfrew’s Robertson Park, the local branch of the Red Cross, the Scouts and Guides and shook hands with many members of the large crowd.
He returned in 1980 to have a tour of the Paisley Mills and returned to Anchor Mills in 2002.
In 1989 he met people in Ferguslie Park whose homes had been devastated by floods.
King Charles III’ accession to the throne was formally confirmed at St James’s Palace on Saturday by the The Privy Council of the United Kingdom.
Known simply as the Privy Council, it is a formal body of advisers to the sovereign.
Richard Tillbook, clerk of the council, read the proclamation in front of past and present MPs including several former prime ministers.
The new King said: “In taking up these responsibilities, I shall strive to follow the inspiring example I have been set in upholding constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands and of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the
world.
“And in carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of Almighty God.”
One of the King’s first duties, as recommended by the Privy Council, was to declare Monday, the day of the Queen’s funeral, a bank holiday.
It will see Renfrewshire schools closed and council services reduced to allow staff and local families to watch the service and take part in the national day of mourning.
Books of condolence for Her Majesty the Queen remain open between 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday at Renfrewshire House, Johnstone Town Hall, Renfrew Town Hall and Tweedie Hall, Linwood.
People can also sign the online book of condolence on the Royal Family website.
Local arrangements and information following the death of The Queen are continuing to be published on the Renfrewshire Council website.
Meanwhile, Renfrewshire MSPs are continuing to pay tribute to her Majesty the Queen.
Politicians who have met Her Majesty and others who have admired her work from a distance spoke of their admiration as her coffin made its way from Balmoral to Holyrood Palace and on to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
It will be flown to London at 6pm this evening, accompanied by the Queen’s only daughter Princess Anne.
Neil Bibby, Labour MSP for West Scotland, met the Queen during a reception at the Scottish Parliament.
He told the Express: “There are few moments in our lifetimes that can have such a profound collective effect upon us and truly be described as the end of an era. The death of The Queen is one of those moments.
“For the vast majority of people in our country we have never known a day without the Queen being there - she has been a constant in all of our lives.
“For children of successive generations Queen Elizabeth was the first public figure they recognised and today that applies to my own children.
“As Britain’s longest reigning monarch she has been and has remained the most famous and recognisable figure not only in these islands but across the world. She was our Queen and she was the world’s Queen.”
He added: “I will always remember her visits to the Scottish Parliament, particularly the official opening last year where she not only addressed MSPs but took time to thank those community champions who have also served our country so well, people like Tracey Morton, a nurse at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, who I had nominated to attend as a local hero.
“The Queen showed warmth, humility and genuine interest towards to her people.
“The Queen will be remembered for giving a lifetime of service to her country which is unequal and unprecedented. We give thanks for a life well lived.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Russell Findlay said: “Even though we knew the day would come, the world seemed to stand still when news of the Queen’s death emerged from Balmoral.
“As a figure of historic importance, she had the most profound impact, touching the lives of ordinary folk, monarchs and political leaders alike.
“Her reign spanned generations and reached across every continent. She was selfless in her sense of duty and personified the United Kingdom and our country’s values of decency, fairness and stoicism.
“It seems fitting that she passed away in Scotland, at her beloved Balmoral, and my thoughts are with her family during these difficult days.”
Ross Greer, Green MSP for West Scotland, said: “My first thoughts are with the Queen’s family at this difficult time.
“We have all shared in the pain of losing a loved one, but to do so under such intense global scrutiny must be uniquely challenging.
“Many constituents will have fond memories of having met her during her frequent visits to Scotland or will have benefitted from any number of the good causes she supported, both in Paisley and further afield.
“I hope that those memories will bring solace to all those who are grieving right now.”
The Queen’s coffin will lie-in-state at Westminster Hall between Thursday and Sunday before her funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
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