Durham councillors have thanked the late Queen Elizabeth II for her "exceptional public service" in a series of tributes.
Numerous Durham County Council members including political group leaders spoke of their admiration for the country's longest serving monarch.
They also shared memories of meetings with the Queen during her visits to the county.
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Councillor Beaty Bainbridge, chair of the council, proposed a motion at a full council meeting on Wednesday (September 21).
She said: "I felt it appropriate for us all to come together in the chambers and have the opportunity to formally express our deepest regret and grief at the death of Her Majesty the Queen, mark the late sovereign's exemplary service to the nation and reflect upon her legacy.
"The Queen demonstrated extraordinary devotion to her duties and to the people she served.
"Our most heartfelt sympathy goes out to His Majesty the King and other members of the Royal Family at this time. God bless the Queen. God save the King."
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, council leader and Liberal Democrat group leader, said: "We'll all have our own personal views and our own personal remembrance of what she was to us. Mine goes back to 1977 when she came to County Durham to celebrate her Silver Jubilee, and we went from primary school to watch her on the balcony in the town hall.
"Fast forward 35 years and probably one of the biggest privileges ever was to have lunch with her at Durham Castle to celebrate her Golden Jubilee.
"And then, like many members in here, we've had both the honour and privilege to attend the royal garden party, and that again is something that most of us will never forget.
"But for me, she was a mam, and she was a grandma and a great-grandma."
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Cllr Richard Bell, deputy leader and Conservative group leader, said: "I feel sadness at losing our Queen who reigned for 70 years, a constant and reassuring presence as the head of state and of our country, coupled with gratitude for all those years of faithful service to our nation and wider Commonwealth.
"I remember her local links to the county... and also those more mundane events in the life of our county like visiting a council house in the then new town of Newton Aycliffe in 1960, or returning from Newton Aycliffe to open the Fujitsu factory in 1991.
"So thank you, Your Majesty, and rest in peace."
Durham group leader Cllr Alan Shield said she "showed inspiring commitment to provide care, compassion and duty of selfless dedication" in a reign "unlikely to be surpassed".
He borrowed her words of tribute to her husband Prince Philip: "Your Majesty, you were our stay and steadfast throughout your entire reign of 70 years.
"You will be sorely missed but never forgotten."
Independent group leader Cllr John Shuttleworth said: "I think she'll be a big loss to the country, a big loss to the world really."
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Labour group leader Cllr Carl Marshall said: "The service you gave to our country and the Commonwealth as a whole is on a level never ever seen before and unlikely to ever see again."
He passed on "a big County Durham good luck to our new King as he takes on this new role".
Former council leader Cllr Simon Henig said: "Her Majesty always conducted herself with the utmost integrity, dignity and respect, and her devotion to duty lasted throughout the seven decades of her reign."
He said she had "a deep knowledge, warmth and affection for the area" and was "loved and respected by people throughout County Durham".
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Cllr Patricia Jopling also paid tribute to "this lovely lady with the crown" she remembered as a child.
She said: "All through my life I've followed the Queen. She has left a hole in here as far as I'm concerned.
"There will be never another lady like that lady."
Cllr Chris Varty recalled the Queen giving her a "little wink" and a cheeky comment during their brief meeting: "She had a really good sense of humour."
Cllr David Sutton-Lloyd said: "All through my life I've had this wonderful woman who's been, I think we all agree, a tremendous example to all of us."
The agreed motion states: "This council expresses its deepest regret and grief at the death of Her Majesty the Queen; conveys its sincere condolences to His Majesty the King and other members of the Royal Family in their bereavement; affirms the great affection and esteem in which Her Majesty was held, and expresses gratitude of her life of exceptional public service."
Read next:
- Councillors 'proud to represent Darlington' and see Queen in London
- Asda petrol station in Peterlee wants to sell alcohol
- Another row breaks out over plan for County Durham £3bn devolution deal
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