For most of my life the monarch was Queen Elizabeth II and I grew up with her. I remember her as a young Queen and especially when she planted a tree in Tillicoultry when I was at primary school. I also remember watching from a rooftop in Stirling when she made an early visit to Stirling. I saw how she slowly changed the monarchy and made it more relevant to modern times.

I was honoured to have attended a garden party at Holyrood when I was a counillor, a day which I remember well.

She has left a great legacy and I hope and pray that King Charles III continues in the same way. I am sure she is now settling down in her heavenly mansion which has been prepared for her and has her beloved Philip with her.