The Duchy of Cornwall paid tribute the Queen whose “loss has had a profound impact across the Duchy family”.
The statement said: ‘It is with great sadness that we observe the demise of HM Queen Elizabeth II. HM Queen Elizabeth II took a keen interest in the Duchy of Cornwall during both the reign of her father HM King George VI and in the early years of her own reign.
“Together with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, she made a number of visits across the Duchy estate and attended Council meetings until her son, HRH The Prince of Wales came of age as Duke of Cornwall.
“The passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the succession of HM King Charles III marks the transition of the title of the Duke of Cornwall to HRH The Duke of Cambridge. As such, the estate is in safe hands. It is right at this time, to recognise the huge changes made by our 24th Duke of Cornwall over 70 years. His Majesty passes the estate on much improved.
“Clearly this loss has had a profound impact across the Duchy family including on our many tenants.”
Mayor of Launceston, Councillor Leighton Penhale expressed his own and Launceston Town Council’s sorrow at the news of Her Majesty’s passing. He said: “Launceston Town Council will mourn the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II with the love and respect she so deserves.
“She has been an exceptional lady, sovereign, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother; an inspiration to all. A lady of great faith which for many was seen in her warm affectionate smile.
“She has served our nation and the world like no other and will remain in our hearts. God save the King.”
Launceston Town Council will be laying flowers at the War Memorial at 4.30pm and also plan to open a Book of Condolence at the Town Hall on Sunday, September 11 from noon until 6pm and everyday following from 8am, for residents and visitors to pay their respects.
Loacal MPs have also paid tribute to Her Royal Highness, one being Conservative MP for Torridge and West Devon, Sir Geoffrey Cox, who took to social media to pay his respects following the news.
“Our local communities in Torridge and West Devon, as the whole of our nation, will be deeply moved and saddened by the death of Her Majesty, the Queen. She was the incarnation of the continuity and traditions of this country, its institutions, and its people, and she personified in her own dignity, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty, everything that is fine and distinguished about them,” he said.
“We, as her people, must feel a swelling pride that we, for so long, were represented by such a monarch, and that we were the special object of her life.
“I met Her Majesty several times, but on the last occasion I had the great honour and privilege of being sworn in as a member of her Privy Council, in 2018, and spending a minute or two in conversation with her alone. My abiding recollection of that moment was the extraordinary moral stature and grace, acquired over a lifetime of service, that one felt in her presence.
“This is a time both for mourning our nation’s loss, for profound gratitude for the gift we were given of her life and for remembering Her Majesty and her family in our prayers.
“May God rest Her Majesty. May God save the King.”
Temporary Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall Police, Jim Colwell, also paid tribute to the Her Majesty, describing her as a woman who was “a source of comfort and stability for millions of people across the world”.
PC Colwell said: “On behalf of everyone at Devon and Cornwall Police, I send our deepest condolences to The Royal Family at this very sad time.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has been a source of comfort and stability for millions of people across the world over her long and enduring reign of 70 years. She has ruled for longer than any other monarch in British history and is a much-loved figure across the world.
“With an unwavering devotion to serving the public bother here and in the Commonwealth, she has been an important figurehead throughout the decades. There is a very sad mood across the force today and our entire police family joins the nation in mourning this sad news.”