Following the sad news of the death of HM The Queen arrangements are being put in place nationally and locally to mark the period of mourning.

Most council internal business and activity will expect to continue. It is recommended that officers should avoid events of a celebratory nature or social occasions where they are representing the council as a mark of respect for the national period of mourning.

Arrangements are being made to re-arrange three council meetings scheduled for next week: The Policy and Resources Committee, the Police and Fire Scrutiny Panel and The General Purposes Board.

Please note the local proclamation and service of commemoration will take place at Clyde Square, Greenock on Sunday at 13:30 and thereafter at the Wellpark Mid-Kirk. All are invited to attend.

Below are some updates on local and national arrangements:

Period of mourning

The period of national mourning is from today until the day of the funeral service which is expected to take place on Monday 19 September 2022.

Book of condolences

A book of condolences has been opened at Greenock Municipal Buildings.  The book will be open during normal opening hours until the day of the funeral.

This weekend it will be available at the following times: Saturday (14:00 – 16:00); Sunday (13:00 – 16:00).

A national online book of condolences has been opened and is available at: https://www.royal.uk/  

A selection of messages posted on this website will be passed on to members of the Royal Family and may be held in the Royal Archives for posterity.

Flags and floral tributes

Flags are being flown at half-mast in Greenock, Gourock and Port Glasgow.  During the proclamation period (from 11:00 on Saturday until 14:00 on Sunday) flags will be flown at the full mast to mark the succession proclamation before being returned to half-mast. 

Thereafter, they will remain at half-mast until the morning of Tuesday 20 September 2022.

Members of the community who wish to lay flowers to mark the death of HM The Queen will be encouraged to lay them at Clyde Square at the area used each year for the Garden of Remembrance.

Succession proclamation

There are four stages to the announcement of the succession and below are the locations, dates and times of each:

•          National proclamation at St James’s Palace – Saturday 10 September 2022 expected to be at 11:00

•          Home Nations proclamation at Mercat Cross, Edinburgh – Sunday 11 September 2022 at Noon

•          Regional proclamation at Renfrewshire House, Paisley.– Sunday 11 September 2022 at 12.30

•          Local proclamation at Clyde Square, Greenock – Sunday 11 September 2022 at 13:30

The Provost and Lord Lieutenant will attend the regional proclamation which will be led by the Sherriff Principal.

The Lord Lieutenant will attend the local proclamation which will be led by the Provost.

Councillors, council employees and the wider community will be encouraged to attend the local proclamation which will be followed by a service of commemoration at the Wellpark Mid Kirk.

Service of commemoration

A service of commemoration will take place at the Wellpark Mid Kirk at 6 Cathcart Square, Greenock immediately following the local succession proclamation.

The service will be conducted by Rev William Boyle, Interim Moderator at Wellpark Mid Kirk, Greenock.

National service of reflection

A national service of reflection is expected to take place at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh on Monday 12 September 2022. 

Full details and times have not yet been published.

It is expected that the Provost and Lord Lieutenant will attend the service.

HM The Queen’s coffin will be transported on this day from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral accompanied by minute guns.

Funeral service

Full funeral details have yet to be published by The Palace. It is expected to take place on Monday 19 September 2022.

Public holiday

While it is expected that the day of the funeral service would be marked as a public holiday, no details have been published yet nationally.