Queen Elizabeth II: Assembly hails 'courageous leader'

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly have hailed Queen Elizabeth II as "the greatest ever leader", saying she was "courageous and gracious".

They were speaking as King Charles III prepares to make his first visit as monarch to Belfast on Tuesday.

Sinn Féin's Alex Maskey, Speaker, said it was important the assembly came together "in recognition of a long life given to public service".

A book of condolence is being opened in Stormont's Great Hall.

The first to speak was Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill who said the Queen was "a courageous and gracious leader".

She said that, with her former party colleague, the late and ex-deputy first minister Martin McGuinness, she met the Queen in 2012 and in 2014.

"Her warmth, kindness and unfailing courtesy towards us was appreciated," she said.

"She made real efforts and in good faith to build relationships with those of us who were Irish."

Gordon Lyons, DUP, said the Queen "had a unique capacity to bring us together."

He called her the "greatest ever leader" with a devotion to duty "to the very end".

Alliance leader Naomi Long hailed the Queen's "unswerving dedication to duty, right to her final hours".

"She personified something which most could admire," she said.

"There was a graciousness, a generosity as to how she did her work - but also a twinkle in her eye."

You could call it the Queen's last act of reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

A chamber better known for its deep political divisions was united to remember the late monarch.

Republicans and unionists united in their praise of the Queen.

On her last visit to Stormont, the Queen said politics here was "not straight forward".

Today it felt like it was.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said the Queen was "current, accessible, approachable in a changing world".

"Her Majesty epitomised service," he said, adding that her visit to Ireland was "extraordinary".

She had shown "courage, leadership and generosity of spirit" and "won the hearts of the Irish people".

Matthew O'Toole, SDLP, said what was remarkable was the Queen's "ability to win respect and affection from people from a huge range of backgrounds".

He paid tribute to her "extraordinary contribution to reconciliation" across Ireland and Great Britain.

"The sorrow of this nation is palpable but so, too, is the gratitude for the life and the reign of Queen Elizabeth II," said TUV leader Jim Allister.

He said her service was "unstinting and unparalleled" and she had a capacity for empathy.

Meanwhile, the Queen's coffin has been brought to Edinburgh after a six-hour journey on Sunday from Balmoral.

The Queen is lying at rest at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, before being taken to St Giles' Cathedral ahead of her journey to London ahead of her funeral on 19 September.

The Assembly Commission has followed the other legislatures in closing Parliament Buildings to the public during the period of mourning. A link to the official online books of condolences are being posted on the assembly website.

As with other legislatures, it has been agreed that written questions will not be tabled during the period of official mourning.

Charles became King following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday and an historic meeting at St James's Palace formally confirmed his role on Saturday.

Further proclamations took place in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh on Sunday.

As part of a UK tour, the King will arrive in Belfast on Tuesday before travelling to Hillsborough Castle.

Camilla, the Queen Consort is expected to accompany him, and Prime Minister Liz Truss will be attending church services in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.

On Tuesday, King Charles will meet the new Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, as well as local party leaders.

He is to receive a message of condolence from the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The King and Queen Consort will then meet leaders from all the major faiths in Northern Ireland before a service of prayer and reflection at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast.

Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin will be attending the service along with Irish preisdent Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins.

Simon Coveney, the Irish minister for foreign affairs, will also attend.

In advance of the King's visit, there will be some traffic disruption around Belfast City Hall - including Donegall Square North, Wellington Place and Chichester Street with road closures put in place on Monday evening.

Meanwhile, anyone who wants to be at Royal Hillsborough during Tuesday's visit can use a shuttle bus service from 07:00 to 10:30 BST departing from both Lisburn train station and the Eikon Centre.

General public shuttle bus services to and from Royal Hillsborough will resume again from 16:00 BST - 20:00 BST (subject to change).  

Parking is not permitted in Royal Hillsborough.

On Saturday, a gun salute at Hillsborough Castle marked the Principal Proclamation of King Charles.

On Sunday, the Accession Proclamation was read at the castle by the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms Robert Noel in front of an audience of dignitaries and members of the public.

The event featured military in full ceremonial dress, a bugler and a 21-gun salute.

By Niall McCracken, BBC News NI

With the thanksgiving service over, the cobbled streets of Edinburgh feel a little less tightly packed.

Earlier, in preparation for the Queen's funeral procession, the space from the street to the barriers along the Royal Mile was several people deep.

Davina Hull from Lurgan in County Armagh had been there waiting from early morning.

She said: "It went so quickly, but there was this calmness in the air when the Queen's coffin approached.

"It was special to be here."

Now, the Queen's coffin will lie in St Giles' Cathedral for 24 hours to allow members of the public to file past and pay their respects.

The line for St Giles' is already long and continuing to grow.