MALMESBURY has paid tribute to the Queen following her death at the age of 96.
A special service of thanksgiving was held in Malmesbury Abbey on Sunday which was followed by a proclamation ceremony to mark the accession of King Charles III.
Malmesbury mayor Kim Power, who made the proclamation, said: “History was made in Malmesbury last Sunday.
“We were very proud to see so many residents, local organisations and dignitaries attend both the Abbey Service and Proclamation, and to join with us in being part of that special day.
“Our sincere thanks to all. At this time of sorrow and change, we took comfort in gathering together and this will remain a ‘once in a lifetime’ memory for many.”
“Our thanks also to Rev. Oliver Ross for arranging the Thanksgiving Service at the Abbey for her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
"The service itself was very moving and reflective and provided an opportunity to give prayerful thanks for the life of Her Majesty and to pay our respects from Malmesbury.
“A little later, I as mayor, made the formal proclamation on behalf of Malmesbury Town Council, in the presence of the Deputy Lieutenant Piers Dibben.
“In centuries past, the formal proclamation was how the news of the passing of a Monarch and the declaration of the next sovereign was spread throughout the land.
"This tradition and ancient ceremony continues and we were honoured to make history in Malmesbury, by Proclaiming our new King Charles III.”
Meanwhile, tributes have poured in from across north Wiltshire.
Wiltshire councillor for Malmesbury Gavin Grant said: “Thank you Ma’am for a lifetime of dedication to all your people here and throughout the Commonwealth, an unswerving commitment to public service and decency.
“You are much loved and will be greatly missed.”
In a letter to constituents, North Wiltshire MP James Gray said: “The universal - and very genuine - outpouring of grief shows what a magnificent woman she was - loved by people of every kind, and across the globe.
“The curious - and unprecedented - coincidence of a new Prime Minister and administration in the same week as the new monarch led me to wonder whether her late majesty had held on to perform her last constitutional duty of welcoming her 15th Prime Minister and then, her job done, drifted off to sleep in her much-loved Balmoral Castle.”
A minute's silence is being held at Malmesbury Abbey at 8pm on Sunday, in conjunction with the national moment of reflection. The Abbey will be open from 7.45pm and all are welcome.
Malmesbury Abbey will also be screening the Queen's funeral from 11am on Monday.
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