The Mayor of Falmouth Steve Eva has declared that Falmouth 'will do the Queen Proud' as the community pays its respects to Queen Elizabeth II who passed away on Thursday afternoon.

The Royal Family confirmed the news that Queen Elizabeth II died at her Balmoral residence in Scotland at the age of 96 on Thursday, September 8.

Speaking to the Packet on Friday morning Mayor of Falmouth Steve Eva said: "It comes as a great shock, even though we knew one day it could happen. The Queen was quite elderly, she devoted her life to serving the country. She didn't have the privilege that we have of walking down the street with freedom at any one time. She was also a family woman.

"At the present time I feel sorry for her family, he children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren and she served Falmouth. She looked after Falmouth, she visited four times in my lifetime. She always did good things, and the right things. She was a very educated woman when it comes to royalty.

"We have set up an area for flowers to be laid. There will be proclamation that will be read out, we are waiting on timing."

There is a specific area outside the Council Building in Falmouth for people who wish to lay flowers in memory of the Queen.

Furthermore, there are three Books of Condolence available for those wanting to convey thoughts and memories of the Queen in writing. They are situated in the reception of the Council building, Princess Pavilion as well as the Library at the Municipal Building.

Deputy Mayor Kirstie Edwards explained that the Council is receiving guidance from London, and that further information regarding details of how Falmouth will pay its respects to the Queen on her funeral will be released when more detail is provided to them, she said: "We are being very much led by London on what is happening at the moment, everything is moving very quickly.

"This morning we had some guidance about the proclamation which is the first stage of activity that happens after the death of a Monarch."

"At the moment we don't have any detail about the next stage, at this point we have agreed we will be closing all services in the Council so that all staff can pay their respects on the day of the funeral. That is as much as we know at the moment but as we know more we will update everybody.

Mayor Steve Eva added:"We are in the middle of Operation London Bridge. Everything is fluid, everything is changing. We have an outline plan of what we should and shouldn't be doing and it changes by the minute. All I can say is we will do the Queen proud in Falmouth. She deserves it and we will do that."

Reflecting on the Queen, Kirstie said: "She was tenacious, that's the word I word use to describe her. She was strong, fierce, kind. I think she was a woman of great honour to herself. She probably would have been like that even if she wasn't Queen that was just the personality she was."