BORDERS figures have paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following her death.

The UK’s longest serving monarch died peacefully yesterday (September 8) at Balmoral, at the age of 96.

Here is a collection of tributes from the Borders.

John Lamont – MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk

“Her Majesty The Queen has been a steadfast and resolute part of public life over her illustrious 70-year reign.

“In times of difficulty, we looked to Her Majesty for guidance and leadership and were never left wanting.

“The Queen embodied everything it means to be a citizen of our United Kingdom. Her Majesty will be fondly remembered throughout the Borders and indeed the entire world. Her Majesty The Queen was truly a global icon.

“Her Majesty’s service, dedication and commitment to the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth, is unparalleled and will never be matched.

“This is a huge loss to our country. Few of us know or can remember a time without Her Majesty The Queen on the throne.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family and the entire nation.

“May Her Majesty rest in peace.”

David Mundell – MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale

“Over her seven decades as our monarch, Queen Elizabeth II was a constant, steadying presence in the life of the nation.

“She set an exemplary standard for personal behaviour and over the 70 years of her reign was the ultimate symbol of what it means to be British.

“Her unstinting and unwavering service through good times and bad was an inspiration to so many of us here at home and across the world. She was at all times a faultless ambassador for our country.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family at this saddest of times.”

Rachael Hamilton – MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire

“I share our nation’s profound sadness at the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the Royal Family.

“For 70 years, The Queen has devoted her life to serving the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

“Whilst the sorrow of the loss of Her Majesty will be felt across the world, many will take comfort that the enduring legacy left behind will survive for generations to come.

“Her Majesty’s contribution to our country and the wider Commonwealth cannot be understated. The Queen will be remembered as the embodiment of duty, service and selfless devotion."

Colin Smyth – MSP for South Scotland

"This is deeply sad news for the country, but first and foremost we should remember the Queen was a very much-loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. My thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty's loved ones.

“Like many people I've had the very great honour of attending events in the presence of the Queen. Those special occasions were just a very small part of a truly remarkable lifetime of public service by Her Majesty, for which we should all be immensely grateful.

“Most of us will never have known a time when Her Majesty was not serving our country as our Monarch. She has been such a comforting rock of stability, reassurance and compassion for our country at a time of so much turmoil and change and we all deeply mourn her loss. May Her Majesty rest in peace”.

Euan Jardine and Scott Hamilton – Leader and deputy leader of Scottish Borders Council

“The death of Her Majesty The Queen is a deeply sad moment for the entire United Kingdom and Commonwealth.

“Her Majesty was known for staying regularly in the Borders and was warmly welcomed by locals when reopening the Borders Railway a few years ago.

“Her Majesty’s passing represents a moment of grief and upheaval for our country which she has reigned over so ably for more than 70 years.

“Through war, COVID-19 and other national emergencies, Her Majesty was a constant in our lives for which we could always rely.

“Borderers will remember The Queen’s dedication and service to the nation and to the Commonwealth.

“Our thoughts, and that of the entire council, are with the Royal family and the nation at this deeply difficult time.

“May Her Majesty rest in peace.”

Watson McAteer – Convener of Scottish Borders Council

“The passing of Her Majesty is an extremely sad day for the Scottish Borders and the nation as a whole. She has led this country with grace and distinction for 70 years and has been the ultimate ambassador for Great Britain.

“On behalf of the people of the Scottish Borders, I will be writing to the Royal family expressing our deep sorrow on the death of Her Majesty.

“It was a great honour and a privilege for the Scottish Borders to host Her Majesty for the official opening of the Borders Railway on the day she became our longest reigning monarch, and it is a memory the many thousands who were there at Tweedbank will cherish.

“Of course, Her Majesty visited the area on many occasions over the years, and will have touched the lives of many people during her reign, from those she met during Royal visits to those who were bestowed with honours.

“My thoughts, and those of many Borderers, are with the Royal family as they grieve for the loss of a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and our Queen.”

Ralph Roberts – Chief executive at NHS Borders

"We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We were honoured to welcome Her Majesty when she opened the Borders General Hospital on 1 July 1988.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with His Majesty King Charles III and all members of the Royal Family."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's reaction

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also paid tribute to the Queen.

She said: “Her Majesty The Queen gave decades of her life in service and has died today here in Scotland as our longest-serving monarch.

“Our condolences are with The King, The Queen Consort and the wider Royal Family. Millions around the world will share their grief but only they will feel the loss of a mother and grandmother.

“The Queen was unflinching in her dedication to duty, unwavering in her commitment to public service and unmatched in her devotion to the people of this country and the wider Commonwealth.

“We are all saddened by the news and will come together in the days ahead to mourn.

“But it is right and proper that we celebrate the unparalleled contribution she made in her 70 years as Sovereign.

“The Queen came to the throne following the Second World War, reigned through decades of social change and lived to be the monarch who opened our Scottish Parliament in the age of devolution.

“Largely through her belief in the value of diverse nations coming together to celebrate humanity, The Queen played a leading role in creating the modern Commonwealth – 53 countries across six continents working together.

“Scotland was special to her and she was special to Scotland. Throughout her life, she had a particular fondness for Aberdeenshire and her home there at Balmoral, where she spent her final days.

“But her contribution to Scottish public life extended throughout our country and abroad and was deeply felt by thousands.

“In the coming days there will be ample opportunity for people to pay their respects by attending events across the country.

“Today is a day for reflection and remembrance. It is also a day for giving thanks to The Queen for her devotion to duty and the decades of public service she gave to the people of Scotland.”