Irvine’s MP paid tribute to The Queen on behalf of constituents in parliament and extended her sympathies to the royal family.
Central Ayrshire SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford paid “respect to Her late Majesty for her long service of threescore years and ten – literally a biblical lifetime”.
She said: “Being from Northern Ireland, for me her greatest contribution was to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland, through both bravely welcoming Martin McGuinness here in London and her state visit in 2011, which brought so much healing.
“The Chamber has been lifted by so many funny stories that demonstrate Her late Majesty’s great sense of fun, both in public, such as the stunts at the Olympics or with Paddington Bear, or in private.
"The most illuminating are those that show how she used humour to put people at ease, out of her kindness.
MP Dr Philippa Whitford
“Having walked the last journey with many of my patients over a lot of years, I know that virtually all of us would choose to die peacefully at home, and that is exactly what the Queen did. So we should take comfort from the fact that she ended her life peacefully and quietly at home in her favourite place, Balmoral, surrounded by her family and loved ones. It does not get better than that.
“So while we offer our sympathy and condolences to her family in their sorrow, we should be glad for her. She goes to her rest, welcomed once again into the arms of her beloved Philip and, no doubt, already sharing a wry joke, probably at our expense. For Her late Majesty, I simply pray, may she rest in peace.”
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