Death of His Royal Highness The Duke Of Edinburgh

• The Highland Council's e-book of condelence is available at www.highland.gov.uk/mourning

It has been announced by Buckingham Palace that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has died peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.

Convenor of The Highland Council, Councillor Bill Lobban expressed his deepest sympathies to Her Royal Highness Her Majesty The Queen and The Royal Family, he said:

“On behalf of The Highland Council and People of the Highlands we join the nation in mourning for His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all members of The Royal Family and honour his long service and duty to our country and Queen.”

At Highland Council buildings where flags are flown - all flags will be lowered to half-mast until 18:00 hrs on the day of the funeral of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh

The Convener has written to Her Majesty The Queen to offer sincere condolences.

An e-book of condolence is available on The Royal website at www.royal.uk and The Highland Council has also made an e-book of condolence available at www.highland.gov.uk/mourning.

An mp3 file is available for download here for use by broadcast journalists and features comment from Highland Council convener, Cllr Bill Lobban.