Local Authorities in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire have expressed sympathy following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

Flags are flying at half-mast at County Hall, Haverfordwest and Haverfordwest Castle.

The Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Pat Davies, said: “I would like to pass on my condolences, those of the entire Council and the people of Pembrokeshire to The Royal Family on this saddest of days.

“We have always known this day would come but it does not make it any less painful.

“For millions of people, as our longest reigning monarch, Her Majesty has been a constant and reassuring figure in our lives.

“We are thankful for her many decades of public service and the example she set.”

Pembrokeshire County Council will open Books of Condolence today (Friday September 9) at County Hall, Haverfordwest and at Fishguard Town Hall. The Books of Condolence will be open 9 am to 5 pm, during normal office hours.

The Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council has written to the Royal Family expressing the county’s great sadness following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

Cllr Rob Evans has expressed deepest sympathies on behalf of members, staff and residents following yesterday’s announcement from Buckingham Palace.

Flags have been lowered to half-mast at Carmarthen’s County Hall, Llanelli Town Hall and Ammanford Town Hall as a mark of respect. Blue flags at Cefn Sidan Beach and Pendine Beach have also been lowered.

Books of Condolence will be opened at County Hall, Carmarthen; Llanelli Town Hall and the HWB, Ammanford on Monday, September 12. They will be open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday, and 9 am to 4.30 pm on Friday, and will remain open until the day following the funeral.

Members of the public are invited to leave a message of condolence, or to visit the national e-Book of Condolence on the Buckingham Palace website.

In line with national events, a Proclamation of the new Sovereign will be read by the Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Rob Evans on the steps of County Hall, Carmarthen, date to be confirmed.

Further information about events will be shared on the council’s website carmarthenshire.gov.wales and social media feeds.

HM The Queen’s last visit to Carmarthenshire was in June 2002 as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK.

Accompanied by HRH Duke of Edinburgh, she visited Burry Port Harbour to open a new lock and meet RNLI volunteers at the lifeboat station, then drove along the Millennium Coastal Path to the beach promenade in Llanelli where she officially opened the new Millennium Coastal Park. Following lunch, the couple visited a Carmarthenshire Trade Fair at Llanelli's North Dock.