Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University, Professor Chris Day who is also the Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear said: “The University community joins the Royal Family and the nation in mourning Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

 “We express our deep and lasting gratitude for Her Majesty’s devotion to duty in the service of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth throughout her extraordinary reign, from a young girl who did not expect to be Queen, to an iconic and celebrated figure who became Britain’s longest reigning monarch.

 “Remarkable in her sense of duty and devotion to a life of service, she was an important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth during times of enormous social change.

 “For every generation, she provided an example and continuity that unites us today in offering our heartfelt condolences.”

Read "A lifetime of service and duty" - Dr Martin Farr reflects on the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

The homepage photograph shows Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 6th November 2009 as she formally opened the Great North Museum: Hancock which is managed by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums on behalf of Newcastle University.