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The Queen was a much-loved figure both locally and across the world for the remarkable and devoted service she gave to the country and the whole Commonwealth.
Our thoughts are with her family who, as well as losing their Queen, have lost a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
For some of us, the events of the past week may have brought back memories of our own grief and the loss of a loved one. It’s important to be patient and kind with yourself and with others.
If you’re a parent or carer, there is lots of useful advice on how to talk to young children about death, loss and grief on the BBC website.
Ways to pay your respects
Books of Condolence are open to sign at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare and Castlewood in Clevedon throughout the period of national mourning.
You can record your tributes in the books between 9am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, except on Monday 19 September.
Floral tributes may be laid at the Italian Gardens in Weston-super-Mare. If you're leaving flowers, please remove all cellophane, ribbons and any wire. This is so we can compost the floral tributes and plant a tree in memory of The Queen.
Town and parish councils in our area are also providing their own Books of Condolence and there are designated areas to lay floral tributes.
Find details of these on our website.
You can also sign an online Book of Condolence on the Royal Family website.
National Moment of Reflection
A one-minute silence will be observed across the UK this Sunday (18 September) as a National Moment of Reflection.
The nationwide silence is at 8pm, the night before The Queen’s state funeral, to give people the opportunity to come together to mourn and reflect on the life and legacy of Her Majesty.
This could be marked privately at home on your own or with friends and neighbours, on your doorstep, in your street, or at any locally arranged community event or vigil.
You could follow up the minute’s silence with a round of applause or by playing the national anthem.
Community groups, clubs and other organisations are encouraged to take part and mark this moment of reflection.
Proclamation of King Charles III
Hundreds of people gathered in Weston-super-Mare on Sunday to hear the local Proclamation on the accession of the new Sovereign, King Charles III.
The Proclamation – simply an announcement of the accession which took place when Her Majesty The Queen died - is a centuries-old tradition.
It was read at St. James’s Palace in London on Saturday morning during a meeting of the Accession Council, the ceremonial body which assembles following the death of a monarch.
Following this, it was read out by High Sheriffs across the country in areas of their jurisdiction. We belong within the historic area of Somerset so our chairperson Cllr Karin Haverson travelled to Taunton to hear the Proclamation there.
Cllr Haverson then returned to North Somerset to read the Proclamation locally during a short ceremony in the Italian Gardens, Weston-super-Mare, on Sunday afternoon.
The event was a chance for communities to come together and reflect on the historic moment of one reign ending and a new one beginning.
See the full event on our YouTube channel.