THE West Dorset MP paid an emotional tribute to the Queen's 'steadfast leadership' in the House of Commons.

On Friday, September 9, a day after news broke of the Queen's death, proceedings started in a packed Commons with a minute's silence, as MPs, all in sombre clothes, bowed their heads.

The Queen's death was confirmed shortly after 6.30pm on Thursday, and a 10 day mourning period began at midnight in memory of the 96-year-old.

Dorset MPs joined MPs from across the country in paying tribute to the longest reigning monarch in British history.

On Friday, West Dorset MP Chris Loder said: "I rise to speak on behalf of my constituents in West Dorset. To pay tribute to our late Queen whom we have loved and admired for our entire lives. To share in the deepest sorrow of the nation - and to send our deepest sympathy to King Charles and The Royal Family.

"Queen Elizabeth was a woman of great kindness and faith, of incredible inspiration, of steadfast leadership, and was a family role-model for us all.

"The Queen was of my grandparents’ generation. Their sense of selfless service and duty, particularly during times of difficulty, has allowed us to lead the lives of freedom and democracy that we enjoy today.

"And since my own grandparents passed away, I, and so many - have looked upon our Queen as the grandmother of the nation and that is why the loss we feel is so sad - and difficult to describe.

"In West Dorset, we have the fondest memories of the many occasions that Queen Elizabeth visited us.

He added: "We, the people of West Dorset and citizens of the United Kingdom mourn our Queen.

"But our new King and his family are mourning his mother.

"It is therefore with profound affection and the greatest sympathy from West Dorset – that I wish His Majesty the King to know, that he, the Royal Family and the late Queen Elizabeth remain steadfastly in our thoughts and prayers at this very sad time. God Save the King.”