Royal recall for Assembly Members

The Queen Mother died on 30 March, 101 years old

The Welsh Assembly will be recalled from Easter recess to pay respects to the Queen Mother.

The presiding officer is calling members back for a special session on Thursday following a request from First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

It will follow Wednesday's recall of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, when members from all parties will join to pay tributes to the Queen Mother, who died peacefully at the weekend.

The Queen Mother appeared ever-youthful

The assembly confirmed on Tuesday that Rhodri Morgan, Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas and Permanent Secretary Jon Shortridge will attend the Queen Mother's funeral a week today.

News of the recall in Cardiff came before soldiers held a noon gun salute tribute to the Royal.

It is one of 11 41-gun salutes around the UK and Gibraltar, marking the start of nine days of official public mourning.

The Queen Mother died peacefully in her sleep at Royal Lodge in Windsor on Saturday, at around 1515 GMT.

A national book of remembrance has already been opened at City Hall in Cardiff and more books around the country are expected to be opened following the Easter break.

Gun tributes

Members of C Troop from the 104th Regiment of the Royal Artillery Volunteers performed the gun salute at 1200 GMT in the adjacent Alexandra Gardens, in the middle of the city.

Hundreds of citizens and dignitaries, including police chiefs and Lord Mayor Russell Goodway, attended as surrounding roads were closed.

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Onlooker Kenneth Hughes from Cwmcarn who took his five-year-old granddaughter, Paige Andrews, to watch, said: "I feel this was a very fitting tribute for the Queen Mum from the people of Wales."

But Sarah James, 38, from Cardiff, disagreed: "I think the money spent here today would have been better going to one of the charities that the Queen Mother represented."

The Royal Family has announced she will lie in state until her funeral on April 9.

Political tributes

Easter Sunday, First Minister Rhodri Morgan Morgan and his predecessor MP Alun Michael MP made a scheduled appearance in Cardiff Bay at the launch of a world-record powerboat challenge.

Monday morning, the assembly issued a notice on behalf of Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: "The assembly is being recalled for a special session at 1130 GMT on Thursday, 4 April.

The Welsh flag flew at half-mast at Chepstow Racecourse

"There will be a short statement from the presiding officer and AMs will be able to pay tribute to the Queen Mother.

"The presiding officer will also be sending a message of condolence to the Queen on behalf of the National Assembly."

Diane Richards, 56, was one of the first to pen her dedication to the Royal in City Hall's book.

Mrs Richards, from Llanishen, Cardiff, said: "I think she led a very Christian life.

"I saw her in a crowd once, she seemed very friendly. I think the Royal Family will find it very difficult without her."

The Archbishop of Wales, the Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams, has said churchgoers in Wales would be remembering her with great gratitude in their prayers over the Easter weekend.

In August 2000, the 104th Regiment Royal Artillery marked the Queen Mother's 100th birthday with a 21-gun salute in Cardiff.