The Death of the Queen Mother

Parliament is recalled today

Parliament is to be recalled today so that MPs and peers can pay their respects to the Queen Mother.

The Commons and the Lords are both being summoned back to Westminster, following discussions earlier this week with the Speaker and the opposition parties.

The Scottish assembly in Edinburgh is also being recalled.

Prince Charles has always been close to his grandmother

The leader of the Commons, Robin Cook, explained on Breakfast this morning that the tributes will be led by the Prime Minister, who will move a special motion recognising the Queen Mother's contribution to the life of the nation over the past century.

The Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and the Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, will also lead the debate.

Junor: Charles had a very strong bond with his grandmother

But the government's resisting calls from back-benchers to allow parliament time to debate the deepening crisis in Israel.

It's also ruling out making next Tuesday a public holiday, so that those who want to can mark the Queen Mother's funeral at home.

Prince Charles alone will accompany the Queen Mother's coffin on its final journey.

The Royal Biographer Penny Junor explained on Breakfast: "There was a very strong bond between the two.

"In some ways, he was closer to his grandmother than his mother.

"When he was very young, she went on a world tour for six months and left him with his grandmother.

"She introduced him to music and gardening, to farming and fly-fishing. She gave him an enduring love of hte countryside."

To see more of Penny Junor's interview, and other Breakfast coverage of the Queen Mother's death, click on the audio/video boxes on the top right-hand side.