Royal tributes as assembly returns

The Queen Mother died on 30 March, 101 years old

Members of the Welsh Assembly have gathered to pay tributes to the Queen Mother after being recalled from Easter recess.

It is the first time the assembly has been reconvened during a break.

During a 40-minute sitting, First Minister Rhodri Morgan, party leaders and AMs offered their respects after the death on Saturday of one of the most cherished of royals.

The Queen Mother appeared ever-youthful

The special sitting follows Wednesday's recall of Westminster politicians to the House of Commons and House of Lords.

At the devolved chamber in Cardiff Bay at 1130 BST, Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas opened the tributes.

He asked fellow members to stand for a minute's silence to reflect on the 101-year life of one of the pillar's of the modern monarchy .

In his tribute, Rhodri Morgan described the Queen Mother as a "witty, full-of-fun extrovert" who had experienced an "extraordinary span of life".

 Click here to watch Assembly Members' tributes from Cardiff Bay

"And was there ever such a life of non-retirement and non-slipping quietly into the shadow of old age when she entered widowhood 50 years ago," he said.

Mr Morgan recalled his memories of the day it was announced that the Queen Mother's husband, George VI, had died and pictures of a veiled Queen Mother.

He referred to her strength during the Second World War and her insistence at remaining in Buckingham Palace throughout the Blitz.

We're all sad today at her passing but we're enormously grateful for her remarkable, unparalleled life. She was quite simply very special

Conservative leader Nick Bourne

"That restored the monarchy from its lowest ebb to its highest status... without her, it would probably never have happened."

Her death, he went on, was a "cruel beginning" to the Queen's Golden Jubilee year and he conveyed sympathy to her and her family on behalf of the people of Wales.

Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said the Queen Mother was regarded by many as an important and perhaps critical link between two very different centuries.

It was too early, he said, to tell what lasting impact her death would have on the institutions she cherished and valued but "it was enough that we today join in paying our respects to a public figure held in great esteem by so many people".

Conservative leader Nick Bourne told the chamber that he had met the Queen Mother on many occasions and recalled "animated conversations".

"She had quite extraordinary grace and serenity yet indomitable willpower," he said.

Members paid many tributes to the Queen Mother

"We're all sad today at her passing but we're enormously grateful for her remarkable, unparalleled life. She was quite simply very special."

Mike German, speaking on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, spoke of her connections with Wales - not least of all her penchant for Welsh corgi dogs.

He referred to the time she hosted tea for a group of dignitaries from Llanelli.

"At the end of the tea," he said, "some corgis rushed into the room and she said 'ah, you Welsh make great friends but you're not very obedient'."

She was, he added "great symbol of the spirit of the British people, the companion of her country and her people".

Six other AMs went onto pay their tributes before the session ended at 1210 BST.

Standing firm with Winston Churchill in the war years

Blaenau Gwent Labour AM Peter Law said she was blessed with the common touch.

"She was a great lady who came and cared about ordinary people."

Conservative AM Glyn Davies went onto say that his feelings were "wholly of appreciation rather than sadness for her "dignity, sense of fun and sense of duty".

The recall of the government of Wales to the debating chamber is unprecedented despite numerous demands in the past.

The Northern Ireland Assembly also met on Thursday to its pay tributes.