The district — visited on four occasions by our beloved monarch during her long and illustrious reign and once as Princess Elizabeth — was in a collective state of concern at a sudden deterioration in her health.

Her Majesty, the longest serving monarch in the country’s history, passed away peacefully at Balmoral on Royal Deeside yesterday afternoon.

Today, as tributes flood in from around the world, local people remember a Queen who dazzled and lit up Inverclyde each and every time she was here.

Former Provost Robert Moran, who fondly remembers his ‘once in a lifetime’ encounter with Her Majesty when she came to Greenock during her Diamond Jubilee Tour in 2012, told of his profound sadness at her passing.

George Munro (Image: George Munro)

Councillor Moran said: “My deepest condolences and my heart goes out to the Royal Family at this most profoundly saddest of times.

“It was a privilege to have met Her Majesty and I was blown away by her humility and the genuine warmth she had for the people.

“I was so nervous that day and she put me at ease, and I forgot my nervousness in an instant.

“What struck me about her was how very knowledgeable she was about Inverclyde. She took a genuine interest in the area.”

Councillor Moran added: “I feel huge affection for Her Majesty, as we all do, and the day I met her will forever be the highlight of my life.”

Inverclyde MSP Stuart McMillan told the Telegraph: “My thoughts are with the Royal Family at this extremely difficult time.

“Her Majesty lived a tremendous life and brought joy to so many — she was loved the world over as demonstrated during the Jubilee celebrations.

“After a global pandemic, this was an opportunity for communities to come together after a long time apart.

“The Queen’s passing will have the greatest impact on the Royal Family who have lost a mother, a gran, an aunt and a great gran.

“They will be grieving along with constituents and many millions of people across the world but I do hope we will all respect their privacy as they come to terms with their immense loss.”

The district’s MP Ronnie Cowan said: “The Queen has been at the heart of the Royal Family for more than 70 years.

“Her position in the monarchy is incomparable, but away from the public image she is a mum, a gran, a great grandmother.

“I think it is important and appropriate that her family members are given the necessary time and space to mourn their loss in private.

“There is a plan already in place that covers all contingencies regarding the succession of the new monarch, the suspension of parliament, the lying in state and subsequent funeral.

“These plans cover a ten-day period and no doubt that will be adhered to.

“My thoughts are with her family and I hope that in time they will be able to commemorate the woman as well as the monarch.”

The Queen visited Inverclyde on five occasions, with the first of those engagements coming in July of 1947 before she ascended to the throne.

Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, was in the town with her family to review the home fleet on the Clyde, along with her father King George VI, her mother Queen Elizabeth, her sister Princess Margaret and then fiancé Philip Mountbatten.

Her first visit to Inverclyde as monarch came on 7 July 1958 when she came to Gourock to commemorate the Centenary of the Burgh. Her Majesty planted a tree in the town to mark the momentous moment.

Ronnie Ahlfeld (Image: Ronnie Ahlfeld)

The Queen returned in December 11 of 1992 when she launched a ship - a buoy tender for the Northern Lighthouse Board called MV Pharos - at the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow. The monarch later delighted local dignitaries, including then Provost Allan Robertson, at a dinner at Gleddoch House Hotel in Langbank.

Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Her Majesty returned to Ferguson’s in 2000 to launch a £15m Caledonian MacBrayne ferry, MV Hebrides, and was greeted by adoring flag-waving crowds, before paying tribute to the yard’s workforce in a speech.

George Munro (Image: George Munro)

The Queen’s final visit to Inverclyde came in 2012 as the nation celebrated her Diamond Jubilee. Once again local people turned out in their thousands to greet the monarch at Battery Park and The Esplanade, all eager to catch a glimpse of her and her beloved husband the Duke of Edinburgh.

Councillor Moran told how he was ‘blown away’ by the turnout for the Queen.

He said: “Clyde Square was full and there were people as far as the eye could see.

“Visits like this are so rare that it was a once in a lifetime chance for some people to see the Queen.

“She was only making a few stops in Scotland, and we were very proud to be picked.”

Councillor Moran added: “The sentiment we saw that day is still here.

“It transcends any politics, there’s a respect for the Queen around here.

“Personally I never thought being involved in a Royal visit would ever happen to me.”