This has been an historic and emotional week of national mourning for our much-loved monarch.

Last week, on Sunday morning, we attended a lovely service in Her Majesty’s honour at Mottram church, followed by attending Tameside’s official proclamation of the accession of His Majesty King Charles III at Dukinfield Town Hall. Our hearts are heavy with the loss of our dear Queen, and change is difficult, but there is comfort in order and tradition, and we were proud to declare “God save the King”. I also visited the floral tributes at Hyde Town Hall, my own included, where the book of remembrance remains open for signatures.

On Monday morning I was humbled to represent the people of Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley, Longdendale and Dukinfield as King Charles III addressed both Houses of Parliament. He very appropriately noted the continued crucial role of the elected houses and their representatives in British governance and pledged to dutifully respect our democratic mandate. Clearly managing his personal grief alongside his hectic civic schedule, His Majesty said, “As Shakespeare says of the earlier Queen Elizabeth, she was ‘a pattern to all princes living’.” I don’t doubt his mother’s example will be a great guide and comfort in the years ahead.

On Wednesday I deeply moved to be present for the arrival of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s coffin and cortège in Westminster Hall in the presence of the wider Royal Family, and I was pleased that on Thursday, Claire and the family could come and pay their respects too.

The culmination of the week was yesterday’s funeral that was the saddest day for the UK and showed the pride of so many to have been Elizabethans. Thank you, Ma’am. May you join with your beloved Philip, and may God bless you with eternal peace.

All of the events across the country have been executed with impressive military precision, a picture of a country getting on with it despite the loss of an anchor for many. Even chatting to members of the public in the long queue to pay their respects has been emotional – the mood is friendly, polite, and quintessentially British.

My thanks go to everyone who has corresponded with me about their response to the week’s events. I do not pretend we are all of one voice, and the very best thing about Britain is our freedom to speak our hearts and minds. For me, this has been an incredible week with chance for deep reflection on service, hard work and duty.