Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said no tribute could do justice to the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Democratic Unionits Party (DUP) MLA said people across Northern Ireland and around the world had felt "deep sorrow" at the loss of "someone we will never see the like of again".

"For so many people she was the constant, the unchanging presence in all the seasons of our national and public life," she said.

Mr Lyons called the Queen the anchor of public life and a figure that people could look towards for stability, continuity and comfort.

He said she had the "unique capacity" to bring people together, even in death.

"We have lost our greatest ever monarch," he said.

"A leader who was remarkable, not just for the longevity of her reign, impressive though it was, but because she was an exemplar of service, sacrifice and devotion to duty."

Mr Lyons also paid tribute to the Queen's work in Northern Ireland and to the new monarch, King Charles III.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill was next on her feet.

She extended condolences on behalf of Sinn Féin and said Queen Elizabeth II’s loss would be felt “particularly by those of a unionist and British tradition who with great pride and devotion hold the Royal Family very dear”.

“Her life and legacy will be fondly remembered by many people around the world," Ms O'Neill said.

“I think everybody will agree it was a mammoth achievement to mark 70 years of public service to the British people."

Ms O’Neill then focused on the “value and respect” she placed on the Queen's contribution to “advancement of peace and to reconciliation between the different traditions on our island and between Ireland and Britain”

She said she recognised the Queen was a “courageous and gracious leader".

She said she remembered meetings with the Queen and fomer Sinn Féin deputy leader and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness.

She said the Queen's “warmth, kindness and unfailing courtesy towards us was appreciated".

Ms O'Neill added there was "an onus on all of us in politics and the community to follow her example and strengthen the bonds of friendship to bring communities together".

“For far too long we have lived back-to-back and we must to live side-by-side."

Speaker Alex Maskey began today's proceedings at Stormont by welcoming Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and a personal tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

He said it was important in particular for unionists and those with a British identity have the opportunity to pay their tributes.

Mr Maskey added the respect for the Queen ran deeply within society, and was held in high regard given her role in peacebuilding and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

He also paid tribute to the Queen's leadership and the legacy of women in leadership positions.

"At the start of her reign, it was rare for a woman to be in a position of leadership. By its end, women have now held most public senior public offices, though much more progress remains to be made," Mr Maskey said.

Mr Maskey said he would deliver a message of condolence on behalf of the assembly to King Charles III at Hillsborough Castle.

"For today, let me recognise that she was no mere figurehead, and routinely sought to be briefed to develop a deeper understanding of many issues of the day."

Referencing the Queen's visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, Mr Maskey said she put an "emphasis on the past without being bound to it".

Mr Maskey said the Queen's death marked the "end of an era".

Image source, Pacemaker

Translink has added an early morning bus shuttle service to Hillsborough Castle ahead of a visit from King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, on Tuesday.

A free service will run from the Eikon Centre and Lisburn train station between 07:00 BST and 10:30.

The shuttle bus service will then be suspended until 16:00 BST, when it will resume to transport the public to Hillsborough Castle until 20:00 BST.

Translink has also warned customers of traffic diversions around Belfast city centre which may affect services.

At the parishes of Clonfeacle, Derrygortreavy and Eglish/Drumsallan the Queen's friend Paddington made at appearance at yesterday's services.

Queen Elizabeth II famously appeared in a film with Paddington to mark her Platinum Jubilee in June.

A post on the parish Facebook page said: "Paddington was welcomed and comforted in the churches the morning, as we reflected on the Queen's life, faith and witness and as we gave thanks for her and prayed for King Charles and the Royal Family in their time of grief and change."

The parishes have offered help to anyone with a child or grandchild who wants to talk about the death of the Queen.

There will be a special service in St Patrick's Clonfeacle (Benburb) on Sunday.

It was a moment in time - a shared joke between Queen Elizabeth II and Cork fishmonger Pat O'Connell in 2011.

Her visit to the Republic of Ireland had been a solemn occasion heavy with the weight of a long and difficult history.

But in Cork, the Queen visibly relaxed and enjoyed Pat's banter.

They chatted first about the monkfish, he told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster.

"It's not a particularly pretty fish and it has pretty vicious teeth. In Cork, we call it the mother-in-law fish," he said.

Her Majesty laughed at that, but there was more.

"I explained it was my 30th wedding anniversary and that the last time I had felt this nervous was 30 years ago.

"She said: 'But you're okay now'.

"I said: 'A bit like a swan - smooth on top but paddling like hell underneath'."

Image source, Getty Images

The story does not end there.

A few years ago, he received an invitation to visit Buckingham Palace.

"There were eight or nine of us and we were brought upstairs for a private audience with the Queen," he said.

When she came in and saw him, she broke into a broad smile.

"Oh my fishmonger has come over," she said.

Niall McCracken
BBC News NI in Edinburgh

This morning Queen Elizabeth II is lying in rest in Edinburgh.

Later, the first members of the public will be able to view the Queen’s coffin.

A number have flown from Northern Ireland to be here, including Kim and Elaine.

Kim, from Lisburn in County Antrim, arrived yesterday.

“We want to pay our respects to a wonderful lady who had served the country," she said.

“I think it’s going to be very emotional when we see the cortège going past.”

She travelled with Elaine from Moira, County Down.

“Once we heard the news. We booked the first hotel and flights we could, packed everything we needed and came," Elaine said.

They both have a flight back tonight.

Image source, Kelvin Boyes/Getty Images

On Tuesday, King Charles III is due to make his first visit as monarch to Northern Ireland.

But first, later on Monday, MLAs will have the chance to pay tribute to his mother Queen Elizabeth II at a special sitting of the assembly.

Members will gather in the chamber at 12:30 BST, with a minute's silence concluding events.

You can watch the sitting live at the top of this page.

In London, the King has made his first visit as monarch to Parliament, where MPs and peers gathered to offer their condolences.

Shortly he will fly to Edinburgh, where the Queen's coffin is lying in rest at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

He will attend a procession which will see members of the Royal Family walk behind the coffin as it passes up the Royal Mile to St Giles' Cathedral.

A service at the cathedral will follow at 15:00 BST and members of the public will be able to view the Queen's coffin, which will lie at rest for 24 hours.

The King will then have an audience with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon before holding a vigil with other members of the Royal Family at St Giles' Cathedral in the evening.

Enda McClafferty
BBC News NI political editor

Within hours of Queen Elizabeth II's death, the warning went out from Sinn Féin headquarters.

An email reminded activists of party policy on social media posts.

It said it was important to be "respectful" and "avoid using any form of personal abuse" when engaging in social media.

There was no mention of the Queen's passing, but the message was delivered loud and clear.

Those tempted to post or like messages mocking the Queen's death were told to think again.

The relationship between royals and republicans has changed - a transformation triggered by the Queen on her visit to the Republic in 2011, a visit boycotted by Sinn Féin.

Republicans have built on that moment with Martin McGuinness's multiple meetings and handshakes with the Queen.

His successor, Michelle O'Neill, typified the new relationship when, dressed in black, she reflected on the Queen's contribution to peace and reconciliation.

Read the rest of Enda's article here.

Image source, Getty

Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of today's events in Northern Ireland.

We will provide updates as MLAs gather at Stormont later to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

We'll also have the latest on how people in Northern Ireland are paying tribute to the Queen and what's happening around the rest of the UK.