BOURNEMOUTH Crown Court observed a two-minute silence on Friday to mark the death of Her Majesty the Queen aged 96.

It was announced Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral in Scotland on Tuesday, September 8 after her family travelled to be with her.

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Tributes across the country and across Dorset came flooding in for Her Majesty, whose reign spanned more than 70 years.

As Bournemouth Crown Court sat as normal on Friday, Judge Robert Pawson observed a two-minute silence before proceedings began.

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Judge Pawson said: “Given the death of Her Majesty the Queen yesterday, the court will observe a two-minute silence, we will do that at the outset of business.”

Court staff sat in the public gallery dressed in black while barristers in the first hearing sat in tribute to Her Majesty.

Outside the court, the Union flag was flying at half mast as the nation mourned Queen Elizabeth II.