THE Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire has led the local tributes to Prince Philip following the Duke of Edinburgh’s death at the age of 99.

Residents of Dumbarton and the Vale have been adding their signatures and messages to an online book of condolence set up by West Dunbartonshire Council after the announcement on Friday of the death of the longest-serving consort in British history.

Dumbarton and the Vale, along with communities across the UK, will observe a one minute silence at 3pm this Saturday, April 17 – the start of the Duke’s funeral – while flags will continue to be flown at half-mast from all council and other government buildings until Sunday.

Jill Young MBE, who took over as Lord Lieutenant in December, said: “I would like to send my sincere and deepest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and The Royal Family on the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

“His visits to our county have been many and varied over the years and, along with a lifetime of dedication and selfless devotion and service to the Crown and the country, he leaves a legacy which is widely respected and deeply appreciated.”

West Dunbartonshire’s Provost, William Hendrie, added: “We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

“On behalf of the people of West Dunbartonshire, I send my condolences and deepest sympathies to Her Majesty the Queen and the rest of the Royal family.

“We will now mark his passing and honour his service to the nation by flying Union Jack flags at half mast.”

Campaigning in the Dumbarton constituency, and across Scotland, ahead of next month’s Scottish Parliament election has been suspended as a mark of respect.

The Duke’s most recent visit to West Dunbartonshire was in July 2012, when he accompanied the Queen on a UK tour to celebrate her diamond jubilee.

But that was far from his only visit to the area.

The royal couple also spent a full day in Dunbartonshire in June 1965, when they visited the Singer factory in Clydebank, the Municipal Chambers in both Dumbarton and Helensburgh, Dumbarton Common and the Vale of Leven Hospital – and even found time to squeeze in a Loch Lomond cruise on board the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer.

Twelve years earlier, two months before the Queen’s coronation, the couple had paid a visit to Dumbarton Castle, when the Queen and Duke travelled to the town by train and were welcomed by 5,000 local children.

Her Majesty had named and launched the new royal yacht Britannia at John Brown’s shipyard in Clydebank earlier in the day.

The Queen was the first monarch to visit Dumbarton Castle since Queen Victoria in 1847.

Footage of the royal couple’s April 1953 visit to the town can be viewed online by searching on YouTube for ‘Queen at Dumbarton Castle 1953’.