Dame Siobhan Keegan

In a statement, Northern Ireland’s top judge said: “I am very saddened this evening by the news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

“Her Majesty dedicated over seven decades of her life to selfless public service in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.

“I would like to express my condolences and that of the judiciary of Northern Ireland to the Royal Family.”

The courts held a two minutes’ silence at the opening of proceedings this morning and practitioners have been advised to await guidance on “any changes to court proceedings during this period of national mourning”.

Moira Smyth KC, chair of the Bar of Northern Ireland, said: “The officers and members of the Bar of Northern Ireland join with colleagues across the legal profession in mourning the passing of Her Majesty the Queen.

“Queen Elizabeth II was an ambassador of the rule of law and the independent Bar. Queen Elizabeth said in 1968, ‘we must continue to be able to rely on the strong and peerless legal profession. The Bar’s independence is as much a safeguard to our liberties today as it has been in the past.’

“We send our condolences to the family of Her Majesty and the many people across these islands who hold Queen Elizabeth II in the highest of regard.”

Brigid Napier, president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, said: “On behalf of the Law Society and the solicitor profession in Northern Ireland I wish to offer our sincere condolences to the family of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II following her passing yesterday.

“The Law Society will be forever grateful for Her Majesty’s dedicated public service and for her efforts to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland.”

Naomi Long, the justice minister, said the “entire country and indeed Commonwealth has lost a person who has been a figurehead and leader for 70 years”, whose “loss will be keenly felt by many”.

“The majority of us have only ever known her in the role of sovereign and it will be incredibly strange to not see her there carrying out her duties,” she said.

Alyson Kilpatrick, head of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, said: “We are deeply saddened at the death of Her Majesty The Queen. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the wider public in Northern Ireland mourning this loss.

“We would like to acknowledge the contribution Queen Elizabeth II made within the Commonwealth towards advancing human rights and to peacebuilding in Northern Ireland.”