THE MP for New Forest West has described Her Majesty the Queen as a “tremendous monarch” following her passing at the age of 96.

Sir Desmond Swayne served as Vice Chamberlain of Her Majesty’s Household in 2013 and said it was a “tremendous privilege” to have enjoyed her company.

Sir Desmond told the Echo: “She was a tremendous monarch I’ve not known any other queen in my lifetime.

“I had the tremendous privilege of being her Vice Chamberlain for just over a year and enjoying her company. I’ve always found her extremely well informed and also very witty.

“She’s done an extraordinary amount for this country and the Commonwealth and we will miss her sorely.

“Her reign is longer than my lifetime, so it's going to be a very disorientating experience for so many of us because we've not known any other monarch and it's going to take some getting used to not having her about.”