William pens emotional tribute to 'extraordinary leader', his 'Grannie'

Prince William has released a statement honouring the Queen as both an "extraordinary leader" and a kind "Granny".

"She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life," he says.

"I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Granny will truly feel real."

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The newly crowned Prince of Wales, like his father and the rest of his family, is juggling mourning a beloved family member while taking on another level of public responsibility.

He thanked the Queen on behalf of his family and his entire generation.

"My grandmother famously said that grief was the price we pay for love. All of the sadness we will feel in the coming weeks will be testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary Queen," he says.

"I will honour her memory by supporting my father, the King, in every way I can."

Much has been made about the place in history of Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest serving monarch and, until her death on Tuesday, the world's.

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William acknowledged how much was still to be written about his grandmother on the pages of history as the world grappled to understand the significance of the past 70 years.

"I, however, have lost a grandmother," he wrote.

"And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen's wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade."