TRIBUTES were paid to Princess Margaret across our region today, as people remembered her many visits to York and North Yorkshire.

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, said: "Princess Margaret is now at peace after many months of illness and we pray for Her Majesty the Queen, her sister, and Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, as they grieve the loss of a brave and very human family member.

"I met Princess Margaret on several occasions and always found her charming, lively, full of interest in others and in many good causes. May she rest in peace."

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Irene Waudby, said: "It is a very sad occasion to lose a senior member of the Royal Family.

"I remember seeing her as a girl when she attended the Duchess of Kent's wedding at York Minster. We all had the day off school and I remember we went to the Monkgate roundabout to watch the procession."

The Dean of York, the Very Rev Raymond Furnell, met Princess Margaret at a special Guides event at York Minster.

He said: "She was very charming and gracious. It's a very sad day indeed."

Mr Furnell said prayers were being said in York Minster following the death. They had so far been unable to fly the flag at half mast because of the strong wind.

Today's traditional Evensong peal of the Minster bells would also be muffled as a mark of respect.

York MP Hugh Bayley said: "This is a sad time for the Royal Family, especially for Princess Margaret's children and my thoughts are with them."

John Greenway, Ryedale MP, said he had met Princess Margaret several times when she visited Malton to stay with her great friends, Lord and Lady Westbury.

He said: "I first met her at a major NSPCC fundraising event, in the orangery at Settrington House.

"I always found her to be thoroughly charming and I'm absolutely sure that she always carried out her royal duties with tremendous diligence and with great affection for the people she had come to support."

Former Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Sir Marcus Worsley, of Hovingham Hall, said: "Princess Margaret had been a very regular visitor to our part of the world and we were very fond of her for it.

"I am afraid that her health had been very bad. It's all a slight shock, although she had been very poorly for some time.

"She came to do several royal visits while I was Lord Lieutenant. She took an enormous interest in the Guides and knew a lot about them. She was always very interested and supportive."

Concern was also expressed about the possible impact of the death on the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Greenway said: "I hope it won't affect the celebrations but it's bound to, because the Queen and Princess Margaret were very close.

"There is no doubt that there has been some concern. I don't see why this should affect the celebrations, but it's ultimately up to the Queen. It is very much for her to determine how extensive the celebrations should be."

The Rev John Manchester, vicar at St Mary's Church, Old Malton, said she had visited the church several times on unofficial visits while staying with the Westburys.

"She was always a very kind and gracious lady, and always took a keen interest in the sermon."

Updated: 12:20 Saturday, February 09, 2002