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."
Updated: 14:37 Saturday, February 09, 2002
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