A Scots Diplomat who was one of the Queen's closest aides for almost a decade has been laid to rest in Edinburgh.
Michael Shea, who served as the monarch's press secretary from 1978 to 1987, died aged 71 and is survived by his wife, two children and two granchildren.
His funeral was held at Warriston Crematorium on Tuesday morning.
The career diplomat was poached by the Foreign Service and served in Bonn during the Cold War.
He later drew on his experiences in Germany to pen his successful novel, Sonntag.
Shea wrote two dozen books throughout his career, including one, The Dollar Convenant, which describes a dystopian future in an independent Scotland, where the economy is in ruins and a US telecommunications company is attempting to seize control of the country.
He was forced to write under a pseudonym, Michael Sinclair, while working for the British Embassy.
However, once he retired, he republished his vision of an independent Scotland under his real name nd used the basis of the original plot for a series called State of a Nation.
Shea was an active member of the Edinburgh arts community, chairing the Royal Lyceum Theatre, directing the Edinburgh Tattoo and working as a member of the Edinburgh University Court.
Former Lord Provost, Eric Milligan, was a close friend and said he "oozed charm", adding: "I am sure that everybody who mattered in Scottish society was on first-name terms with him - he was quite a remarkable guy."
