Nicola Sturgeon announced her resignation to a packed room of journalists, with few in her party or Government having any significant notice of her decision.

The shock announcement, which has stunned Scottish politics, came in a hastily-organised press conference on Wednesday morning.

It was held at Bute House, the stately Edinburgh town house which is the First Minister’s official residence.

Despite the short notice, the reception room in the Georgian building was packed with journalists and camera crews who had rushed to get there.

It was clear Scottish Government officials had only found out about the announcement on the day.

After she entered the hushed room, Ms Sturgeon spoke for more than 40 minutes about her decision, in what was at times an emotional speech which nevertheless had some levity.

In a surprisingly personal anecdote, she told how she had attended the funeral of her “very, very dear friend” and longstanding independence activist, Allan Angus.

During his funeral service, she said, her decision to quit was solidified.

She added: “Allan would not be at all happy to have played any part in my departure. So, I’m sorry Allan.”

As her speech concluded, she spoke about how leading Scotland was “the privilege of my life”.

She added: “Nothing, absolutely nothing, I do in future will ever come anywhere close.”

Taking questions afterwards, she joked that she had avoided thanking certain people specifically in case she cried at the podium but said she had texted certain people she considered “true friends” just before the conference.

Some topics were clearly difficult for her to broach, she said in a hushed tone: “I’m not sure I want to say this sentence actually.

“I will be 53 this year. I entered Parliament when I was 29. I’ve been in government since I was 37.

“I have literally done this in one capacity or another for all of my life.”

As the First Minister spoke, a number of people gathered outside the building.

Some were opponents of the SNP’s reforms of gender recognition legislation, but most had simply flocked to the building on hearing the news.

With camera crews still outside, Ms Sturgeon pulled back a curtain and waved to those gathered, prompting the gender recognition opponents to shout slogans at her.