The Queen has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace has introduced.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and the Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” Buckingham Palace stated.
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in British historical past and the world’s oldest head of state.
On her dying, the Queen’s eldest son and inheritor, Charles, the previous Prince of Wales, has turn out to be King of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms.
In an announcement, he stated: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother.
“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
“During this era of mourning and alter, my household and I will likely be comforted and sustained by our information of the respect and deep affection during which The Queen was so broadly held.”
More on the Queen:
A ‘selfless monarch’ who made Britain proud
Six moments that outlined the Queen’s reign
The Queen’s most memorable quotes
No official particulars have been launched about what is going to occur over the approaching days, however it’s anticipated that the Queen will likely be given a full state funeral, as is conventional to mark the dying of a monarch.
It can also be anticipated that her physique will lie in state to permit the general public to pay tribute.
The King will log off the ultimate plans within the coming days.
Reaction to the dying of the Queen – newest updates
A lifetime of service
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London on 21 April 1926.
At the time, nobody anticipated her to be Queen as she was third in line to the throne behind her uncle and father.
During her record-breaking reign, she devoted her life to serving her nation and Commonwealth.
In a radio tackle in 1947 on her twenty first birthday, she stated: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”
Princess Elizabeth grew to become Queen in 1952 on the age of 25, when her father, King George VI, died.
Her coronation came about 16 months later at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen held quite a few different titles, which can now routinely go to her son and inheritor.
She was head of the Commonwealth, commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces, and supreme governor of the Church of England. She was additionally patron of greater than 600 charities and organisations.
Wife, mom, grandmother
Away from her official duties, she was a faithful spouse and mom to 4 kids, and devoted grandmother to eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
In 1947, she married her wartime sweetheart Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey, with a comparatively easy ceremony because the nation was nonetheless recovering from the warfare.
King George VI wrote to her about his emotions about giving her away: “I was so proud of you and thrilled at having you so close to me on our long walk in Westminster Abbey, but when I handed your hand to the Archbishop I felt that I had lost something very precious.”
The Queen gave beginning to Prince Charles in 1948 and to Princess Anne two years later. Prince Andrew and Prince Edward – who have been born in 1960 and 1964 respectively – have been the primary kids to be born to a reigning monarch since Queen Victoria had her household.
Until his dying in 2021, the Duke of Edinburgh, “her beloved husband”, was all the time by the Queen’s aspect.
She described the Duke as her “constant strength and stay” and in 2017 the couple celebrated their seventieth wedding ceremony anniversary, the one royal couple to ever attain their platinum anniversary.
A record-breaking reign
The Queen’s reign noticed 15 completely different prime ministers, from Sir Winston Churchill to Liz Truss.
She was extra broadly travelled than every other worldwide chief and the world’s oldest head of state, all the time utilizing her personal distinctive type of quiet diplomacy to signify the United Kingdom around the globe.
In 2015, she additionally grew to become the longest-serving British monarch in historical past, passing the report set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
As head of state and head of nation, Queen Elizabeth II was broadly considered an emblem of stability, working tirelessly to verify the monarchy remained related throughout a interval of immense social, technological, and financial change.
She was a monarch the ultimate who will now be mourned throughout the globe.
What occurs now
Upon the Queen’s dying, Prince Charles has instantly turn out to be the brand new monarch and he will likely be often called King Charles III.
A interval of nationwide mourning has begun and is about to final till the funeral, which is anticipated to happen in 10 days time.
Her physique will likely be moved to Buckingham Palace, the place it can doubtless stay for 5 days.
More on the King:
‘A second of the best unhappiness’: Charles’s assertion
Will Charles deliver a distinct kind of reign?
Events which have formed Charles’s life
The authorities just isn’t anticipated to announce every other enterprise, until pressing, to permit focus to fall fully on the Queen.
Major sporting occasions may now be postponed as a mark of respect.
The EFL has already cancelled Friday’s soccer matches – Burnley v Norwich City and Tranmere Rovers v Stockport County.
A call on weekend fixtures within the Premier League and different leagues and sports activities can also be anticipated on Friday following session with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.
Source: information.sky.com”