Buckingham Palace announces the queen’s death. Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years, passed away in Balmoral at the age of 96, making her the longest-reigning queen in British history.
Concerns about her health arose early on Thursday, and her family convened at the home she owns in Scotland to discuss it.
The Queen ascended to the throne in 1952 and presided over a time of tremendous social transformation.
After her passing, her eldest son Charles, who was formerly the Prince of Wales, will become the new King of the United Kingdom and the monarch of the 14 Commonwealth states, and he will preside over the national period of mourning.
The Queen passed away in a calm manner at Balmoral this afternoon, according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace.
This evening, the King and Queen Consort will continue their stay at Balmoral, and the following day, they will go back to London.
After the decision was made to place the Queen under medical supervision, all of her children traveled to Balmoral, which is located close to Aberdeen.
Her grandson, Prince William, is also present, and her other grandson, Prince Harry, is currently on his way there.
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II presided over the United Kingdom during times of post-war austerity, the transformation of the British Empire into the Commonwealth, the conclusion of the Cold War, and both the United Kingdom’s accession into and exit from the European Union.
Her reign spanned the terms of 15 prime ministers, beginning with Winston Churchill, who was born in 1874 and includes Liz Truss, who was born 101 years later in 1975 and was appointed by the Queen only this week. Churchill was the oldest of the 15 prime ministers, having been born in 1874.
Throughout her reign, she would sit down for audiences with her prime minister on a weekly basis.
On April 21, 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Mayfair, London. Her official date of birth is April 21.