- Buckingham Palace announced
The death has occurred of Queen Elizabeth II of England, who was 96 years old. The King and Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral through the evening and will travel back to London the next day, according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace. “The Queen passed away quietly at Balmoral this afternoon.”
The longest reigning monarch in British history was Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled for a total of 63 years. Additionally, she held the title of world’s oldest ever head of state.
As a result of the Queen’s passing, Charles, the Queen’s eldest son and heir, who was formerly known as the Prince of Wales, has been elevated to the position of King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth states.
In a statement, he remarked, “The passing of my dear mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a period of the greatest anguish for me and all members of my family.”
“The loss of a revered monarch and a mother who was dearly loved is a significant source of sorrow for us.”
“I am fully aware that her passing will be keenly felt not just all over the nation, the realms, and the Commonwealth, but also by an incalculable number of individuals all over the world.”
“During this season of loss and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep regard with which the Queen was held by so many people all across the world,” the narrator said.
There have been no formal announcements made regarding what will take place over the next few days, but it is widely believed that a full state burial will be held for the Queen, as is customary when a monarch dies.
It is also anticipated that her body would be shown in state so that people can pay their respects to her.
In the following days, the King will give his official approval of the final blueprints.
On April 21st, 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary became the Princess of England. She was born in London.
Since she was third in line to the throne behind her uncle and her father, no one at the time anticipated that she would one day become queen.
During the unprecedented length of her reign, Elizabeth devoted her entire life to the service of her nation and the Commonwealth.
In 1947, on the occasion of her 21st birthday, she gave a radio address in which she stated the following: “I declare before you all that my entire life, whether it be long or short, shall be committed to your service and the service of our great imperial family, to which we all belong.”
After the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952, Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne and assumed the title of Queen at the age of 25.
After waiting another 16 months, she was finally crowned queen at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen had a variety of other titles, and since she has a son and heir, those titles will now automatically transfer to him.
She was the leader of the Commonwealth, the commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces, and the supreme administrator of the Church of England. In addition, she was a patron to over 600 different charitable organizations and causes.
Wife, as well as mothers and grandmothers
She was a devoted wife and mother to her four children, as well as a devoted grandmother to her eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren when she was not performing her official duties.
She wed her beau from the war, Prince Philip, in 1947 in Westminster Abbey, in a ceremony that was rather straightforward because the country was still in the process of recovering from the war.
The feelings that King George VI had about giving her away were expressed in a letter that he sent to her. The letter read, “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 became a mother for the first time in 1948, when she gave birth to Prince Charles, and again in 1950, when she gave birth to Princess Anne. Andrew and Edward, who were born in 1960 and 1964, respectively, were the first children to be born to a reigning monarch since Queen Victoria had her family.
The Duke of Edinburgh, sometimes known as “her adored spouse,” was never far from the Queen’s side up until the year 2021, when he passed away.
She referred to the Duke as her “continuous strength and support,” and in 2017, the couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, making them the first royal marriage to accomplish this milestone.
A dominance that set new benchmarks
There were 15 distinct prime ministers throughout the reign of the Queen, starting with Sir Winston Churchill and ending with Liz Truss.
She was the oldest head of state and traveled more than any other world leader. She always employed her own style of gentle diplomacy to represent the United Kingdom wherever she went.
In 2015, she also broke the record for longest reigning queen in British history, which had been held by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. She now holds the title of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II was widely regarded as a symbol of stability. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the monarchy remained relevant during a period of immense social, technological, and economic change. During her reign, the United Kingdom experienced enormous social, technological, and economic change.
Her passing will cause widespread sadness around the world since she was unequaled as a monarch.
What are the next steps?
Following the passing of the Queen, Prince Charles instantly assumed the role of monarch and will henceforth be referred to as King Charles III.
The nation is currently in a state of mourning, which is scheduled to last until the funeral, which is anticipated to take place in approximately ten days’ time.
Her body will be transferred to Buckingham Palace, and it is anticipated that it will remain there for the next five days.
Early Tributes
Meanwhile world leaders have stated paying tributes to the great Monarch Ffor her service to humanity: Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson:
“Statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
This is our country’s saddest day. In the hearts of every one of us there is an ache at the passing of our Queen, a deep and personal sense of loss – far more intense, perhaps, than we expected.
In these first grim moments since the news, I know that millions and millions of people have been pausing whatever they have been doing, to think about Queen Elizabeth, about the bright and shining light that has finally gone out.
She seemed so timeless and so wonderful that I am afraid we had come to believe, like children, that she would just go on and on.
Wave after wave of grief is rolling across the world, from Balmoral – where our thoughts are with all the Royal Family – and breaking far beyond this country and throughout that great Commonwealth of nations that she so cherished and which cherished her in return.
As is so natural with human beings, it is only when we face the reality of our loss that we truly understand what has gone. It is only really now that we grasp how much she meant for us, how much she did for us, how much she loved us.
As we think of the void she leaves, we understand the vital role she played, selflessly and calmly embodying the continuity and unity of our country.We think of her deep wisdom, and historic understanding, and her seemingly inexhaustible but understated sense of duty. Relentless though her diary must have felt, she never once let it show, and to tens of thousands of events – great and small – she brought her smile and her warmth and her gentle humour – and for an unrivalled 70 years she spread that magic around her Kingdom.
This is our country’s saddest day because she had a unique and simple power to make us happy. That is why we loved her. That is why we grieve for Elizabeth the Great, the longest serving and in many ways the finest monarch in our history.
It was one of her best achievements that she not only modernised the constitutional monarchy, but produced an heir to her throne who will amply do justice to her legacy, and whose own sense of duty is in the best traditions of his mother and his country.
Though our voices may still be choked with sadness we can say with confidence the words not heard in this country for more than seven decades.
God Save The King”.
President Joe R. Biden”
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era.
In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people across the Commonwealth. The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.
She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection—whether they heard her on the radio as a young princess speaking to the children of the United Kingdom, or gathered around their televisions for her coronation, or watched her final Christmas speech or her Platinum Jubilee on their phones. And she, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service.
Supported by her beloved Prince Philip for 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II led always with grace, an unwavering commitment to duty, and the incomparable power of her example. She endured the dangers and deprivations of a world war alongside the British people and rallied them during the devastation of a global pandemic to look to better days ahead. Through her dedication to her patronages and charities, she supported causes that uplifted people and expanded opportunity. By showing friendship and respect to newly independent nations around the world, she elevated the cause of liberty and fostered enduring bonds that helped strengthen the Commonwealth, which she loved so deeply, into a community to promote peace and shared values.
Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special.
We first met the Queen in 1982, traveling to the UK as part of a Senate delegation. And we were honored that she extended her hospitality to us in June 2021 during our first overseas trip as President and First Lady, where she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom. All told, she met 14 American presidents. She helped Americans commemorate both the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the bicentennial of our independence. And she stood in solidarity with the United States during our darkest days after 9/11, when she poignantly reminded us that “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
In the years ahead, we look forward to continuing a close friendship with The King and The Queen Consort. Today, the thoughts and prayers of people all across the United States are with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in their grief. We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world”.
Former President Barack Obama”
“From the day of her coronation 70 years ago—the first one ever televised—to this very moment, as countless tributes are being posted online in her honor, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has captivated the world. Today, Michelle and I join so many others who are celebrating her life and mourning her passing.
Her Majesty was just 25 years old when she took on the enormous task of helming one of the world’s great democracies. In the decades that followed, she would go on to make the role of Queen her own—with a reign defined by grace, elegance, and a tireless work ethic, defying the odds and expectations placed on women of her generation.
During World War II, she became the first-ever female royal to serve on active military duty. And through periods of prosperity and stagnation—from the moon landing, to the fall of the Berlin Wall, to the dawn of the digital age—she served as a beacon of hope and stability for the people of the United Kingdom and the world.
Her Majesty worked with 15 Prime Ministers and countless foreign heads of state. She listened deeply, thought strategically, and was responsible for considerable diplomatic achievements. And yet, she wore her lofty titles with a light touch—as willing to act in a comic sketch for the London Olympics as she was to record steadying messages for the people of the UK during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us. Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity. Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.
Like so many, Michelle and I are grateful to have witnessed Her Majesty’s dedicated leadership, and we are awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service. Our thoughts are with her family and the people of the United Kingdom at this difficult time.
