The Royal Family confirmed the news that the Queen had died peacefully at her home in Balmoral. The UK has now entered a period of mourning for the monarch.
Queen Elizabeth II was the Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, a position she has held since 1952. She was the longest-serving monarch, having served the country for 70 years.
She was also Head of the Commonwealth and Queen of 12 countries that have since become independent from Britain, including Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia and Papua New Guinea.
The Queen’s coronation took place in June 1953 and was televised to over 20 million people. During her reign there has been 15 UK Prime Ministers, seven Archbishops of Canterbury and seven Popes. She has visited more than 177 countries, racking up more than one million miles in travel. She has sat for 130 official portraits and in 2012 she became the second British monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee. In 2015, she became the UK’s longest reigning monarch.
Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947 and has been married longer than any other British monarch. She has gone on to have four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
“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 period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
The new monarch is expected to address the nation today.
The new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, also paid tribute, saying, “We are all devastated by the news we have just heard from Balmoral.”
“The death of Her Majesty The Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.”
“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.”
“Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.”
“Britain is the great country it is today because of her.”
As mourners began to gather at Buckingham Palace, tributes from across the globe poured in for the Queen including the Dalai Lama, President Joe Biden, Barack Obama, former PM David Cameron and many many more.
Across the country, many events have been postponed as a mark of respect for the Queen including sporting events, the BBC Proms and Mercury Awards.
A ceremonial gun salutes is expected to take place at Hyde Park and at Tower Hill, and a national minute’s silence is expected to be held. Flags across the royal residences, Whitehall and other government buildings have been lowered to half-mast.
