The Buckingham Palace has announced the passing on of Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch at Balmoral.
In a short statement, Buckingham Palace announced: “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.”
The Queen ascended the throne in 1952 and her reign saw enormous social change. The Queen died at aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
The newly elected UK’s Prime Minister, Truss, paid tribute to the Queen on Twitter saying, “The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime.”
“My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time,” she wrote on Twitter.
Her death comes a day after the 96-year-old monarch pulled out of a Privy Council meeting, which was to be held virtually, after her doctors advised her to rest.
Subsequently, Queen Elizabeth II was placed “under medical supervision” at her residence in Scotland after doctors expressed their concern for her.
In a statement released this morning, Thursday, September 8, Buckingham Palace said, “Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
Queen Elizabeth II’s tenure as Head of State stretched post war- the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK’s entry into and withdrawal from the European Union.
The Queen’s reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Liz Truss, born 101 years later in 1975, and appointed by the Queen earlier this week.
Mourners Throng to the Palace
An update from the Buckingham Palace in London, according to sources, there is a huge crowd gathered at the Palace crying as the news about her death broke out.
Earlier in the year, the queen’s husband, Prince Philip, died at age 99 in April 2021, two years after he retired from his royal duties. He was the oldest-ever male member of the British royal family. He and Queen Elizabeth had four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms.
It can be recalled that during this year, the Queen experienced a number of health setbacks. In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that she had tested positive for COVID-19. The monarch was moved to “light duties” for the week that followed. In the weeks leading up to her Jubilee celebrations in early June, the 96-year-old took part in fewer public events due to mobility issues and was forced to miss a service celebrating her 70-year reign because of some discomfort.
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