Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, Queen Elizabeth has died at age 96, Buckingham Palace disclosed this on Thursday.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow”.
Her eldest son Charles, 73, automatically will become the king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other nations including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Her family had rushed to be by her side at her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, after doctors expressed concern about her health. She had been suffering from what the Buckingham Palace called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year, forcing her to withdraw from almost all her public activities.
Queen Elizabeth II, who was also the world’s oldest and longest-serving head of state, ascended to the throne after the death of her father King George VI on February 6, 1952, when she was 25 years old.
She was crowned in June the following year.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
May God forgive all her trespasses and grant her eternal rest.!
