After reigning on the throne for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II has died; she was 96 years old. With the news of her passing, she will be succeeded immediately by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, her eldest son. He will now be King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” the king said in a statement. “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.”
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace announced. ” The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The Queen went under medical supervision on Thursday morning after her doctors became concerned about her health. Her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry were both en route, along with other royal family members, to be by her side.
Now behind Prince Charles is his firstborn son Prince William as the next in line to the throne and then his nine-year-old son, Prince George who is nine.
During her time on the throne, Queen Elizabeth — born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor — oversaw 15 prime ministers including Winston Churchill and Liz Truss. In addition, her reign spanned post-war austerity, the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War, and the United Kingdom’s entry and withdrawal into the European Union.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era,” said President Biden and the First Lady in a statement. “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.”
