The death of Queen Elizabeth II: September 8, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral aged 96 after reigning for 70 years.

He died peacefully on Thursday afternoon at his Scottish estate where he had spent much of the summer.

The Queen ascended the throne in 1952 and experienced enormous social changes.

Her son, King Charles III, said the death of his beloved mother was a “time of great sadness” for him and his family and that her loss was “deeply felt” worldwide.

He said: “We deeply regret the passing of a dear sovereign and a very dear mother.

“I know his loss will be felt deeply across the country, in the rich and in the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

During the mourning period ahead, he said, he and his family would be “comforted and supported by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection bestowed upon the Queen.”

The King and his wife Camilla, now Queen Consort, will return to London on Friday, Buckingham Palace has announced. He is expected to address the nation on Friday.

Members of the royal family had gathered in Balmoral after the Queen’s doctors raised concerns about her health earlier in the day.

All of the Queen’s children traveled to Balmoral, near Aberdeen, after doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision.

His grandson and current heir to the throne Prince William and his brother Prince Harry were also there.

Prime Minister Liz Truss, who the Queen appointed on Tuesday, said the monarch is the rock on which modern Britain is built “giving us the stability and strength we need”.

Of the new king, he said: “We offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother has given to so many people for so long.

“And with the passing of the second Elizabethan era, as Her Majesty would have wished, we mark the beginning of a new era in the great history of our great country by saying the words ‘God save the King’.”

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby – the spiritual leader of the Church of England, of which the monarch is supreme governor – expressed his “deep sadness”.

He said his “prayers go out to the king and the royal family”.

Queen Elizabeth II’s tenure as head of state spanned the post-war austerity period, the transition from Empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War, and the United Kingdom’s entry and exit from the European Union.

His reign lasted 15 prime ministers, beginning with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Mrs. Truss, born 101 years later in 1975.

During his reign, he had weekly audiences with his prime minister.

Crowds waiting for updates on the Queen’s condition at Buckingham Palace in London burst into tears upon learning of her death.

The Union flag atop the palace was lowered to half-mast at 6.30 pm BST and an official notice of the death was posted outside.

After the Queen’s death, Prince William and his wife Catherine became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Cornwall.

The Queen was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor on April 21, 1926, in Mayfair, London.

Few could have guessed that he would become monarch, but in December 1936 his uncle Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.

Elizabeth’s father became King George VI, and at the age of 10 Lilibet, as she was known in the family, became heir apparent.

Within three years Britain was at war with Nazi Germany. Elizabeth and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, spent much of the war at Windsor Castle after their parents rejected proposals to evacuate them to Canada.

After turning 18, Elizabeth spent five months with the Auxiliary Territorial Service learning the basics of auto mechanics and driving skills. “I began to understand the esprit de corps that thrives in the face of adversity,” he later recalled.

During the war, he exchanged letters with his third cousin, Philip, Prince of Greece, who was serving in the Royal Navy. Their romance blossomed and the couple was married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947, with the Prince accepting the title Duke of Edinburgh.

He later described him as “my strength and support” for 74 years of marriage before he died in 2021 at the age of 99.

Their first child, Charles, was born in 1948, followed by Princess Anne in 1950, Prince Andrew in 1960, and Prince Edward in 1964. Together they gave their parents eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Princess Elizabeth was in Kenya in 1952, standing in for the ailing king when Philip announced his father’s death. She immediately returned to London as the new queen.

“It was suddenly a kind of taking responsibility and doing the best job possible,” he later recalled.

Elizabeth was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953, aged 27, in front of a record crowd of over 20 million spectators.

A great change occurred in the following decades as the British Empire abroad came to an end and the 1960s swept away social norms at home.

Elizabeth reformed the monarchy for this less-reverent era, engaging with the public through walks, royal visits, and attending public events.

His commitment to the Commonwealth was constant: he visited every Commonwealth country at least once.

But there were times of private and public pain.

In 1992, the Queen’s “annus horribilis” fire devastated Windsor Castle, a private residence and working palace, and broke up the marriages of three of her children.

After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car crash in Paris in 1997, the Queen was criticized for her reluctance to publicly respond.

Questions were asked about the relevance of monarchy in modern society.

“No institution … should expect to be immune to scrutiny from those who show it their loyalty and support, let alone those who don’t,” he said.

As a 21-year-old princess, Elizabeth had vowed to devote her life to service.

Decades later, at his silver jubilee in 1977, he reflected on those words: “Although this vow was made in my salad days when I was green in court, I have no regrets and will not take a word back.”

The same promise of value was made 45 years later in a thank you to the nation during their Platinum Jubilee weekend in June.

The milestone was celebrated with a mix of state ceremonies and a colorful celebration of the Brits, as well as boisterous street parties.

Though the Queen’s health prevented her from attending some events, she said, “My heart goes out to you all.”

In a moment cheered by huge crowds at the mall, three generations of her family joined her on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for a parade.

King Charles, 73, becomes head of state in 14 Commonwealth kingdoms.

He and his wife Camilla are in Balmoral with their siblings Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward.

They are joined by Edward’s wife Sophie and Princes William and Harry.

William’s wife Catherine stayed in Windsor with their children George, Charlotte, and Louis as it was their first full day at a new school.

The royal family has now entered a period of mourning. In the coming days, much of national life will be put on hold.

Official appointments will be canceled and union flags will fly at half-mast at royal residences, government buildings, the armed forces, and British posts overseas.

MPs will pay homage to the Queen and take the oath to King Charles.

There will be church bells and gunfire as local and national organizations and charities organize trails to honor them with memorial services and books of condolence.

A state funeral for the Queen is scheduled for the next two weeks.

Foreign leaders have paid tribute to the Queen, with US President Joe Biden recalling how he stood with the United States in the “darkest days” following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

For French President Emmanuel Macron, she was a “benevolent queen” and a “friend of France”.

For Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Queen was a constant in Canadian life and one of his “favorite people in the world”.

Reporting by George Bowden, Marie Jackson, and Sean Coughlan, Royal Correspondent.