Queen Elizabeth II dies at age 96, surrounded by royal household at Balmoral property : NPR

Queen Elizabeth II, whose seven many years on the throne of the UK was an extended reign than another British monarch, has died on the age of 96.

The queen “died peacefully” on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Fort, her property within the Scottish Highlands, royal household officers introduced.

Her son Charles, 73, is now king and might be often called King Charles III. Officers stated he stays at Balmoral and can return to London on Friday.

“The dying of my beloved Mom, Her Majesty The Queen, is a second of the best unhappiness for me and all members of my household,” the king said in a statement. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mom. I do know her loss might be deeply felt all through the nation, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by numerous folks all over the world.” Camilla, his second spouse, might be often called queen consort.

Elizabeth had been positioned beneath medical supervision earlier Thursday, officers stated. “Following additional analysis this morning, The Queen’s medical doctors are involved for Her Majesty’s well being and have beneficial she stay beneath medical supervision,” the palace had stated in an announcement.

Different members of the royal household had additionally traveled to Balmoral, together with her grandson Prince William, who’s now the inheritor obvious. Prince Harry, who was already within the nation for a charity occasion, was additionally reportedly en route.

World leaders and mourners pay tribute

After Thursday’s announcement, a flood of condolences got here in from all corners of the globe: world officers, cultural icons and on a regular basis folks alike.

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years,” stated French President Emmanuel Macron. “I keep in mind her as a good friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a long-lasting impression on her nation and her century.”

And out of doors of Buckingham Palace in London, lots of of mourners had gathered to put flowers and pay their respects as a double rainbow arced overhead.

Lately, the queen had taken on fewer public duties, sometimes canceling appearances wherein her attendance was as soon as custom. Mobility points had troubled her in current months, and he or she had taken to spending a lot of her time at Windsor Fort, the household’s nation property close to London, and at Balmoral, the fort in Scotland.

Her husband of greater than 73 years, Prince Philip, whom she as soon as described as “my energy and keep all these years,” died in April 2021. In February, she contracted COVID-19, which she later described as leaving her “very drained and exhausted.”

In June, Elizabeth appeared at her Platinum Jubilee celebrating her 70 years on the throne, watching the parade from a balcony of Buckingham Palace. However she missed many of the different festivities. And on Tuesday, she met with the U.Okay.’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, at Balmoral, a primary in her reign.

Prime Minister Liz Truss cites a “nice loss”

Talking outdoors 10 Downing Avenue, Truss known as Thursday “a day for excellent loss.”

“With the king’s household, we mourn the lack of his mom. And as we mourn, we should come collectively as a folks to assist him to assist him naked the superior duty that he now carries for us all,” she stated. “We provide him our loyalty and devotion, simply as his mom devoted a lot to so many for thus lengthy.”

Elizabeth acceded to the throne on Feb. 6, 1952. Over her 70-year-long reign, she oversaw a unprecedented interval of British historical past, together with decolonization and the independence of greater than 20 nations that had been as soon as part of the British Empire.

She commanded widespread respect each at house and overseas, although she was criticized after the dying of Princess Diana for being out of contact with the general public temper.

Fifteen British Prime Ministers got here and went throughout her reign, together with 14 U.S. Presidents. By the point she died, most Brits had by no means identified one other monarch.

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was greater than a monarch. She outlined an period,” stated President Biden and the primary girl in an announcement. “We ship our deepest condolences to the Royal Household, who will not be solely mourning their Queen, however their pricey mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom giant within the pages of British historical past, and within the story of our world.”