Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96

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The Queen, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, has passed away at the age of 96 after 70 years on the throne.

Buckingham Palace has said the Queen ‘died peacefully’ this afternoon at Balmoral. The King and Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral and return to London tomorrow.

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday lunchtime that Her Majesty had been under medical supervision at Balmoral after her doctors had become “concerned” about her health.

All of the Queen’s children, as well as the Duke of Cambridge, travelled immediately to Balmoral. The Queen was last pictured formally appointing the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, at Balmoral on Tuesday, her final public duty. She postponed a virtual Privy Council meeting the following day after being advised by doctors to rest.

Queen Elizabeth II is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Her eldest son, Prince Charles, will now become King, while his eldest son, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, assumes the position of heir to the throne.

The National Theatre said it was “deeply saddened” by the news of the death of the Queen, who had been a patron of the institution for more than 40 years.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty The Queen, Royal Patron of the National Theatre for more than four decades,” the organisation tweeted.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the Royal Family.”

Broadcaster Huw Edwards has reflected on the example of leadership the Queen set as he announced her death.

As images of the official notice being pinned to the gate of Buckingham Palace aired on BBC, he said: “A lifetime of service to people in the United Kingdom, throughout the Commonwealth and in many parts of the world.

“An example of leadership which didn’t stray into the realm of politics and for lots of people the ideal symbol of what a constitutional monarchy should be like.

“Well, now the world has been told and the official notice has been posted.”

The BBC Board paid tribute to the Queen saying she “was the absolute embodiment of public service”.

A statement from the corporation’s director-general, Tim Davie, and BBC chairman Richard Sharp said: “On behalf of everyone at the BBC we offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

“Her Majesty was the absolute embodiment of public service. She was a unifying figure across generations, communities and borders, who represented the very best of our nation.

“We are grateful at the BBC to have witnessed, recorded and shared so many of the special moments in her long life and reign.

“She will always be remembered with the greatest affection and admiration.”

In her second address to the nation in three days, Liz Truss paid tribute to the Queen.

She said: “She was the very spirit of Great Britain, and that spirit will endure.”

Ms Truss described the Queen as a “personal inspiration to me and many Britons”.

She told the nation how just two days ago how the Queen “remained determined to carry out her duty”.

The Prime Minister said the Queen’s passing was a “great loss”… “but leaves a great legacy”.

Liz Truss, from outside 10 Downing Street said: “The death of the Queen is a shock to the nation and the world.

King Charles statement, in full
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.

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.

During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.