Queen Elizabeth II, one of the longest reigning monarchs in history, has died at the age of 96. .She has already been succeeded by her son, as Prince Charles III. Buckingham Palace is already referring to Charles as the king. He will likely be succeeded as the Prince of Wales by Prince William.. Queen Elizabeth II has diedQueen Elizabeth II has died, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022 .The Queen passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon at her Balmoral estate in Scotland surrounded by her family, plunging a nation and world into mourning.."The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow," the palace said..Moments before her death was announced, a rainbow appeared above Buckingham Palace in London..King Charles issued a statement shortly after his mother's death.."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 statement read..The new king is expected to deliver a televised address on Friday..Church bells around Great Britain will start peeling at noon and ring for an hour in celebration of the Queen's life..The UK parliament has adjourned, as has devolved legislatures in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. MPs will offer tributes to the Queen in the House of Commons Friday. Parliamentary business is suspended for 10 days.It's believed the state funeral will be held Monday September 19. It will be a televised spectacle watched by billions around the world.Large crowds of mourner are already gathering at the gates of Buckingham Palace..New British Prime Minister Liz Truss read a statement outside 10 Downing Street.."Through thick and thin the Queen provided strength, and her spirit will endure", she said..“The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.”."As the crown passed to King Charles III, the UK must come together to support him.". Queen and PutinQueen and Putin .She concluded her address by saying “God save the King."US President Joe Biden issued a lengthy statement."Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era," said Biden."In the years ahead, we look forward to continuing a close friendship with the King and The Queen Consort. Today, the thoughts and prayers of people all across the United States are with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in their grief. 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."Russian strongman Vladimir Putin wrote a letter to King Charles."Your Majesty, please accept our deepest condolences on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II," Putin wrote."The most important events in the recent history of the United Kingdom are inextricably linked with the name of Her Majesty. For many decades, Elizabeth II rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as authority on the world stage.""I wish you courage and perseverance in the face of this heavy, irreparable loss. I ask you to convey the words of sincere sympathy and support to the members of the royal family and all the people of Great Britain."Pope Francis issued a statement from the Vatican.“Commending her noble soul to the merciful goodness of our Heavenly Father, I assure Your Majesty of my prayers that Almighty God will sustain you with his unfailing grace as you now take up your high responsibilities as King,” the Pope wrote.“Upon you and all who cherish the memory of your late mother, I invoke an abundance of divine blessings as a pledge of comfort and strength in the Lord,” he added.Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered his condolences."It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the 🇺🇦 people, we extend sincere condolences to the @RoyalFamily, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss," he tweeted..Elizabeth was in the middle of the 70th year of her reign with Platinum Jubilee celebrations dominating the British summer..The Queen surpassed her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become Britain’s longest serving ruler on 21 December 2007..The Queen was born in London on April 21, 1926 to the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father later went on to become King George VI when his brother King Edward VIII abdicated..She was homeschooled and started public duties in the Second World War when she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.. Queen in the Second World WarQueen in the Second World War .After the war, she married Philip Mountbatten and the pair remained married until he passed in 2021. The pair had been inseparable for 73 years..When her father died in February 1952, the 25-year-old Elizabeth became regent..Through her lifetime, Elizabeth swore in 15 British prime ministers, the most recently this week with new PM Liz Truss..The Queen is survived by her four children — Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.
