Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled the country for 70 years, has died at the age of 96. This was announced by Buckingham Palace. The new king was her eldest son Prince Charles, who will now be called Charles III. He said the death of his beloved mother was a moment of great sadness for him and his entire family and will be deeply felt throughout the world.
Earlier Tuesday, after doctors expressed concerns about the monarch’s health, all of the queen’s children gathered at the Queen’s Balmoral residence in Scotland, as well as her grandson and heir to the throne Prince William. Later, his brother Harry also arrived at Balmoral.
According to a Buckingham Palace statement, “The Queen passed away peacefully this afternoon at Balmoral. The King and Queen Consort will remain in Balmoral this evening and return to London tomorrow.”
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our adored sovereign and much-loved mother,” the new monarch said in turn. – I know that this loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, in the Kingdom and in the Commonwealth. It will be shared by an infinite number of people around the world. In this moment of grief and change, my family will be comforted by the knowledge of the respect and deep affection the Queen enjoyed everywhere.”
Charles III will lead mourning ceremonies as the new monarch and head of state in 14 Commonwealth countries. His wife Camilla will become queen consort. In his own words, he and the whole family will be comforted and sustained during this difficult time by the knowledge of how much respect and deep love the queen enjoyed.
New British Prime Minister Liz Truss, only appointed to the post by the queen herself on Tuesday, gave a short speech in Downing Street in which she said the news of the queen’s passing was “a great shock to our people and the world at large.”
Truss called the queen “the very cornerstone on which modern Britain was built,” adding that it was Elizabeth II who made this country truly great. She also stressed that the queen has served as an inspiration to her and many Britons. “Her devotion to duty is an example to us all,” the prime minister said.
As for the new king, Truss said, “We offer him our loyalty and devotion just as his mother devoted herself to so many and for so long. And with the passing of the second Elizabethan era, we welcome a new era in the great history of our great country just as Her Majesty would have wished and say ‘God save the King.
Elizabeth II ruled Britain firmly for 70 years, steering the country through all the changes and winning the respect and admiration of the world.
