Queen Elizabeth II has died today surrounded by her immediate family at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.The Royal household issued a statement which paid tribute to her long service.
The Queen’s immediate family members were informed about her deteriorating health this morning. Her children The Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex went to her Highlands home immediately.
They were joined there by other senior royals including two of the Queen’s grandsons, William and Harry.
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, and this year marked 70 years on the throne with her Platinum Jubilee. Her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died on April 9, 2021, aged 99.
The Prince married Princess Elizabeth in 1947, five years before she became Queen. At the age of 96, the Queen leaves behind four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
As her eldest son, Charles, who is 73, is the heir to the throne. His wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will automatically take on the title and style of queen consort.
The flags in Downing Street were lowered to half mast at 6.36pm following the Queen’s death. BBC One played the national anthem following the announcement, showing a photograph of the Queen, followed by a royal crest on a black background and the words Queen Elizabeth II.
Floral tributes have already started to build at the gates of the Queen’s residences. A crowd gathered outside Buckingham Palace earlier in the day beneath dark clouds.
More than 100 umbrella-clad observers congregated on the stone steps up to The Queen Victoria Memorial, opposite the royal residence. People have begun laying flowers at the gates of Buckingham Palace.
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