Queen Elizabeth 11, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch has died at age 96, after a 70 year reign.
Concerns about the queen’s health grew following a statement from Buckingham Palace on Thursday that she was under medical supervision. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral Castle, her official residence in Scotland.
Her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, becomes King Charles 111 and will lead the country in mourning as head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms. He said the death of his beloved mother was “a moment of great sadness”.
The King said during the period of mourning and change, he and his family would be “comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held”.
Senior members of the Royal family had gathered at Balmoral Thursday. They will return to London tomorrow
Queen Elizabeth 11 was crowned in 1953. A crowd gathered at Buckingham Palace, with some persons reportedly in tears following news that she was under medical supervision . Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874.