Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday at her residence at Balmoral Castle. She was 96 years old.
The announcement of her death was made by Buckingham Palace after officials said doctors were concerned about her health. Officials did not say what caused her death.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth died peacefully during the afternoon.
King Charles issued a statement after the announcement.
"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."
Family members rushed to Balmoral Castle to be with her as they learned about her ailing condition.
One of her last official acts as queen came on Tuesday when she accepted the resignation of U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and welcomed new Prime Minister Liz Truss. The meetings, however, did not take place at Buckingham Palace, as per custom, leading to speculation about her health.
She then canceled a meeting Wednesday night after she was advised to take a day of rest.
Elizabeth was the longest-reigning monarch in British history, serving over 70 years, surpassing Queen Victoria in 2015. She was also the longest-reigning female monarch in world history.
With her death, Elizabeth’s eldest son, King Charles, becomes the British monarch.
Elizabeth ascended to the throne on Feb. 6, 1952, after her father, King George VI, died. She was coronated a year later.
Her first state visit did not come until 1957, when she visited the United States to address the United Nations General Assembly. In 1991, she became the first British monarch to address a joint session of Congress.
During her tenure, more than a dozen nations left the Commonwealth, opting for self-governing models.
The Queen has withstood controversy and remained a popular figure in the U.K. A May 2022 poll found that 86% of British adults were satisfied with her work as queen.
She celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in May, marking 70 years on the throne. The event was widely celebrated in Britain, and celebrations were held in many Commonwealth nations.
President Joe Biden and the White House issued the following statement:
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era.
In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people across the Commonwealth. The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.
She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection—whether they heard her on the radio as a young princess speaking to the children of the United Kingdom, or gathered around their televisions for her coronation, or watched her final Christmas speech or her Platinum Jubilee on their phones. And she, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service.
Supported by her beloved Prince Philip for 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II led always with grace, an unwavering commitment to duty, and the incomparable power of her example. She endured the dangers and deprivations of a world war alongside the British people and rallied them during the devastation of a global pandemic to look to better days ahead. Through her dedication to her patronages and charities, she supported causes that uplifted people and expanded opportunity. By showing friendship and respect to newly independent nations around the world, she elevated the cause of liberty and fostered enduring bonds that helped strengthen the Commonwealth, which she loved so deeply, into a community to promote peace and shared values.
Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special.
We first met the Queen in 1982, traveling to the UK as part of a Senate delegation. And we were honored that she extended her hospitality to us in June 2021 during our first overseas trip as President and First Lady, where she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom. All told, she met 14 American presidents. She helped Americans commemorate both the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the bicentennial of our independence. And she stood in solidarity with the United States during our darkest days after 9/11, when she poignantly reminded us that “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
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.
