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| Queen Elizabeth II has died at 96| Pool photo by Victoria Jones/Getty Images |
With her passing, a reign that lasted seven decades and made her the most well-known lady in the world comes to an end.
On Thursday, when word of Queen Elizabeth II's passing spread, weeping faces could be seen outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Crowds amass near the avenue leading to the royal gates, where, as is customary, a notice of her passing was recently posted.
"God Save the Queen" is being quietly sung by the assembled audience.
"The Queen passed away peacefully in Balmoral this afternoon" according to the royal family's statement. The King and the Queen Consort will stay in Balmoral this evening and travel back to London tomorrow.
In preparation for a national moment of quiet and the beginning of an official period of grief, flags were flown at half-staff throughout the United Kingdom.
With a coronation ceremony to follow, her eldest son Charles is anticipated to address the country for the first time as king soon.
This evening, UK new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, who was just requested by the monarch to form a government, will also address the nation.
Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle called her passing a "sad loss" for the country.
"The queen has been a constant in all of our lives, one that is as familiar as a family member while also having a calming and steadying effect on our nation. Most of us have never experienced a time without her presence. Her passing is a tragedy for the entire country as well as the royal family."
He said, "During her 70 years as monarch, she has brought stability to our lives. Her Majesty has maintained her unwavering devotion to the United Kingdom, the British Overseas Territories, and the Commonwealth of Nations despite the dramatic changes in the world during her reign. Her gentle authority and sound judgement have been felt all over the world."
She wed Philip Mountbatten in 1947, and the couple had four children together—Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward—before he passed away in 2021.
After her father, George VI, passed away too soon in 1952, she ascended to the throne and became the country's longest-reigning and -serving monarch.
King Charles Mourns Late Queen: Britain's new monarch, King Charles, has paid tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
In a statement shortly after the announcement of her death, Charles described his late mother as a "cherished sovereign."
He said,
"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.”
President Joe Biden Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
His statement reads;
"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.
