Queen Elizabeth live updates: King Charles set to deliver remarks today
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II "died peacefully" on Thursday, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. She was 96.
The news of her death came just hours after the palace announced that the queen's doctors were "concerned" about her health and were keeping her under "medical supervision" at Balmoral Castle, the British royal family's estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where she has been vacationing this summer.
Members of the royal family, including the queen's four children, quickly gathered by her side at Balmoral, according to their respective spokespersons. She died that afternoon.
SLIDESHOW: Queen Elizabeth II's life through the years
Elizabeth was Britain's longest-reigning monarch. She ascended to the throne in 1952 and, in June, celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years as queen. Her eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales, will take his mother's place on the British throne as king. Charles' wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will become known as queen consort.
Latest Developments
Sep 9, 10:11 AM
King Charles III views flowers, greets crowd outside Buckingham Palace
King Charles III is back in London, returning from Balmoral Castle in Scotland where the queen died.
The king walked outside Buckingham Palace, shaking hands and greeting people who gathered to share their condolences.
The king and Camila, the queen consort, walked outside the gates of Buckingham Palace viewing flowers left by people mourning the death of the queen.
As the king arrived outside, the Royal Standard was raised above Buckingham Palace for the first time during his reign.
Sep 9, 9:17 AM
British Parliament members pay tribute to the queen
Both British houses of Parliament are meeting Friday for members to pay tribute to the queen in a special session of condolence.
Politics in both Houses will be on hold for a period of mourning.
"For the 70 glorious years of her reign, our queen was at the heart of this nation’s life," Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer said. "She did not simply reign over us, she lived alongside us."
"It seems impossible to imagine a Britain without her," he added.
Following the announcement of the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, MPs are paying tribute in the House of Commons Chamber.
Watch live on UK Parliament YouTube https://t.co/5QtzKhNWwv— UK Parliament (@UKParliament) September 9, 2022
There will also be a rare Saturday meeting where senior members of Parliament can take an oath of allegiance to the king. The meeting will end with an address to the king expressing condolences following his mother's death.
House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle will determine the timetable in the House for the following days, which is expected to be significantly reduced until after the state funeral for the queen.
This means new laws cannot be passed until Parliament returns, though it could be recalled for pressing matters.
Sep 9, 8:37 AM
King Charles III set to deliver remarks today
King Charles III will return to London this afternoon to record a televised address to the nation from Buckingham Palace. The speech will air at 1 p.m. ET before he attends the national service of thanksgiving for his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at St. Paul's Cathedral at 2 p.m. ET.
King Charles will be officially proclaimed king at 6 a.m. ET on Saturday from the balcony at St James' Palace. The first son of Queen Elizabeth II became king the minute his mother died but the formal announcement will be made on Saturday.
Sep 9, 8:58 AM
Secretary of State Antony Blinken comments on death of queen
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has shared the following statement to the people of the United Kingdom following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8, 2022:
"Together with the American people, I extend my deepest sympathies to His Majesty The King, the entire Royal Family, the people of the United Kingdom, and the peoples of the Commonwealth on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
"For more than 70 years – a period during which the United Kingdom and the world witnessed unprecedented change – Queen Elizabeth personified a sense of stability. During a time of tremendous division, she was a source of unity.
"Her influence extended well beyond the Commonwealth. As Queen, she visited more than 120 countries, including the United States, where she made a point of meeting not only with leaders, but with people from all walks of life. She was the embodiment of the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom, and a symbol of the enduring alliance that has seen our nations through the greatest tests of the 20th and 21st centuries.
"We join people around the world in mourning her passing, and we will forever be inspired by the memory of her service, leadership, and friendship."
Sep 9, 5:17 AM
The queen's final moments
Prince Charles and Princess Anne were with their mother in her final hours.
Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and his wife Sophie raced to be by her side, as did her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry but they did not get there in time.
Sep 9, 12:36 AM
World reacts to Queen Elizabeth II's death: Photos
Cities around the world joined in mourning Queen Elizabeth II's death on Thursday.
Prague
Berlin
Rome
See more photos of the global reaction here.
Sep 8, 10:16 PM
Who's who in the British royal family
Queen Elizabeth II is survived by three sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Here's a guide to the most well-known living members of the House of Windsor.
Sep 8, 7:29 PM
A look back at Queen Elizabeth II's 7-decade marriage
Queen Elizabeth II was preceded in death by her husband, Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at the age of 99.
Their deaths marked the end of a seven-decade love story that started before the queen ascended to the throne.
The two married on Nov. 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey, despite some reported reservations from her father's courtiers.
Five years later, she became the queen, and he gave up his career in the Royal Navy to support his wife.
Read more about their relationship.
Sep 8, 5:43 PM
With Queen Elizabeth II's death, Camilla becomes queen consort
With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her eldest son Charles becomes king and his wife Camilla becomes queen consort.
The queen made the request for the title in February, saying that "it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service."
The statement marked the first time the queen had publicly addressed her daughter-in-law's role in the future monarchy.
Read more about the role of queen consort.
Sep 8, 3:36 PM
Meet the new king
The eldest son of Britain's longest-reigning monarch has taken his late mother's place on the throne.
King Charles III is the first child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Upon the death of his mother on Sept. 8, Charles succeeded her as king of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms.
Charles, 73, was born at Buckingham Palace in London in 1948. He was just 3 years old when he became the heir apparent as his mother acceded to the throne as queen, following the death of her father, King George VI.
Want to know more about the new king? Click here.