Queen Elizabeth II dies at age 96

Queen Elizabeth II

...paves way for King Charles III

QUEEN Elizabeth II, the longest serving British monarch in history has died at the age 96, Palace statement has confirmed, with Prince Charles immediately becoming King. Clarence House has confirmed that Charles will be known by the reginal name of King Charles III.

There had been a possibility the new king could use one of his other names, as some monarchs have done previously. His full name is Charles Philip Arthur George, so he could have opted to use any of these names as his regnal name.

What happens now?

Upon the Queen's death, Prince Charles has immediately become the new monarch.

No official details have been released about what will happen over the coming days, but it is anticipated that the Queen will be given a full state funeral, as is traditional to mark the death of a monarch.

A period of national mourning has begun and is set to last until the funeral, which is expected to take place 10 days on from the Queen's death.

Her body will be moved to Buckingham Palace, where it will likely remain for five days.

The government is not expected to announce any other business, unless urgent, to allow focus to fall completely on the Queen.

Major sporting events, including football and cricket matches, are now likely to be postponed as a mark of respect.

The King will sign off the final plans in the coming days.

Queen Elizabeth II - a 'selfless' monarch who made Britain proud

THE Queen guided her family and the United Kingdom through extraordinary social changes, displaying unwavering commitment through her record-breaking reign.

For decades, Queen Elizabeth II was a figure of national pride, a symbol of stability and continuity, who was respected around the world.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she displayed an unwavering commitment to her country and the Commonwealth throughout her record-breaking reign.

From becoming Queen when she was only 25, she went on to become Britain's longest-reigning monarch, and a head of state without equal on the world stage.

Her quiet, restrained demeanour guided her family and the United Kingdom through a period of extraordinary social change.

Dedicated to keeping the institution relevant, Her Majesty displayed an adaptability that many will credit with securing the future of the monarchy.

The early years of Lilibet

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on 21 April 1926. To her family and closest friends, she was known as Lilibet.

She was home-schooled and had a happy childhood growing up within a close-knit family with her younger sister Margaret.

But their lives changed dramatically in 1936 when their uncle Edward VIII abdicated and their father, the Duke of York, became King George VI. Elizabeth's apprenticeship for a life of public duties had begun.

In a documentary in 1992, the Queen said: "I think training is the answer to a great many things. You can do a lot if you are properly trained and I hope I have been."

During the Second World War, the princesses, like thousands of other children, were evacuated from London. At Windsor Castle Elizabeth would make her first radio broadcast.

At 18 she undertook national service, joining the Auxiliary Transport Corps, qualifying as a driver.

Her first overseas tour was to South Africa in 1947 with her parents.

During that tour she celebrated her 21st birthday in Cape Town and made what would become one of her most well-known speeches, where she confirmed her lifelong commitment to service and duty.

"My whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong," she said.

Marrying Prince Philip

Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten upon announcing their engagement in 1947

Throughout the war, Princess Elizabeth kept in touch with Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark by writing letters.

Not everyone was impressed by how close they were becoming and some within the royal court had other ideas about the kind of man the princess should marry.

But in 1947, their engagement was announced. Their wedding later that year was the first great state occasion since the end of the Second World War and was described as "a flash of colour" by Winston Churchill following the hardship and austerity of the conflict.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as they became, soon settled into married life and the birth of their first two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, quickly followed.

They had been married less than five years when their lives would change forever.

In 1952, while they were in Kenya as part of a royal tour, King George VI died.

Elizabeth, then 25, became Queen, and Prince Philip had to tell her that her father was dead.

Historian Robert Lacey said: "During the incredibly long plane journey home, never once did she betray emotion.

"She would go to the bathroom every hour or so and maybe there in private she wept, but when she re-emerged was totally composed - and so she was when she appeared at London airport."

Her coronation ceremony on 2 June 1953 was the first to be broadcast on television.

Despite the widespread celebration, the young monarch still had to show she was worthy of the job and able to take on all the responsibilities that came with it.

King Charles's statement after Queen's death - 'A moment of the greatest sadness for me'KING Charles III has released a statement following his mother's death.

The King's statement says:"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."

Charles and his siblings had all travelled to be with her at Balmoral in Scotland, before her death was announced early yesterday evening.

Foreign leaders celebrate late Queen’s life

A number of foreign leaders - many of whom the Queen met several times - are now paying tribute to the life of Elizabeth II.

Fourteen US Presidents served during the Queen’s seven-decade reign, and the living former Presidents are releasing statements of condolence following her death. 

President Joe Biden led US tributes to Queen Elizabeth II.

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era,” Mr Biden said in a statement.

Queen Elizabeth met nearly every president during her seven-decade reign. The one president whom the monarch did not meet during her lifetime was Lyndon B Johnson, who held office from 1963 to 1969.

Former President Barack Obama, in a joint statement with first lady Michelle Obama, said they are “awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service.”

43rd President George Bush wrote that “spending time at Buckingham Palace, and having tea with Her Majesty – and her Corgis – is among our fondest memories of the presidency.”

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marked Queen Elizabeth’s passing by remembering her as a someone with “unfailing grace, dignity, and genuine care for the welfare of all its people.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation’s continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century.

To Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “With the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history.

Anyaoku, ex-Commonwealth Secretary General,  mourns passage

A former Secretary General of The Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku said “I have received with great sadness the news of the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II.”

Chief Anyaoku, who was Commonwealth Secretary-General between 1990-2000, said, “She will be greatly missed in the United Kingdom where she was a beloved and longest reigning Head of State and throughout the Commonwealth where she was a greatly respected and much admired Head of the association."

“Her Majesty was a most remarkable and wise Head whose standing and influence enabled the Commonwealth association to survive its existential crises. She was also a symbol of dignity and continuity diverse Commonwealth of now 56 member nations.The memories of the interactions of my wife and myself with Her Majesty during my ten years as Commonwealth Secretary-General will remain with us as long as we live,” he concluded.