Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at the age of 96.
She died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on Thursday afternoon, the palace says
The Crown passes immediately to her son and heir Charles, who will officially be known as King Charles III
The new King said his mother’s death was a moment of “the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.”
The Queen steered the monarchy through turbulent times, as Britain’s Empire ended and its place in the world fundamentally changed.
She was head of state of the UK and 14 other countries, including Australia, Canada and Jamaica
Born a princess, she only became heir to the throne after her uncle’s abdication in 1936.
She is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. – BBC.
