The Queen has died, aged 96, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
A statement confirming the news read: “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."
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
Born on April 21, 1926, during the reign of her paternal grandfather King George V Queen Elizabeth II went on the be Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
The nation’s longest-reigning monarch reached her historic Platinum Jubilee of 70 years on the throne on February 6.
As the oldest daughter of King George VI, she became Queen following his death in 1952 while on a tour of Australia and New Zealand with her late husband, Prince Philip.
Her coronation took place the following year and she was crowned aged 27.
She has since become one of the most-loved figures around the world travelling more widely than any other monarch during her extraordinary reign.
The Queen's life in pictures
Elizabeth II is the first British monarch in history to reach her Platinum Jubilee, and plans are in motion for a host of national festivities in June to mark the occasion.
Her reign has stretched from the post-war years through a new millennium and into a radically altered 21st century.
Her time on the throne has seen 15 prime ministers from the Second World War leader Sir Winston Churchill to Liz Truss.
She is survived by her four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article