Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96, the royal family confirmed on Sept. 8.
In a statement on Buckingham Palace’s website, the family said: “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 sad news comes after Buckingham Palace released a statement earlier in the day confirming concerns about the Queen’s health. Her family had rushed to her side.
Elizabeth dealt with a number of health issues in the past year, including a COVID-19 diagnosis in February 2022.
Per the BBC, Elizabeth was the second-longest-ruling monarch in history, reigning for over 70 years. King Louis XIV of France had the longest reign, ruling for 72 years and 110 days. In September 2015, Elizabeth became the longest-ruling monarch in UK history, surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who spent 63 years and 216 days on the throne.
Elizabeth was just 25 years old when she was appointed to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI. Elizabeth and Prince Philip, whom she married in November 1947, were on a tour of Australia and New Zealand with a stop in Kenya when they got word that the king had died, making Elizabeth the Queen. In June 1953, Elizabeth was coronated at Westminster Abbey.
During her time as Queen, Elizabeth was head of the Commonwealth, which currently includes 54 countries. She celebrated huge milestones with her Silver, Golden, Diamond, Sapphire, and Platinum Jubilees. Elizabeth is survived by her four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew.
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