Queen Elizabeth II died on the afternoon of September 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle, one of her favourite places and a home she once described as being ‘such a wonderful place’; she was 96.

Her children and grandchildren, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales; Anne, The Princess Royal; Andrew, Duke of York; Edward, Earl of Wessex; William, the Duke of Cambridge; and Harry, the Duke Sussex, all made their way to Scotland.

The Queen's immediate family were informed shortly after the Queen’s doctors placed her under medical supervision and they all made the journey to be by her side.

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A brief official Palace statement, placed, as tradition dictates, on the gates of Buckingham Palace, simply 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.”

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Queen Elizabeth II dies marking the end of a glorious and historic reign

The universally loved, admired and respected Queen, who was just 25 years old when she ascended to the throne in 1952.

She was the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch who had a historic reign which spanned 70 years.

A truly glorious reign, the likes of which we are unlikely to witness again in our lifetime.

Her last act of state was to formally appoint Liz Truss as her new prime minister.

Mourners pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

This was Her Majesty's 15th prime ministerial appointment in her long and glorious reign.

It was also the first time since 1908 that such an appointment did not take place at Buckingham Palace.

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This was to be and has been up until now, a year of joy, as the nation rejoiced and celebrated Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

Since the sad news broke, heartbreaking tributes have been pouring in from world leaders.

Flags across the country were also placed at half mast as a nation mourns the loss of the United Kingdom’s greatest monarch.

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Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms.

The new monarch, who automatically became King after the death of his mother, gave a moving tribute to the late Queen before being formally declared King in a historic Accession Council. 

Her Majesty began her final journey as she left the Balmoral Estate on Sunday ahead of her state funeral taking place on Monday, September 19.