Queen Elizabeth II has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace announces

Queen Elizabeth II has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace has announced.

A statement issued by the palace 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 monarch died at Balmoral, in Scotland, earlier this afternoon, (Thursday, September 8), and the announcement of her death followed shortly afterwards at 6.30pm.

The Queen, who was crowned in 1953, was both the longest-lived British monarch and the longest-reigning British monarch, reigning queen and female head of state in the world.

Her death comes just hours after the palace confirmed she was under medical supervision at her summer residence, following concerns for her health.

Earlier today, a palace spokesperson said: “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.

“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”

Family members including Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Queen’s other children travelled to Balmoral to be with her before her death.

Her Majesty’s passing, after more than six decades on the throne, came almost 18 months after her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, died aged 99, in April 2021.

He was also the longest-serving royal consort in British history.

Queen Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926, in Mayfair, London.

She wed Philip Mountbatten on November 20, 1947, and the couple were married for 73 years until the Duke of Edinburgh’s death.

They went on to have four children: Charles, Andrew, Anne and Edward.

Following the death of her father, King George VI, the Queen acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952.

On June 5, 2022, the Platinum Jubilee was celebrated to mark the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

The Queen leaves behind her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Her eldest son, Prince Charles, is expected to shortly be crowned King.