Queen Elizabeth live: Her Majesty dies aged 96, Buckingham Palace says

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle, has sent his condolences to his Majesty the King and the royal family upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, on behalf of all at Westminster Abbey.

He said: “It was here in the Abbey that the late Queen swore her coronation oath and set the course for a lifetime of devoted service at the heart of our national life.

“We now honour her extraordinary grace and strength. She lived through long years of changes with us and was utterly steadfast.

“Her integrity and her dignity have seen us weather the most serious national and international storms.

“She set at the heart of our national life her own character: a devotion to principle, not power; to service, not self.

“She believed in a common life governed by justice and law, she had a profound faith and a real hope.

“It is that character, and not mere personality, which we honour today.

“We give thanks to God for her life and the faithfulness with which she kept the promise she made to us.

“We sang ‘God save the Queen’ so often; God now gathers into his loving salvation one who truly loved him, and served him.”

Susan Hall, leader of the Conservative group at City Hall, said: “What to say that justifies our sadness over the loss of this wonderful woman?

“So very sad. So very grateful.

“Rest in peace.”

Onkar Sahota, chairman of the London Assembly, said: “It is with the greatest sadness that we mourn the loss of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“Words simply cannot describe the enormity of her sacrifice, her faith and commitment to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

“No one comes close and may never come close to the great affection we have felt for her over the decades.

“From the very first televised Queen’s Christmas message broadcast in 1957, to the hundreds of balcony appearances and the hours of standing during the Diamond Jubilee - the fondest images of her Majesty will remain with us for many years to come.”

He added: “The Elizabeth Line is but one way in which her Majesty’s memory will be cherished for all time within this great capital city - along with the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

“The steadfast continuity of her reign has seen this great country through good times and bad. We can all learn an important lesson from her dedication to duty and unwavering service.

“This is without doubt one of the saddest days in the history of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations – but now is the time to celebrate a life well-lived in the service of others.

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will live forever in the hearts and minds of Londoners.

“God Save The King.”

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The nation and the world mourns today in recognition of the extraordinary service of our Queen – her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“She served for 70 years with unrivalled grace, dignity and purpose.

“Throughout a period of unprecedented transformation, she was a source of great stability, inspiring hope during the most testing of times and exemplifying the best of what it means to be British.

“I’m proud to have served as mayor of London while Queen Elizabeth II was our monarch.

“I know Londoners, and people across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, are immensely proud and grateful for what she achieved for us all over so many years.

“I offer my condolences to the Royal Family at this difficult time.”

The Queen’s eldest son - who will now be known as King Charles III - paid tribute to his mother.

He said: “The death of my beloved mother, her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of great sadness for me and all members of my family.

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.

“I know her loss will be deeply felt through the country, the realms, and the commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “It is with profound sadness that I join the nation, the Commonwealth and the world in mourning the death of her late Majesty, the Queen.

“My prayers are with the King and the Royal Family. May God draw near them and comfort them in the days, weeks and months ahead.”

He added: “In the darkest days of the Coronavirus pandemic, the late Queen spoke powerfully of the light that no darkness can overcome.

“As she had done before, she reminded us of a deep truth about ourselves – we are a people of hope who care for one another.

“Her clarity of thinking, capacity for careful listening, inquiring mind, humour, remarkable memory and extraordinary kindness invariably left me conscious of the blessing that she has been to us all.

“May her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: “We mourn the loss of a great monarch who served our country faithfully all her life.

“The Queen was an ever-fixed mark in our lives. She represented duty and courage, warmth and compassion.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family, and everyone whose life she touched.

“As the world changed around us and politicians came and went, the Queen was our nation’s constant.

“She was a living reminder of our collective past, of the greatest generation and their sacrifices for our freedom.

“Today our family of nations is in mourning, as we also remember the steadfastness, resolve and love Queen Elizabeth brought to the world.”

The flag at Buckingham Palace has been lowered to half mast.

It comes after Her Majesty The Queen died at the age of 96 earlier today, which Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement.

Now the UK and Commonwealth enter a 10-day mourning period to mark the end of the Queen’s life and reign.

The plan for the Queen’s death is known as Operation London Bridge.

Preparations have been made by the palace and royal household since the 1960s.

Part of this involves lowering the flag on official buildings to half mast - or half way down the flag pole.

The gesture is a symbol of respect, mourning or a salute.

Sir Keir Starmer MP, leader of the opposition, said: “Today, we mourn the passing of a remarkable sovereign.

“It is a deep, private loss for the Royal Family and all our thoughts are with them at this time.

“The nation shares in their grief.

“We will always treasure Queen Elizabeth II’s life of service and devotion to our nation and the Commonwealth; our longest-serving and greatest monarch.

“Above the clashes of politics, she stood not for what the nation fought over, but what it agreed upon.

“As Britain changed rapidly around her, this dedication became the still point of our turning world.

“So as our great Elizabethan era comes to an end, we will honour the late Queen’s memory by keeping alive the values of public service she embodied.

“For seventy years, Queen Elizabeth II stood as the head of our country.

“But, in spirit, she stood amongst us.”

Prime minister Liz Truss has delivered a statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth II from No10 Downing Street.

Ms Truss, who was appointed by the Queen just two days ago, spoke of the monarch as “the spirit of Great Britain”.

She said: “We are all devastated by the news we have just heard from Balmoral.

“The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.

“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.

“Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.

“Britain is the great country it is today because of her.

“She ascended the throne just after the Second World War. She championed the development of the Commonwealth - from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world.

“We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation.

“Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed.

“She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure.

“She has been our longest-ever reigning monarch. It is an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.

“Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.

“In return, she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.

“She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons.

“Her devotion to duty is an example to us all.

“Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th Prime Minister.

“Throughout her life she has visited more than 100 countries and she has touched the lives of millions around the world.

“In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends… ….across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world… …to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service.

“It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy.

“Today the Crown passes - as it is has done for more than a thousand years - to our new monarch, our new head of state: His Majesty King Charles III.

“With the King’s family, we mourn the loss of his mother.

“And as we mourn, we must come together as a people to support him.

“To help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all.

“We offer him our loyalty and devotion just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long.

“And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country - exactly as Her Majesty would have wished - by saying the words… God save the King.”