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Elizabeth II no more Britain’s longest-reigning monarch passes away at 96; her son becomes King Charles III

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Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history and an icon instantly recognisable to billions of people around the world, died yesterday. She was 96.

Buckingham Palace announced her death in a short statement, triggering 10 days of national mourning and an outpouring of tributes to her long life and record-breaking reign.

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” said the statement issued at 6:30 pm (1730 GMT).

“The King (Charles) and The Queen Consort (Camilla) will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

The eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 is the oldest heir apparent in British history, becomes king immediately.

Royal officials confirmed he will be known as King Charles III, the first king of that name to sit on the throne since 1685.

From the steps of 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Liz Truss mourned “the passing of the second Elizabethan age” nearly 500 years after the first and concluded: “God save the king.”