WINDSOR, ENGLAND – APRIL 28: Queen Elizabeth II attends an audience with the President of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis (Not pictured) at Windsor Castle on April 28, 2022 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other sovereign countries and head of the Commonwealth, has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace has announced. 

A statement issued by the palace said the Queen “died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” on Sept. 8.

Elizabeth was born in 1926 and started her reign in 1952 after the death of her father King George VI, with her coronation taking place in 1953. This makes her the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch and the oldest and longest-serving incumbent head of state.

“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” read the rest of the statement.

At 12.20pm on Thursday 8 September it was announced by Buckingham Palace that the royal doctors were concerned for the Queen’s health and she was under “medical supervision” at Balmoral.

Senior royals, including Prince William and Prince Harry, and the heir apparent Prince Charles travelled to be by her side.

The last photos published were of the Queen meeting Liz Truss on Tuesday 6 September, her 15th prime minister since the start of her reign. In recent weeks and months her duties had been reduced out of concerns for her health and mobility.

The Queen is survived by a large extended family, including her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

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