After living close to a century, Queen Elizabeth II passed away with her children by her side. She was 96.
Queen Elizabeth II dies: What’s the cause of death?
The Royal Family released a statement confirming the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday in the company of her children, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
“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 statement read.
Concerns over the Queen’s health surfaced on Wednesday after the Royal Family cancelled her virtual meeting with the UK’s Privy Council. At the time, Buckingham Palace had noted in a statement that Queen Elizabeth II was placed under medical supervision “following further evaluation this morning (Thursday, 8 September 2022).”
“The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” the statement read at the time.
An official cause of death had not yet been released at the time this article was published.
Queen Elizabeth II Biography
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, or Queen Elizabeth II, was born on 21 April 1926 in London, England. She was the elder daughter of Duke of York Prince Albert and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
There was little prospect of Queen Elizabeth II ever acceding to the throne until, according to Britannica, her uncle, Edward VIII, renounced his heirship in favour of her father, who, on 11 December 1936, became King George VI.
Queen Elizabeth II was aged 21 when she first visited South Africa with her parents in 1947. Shortly after her return, she got married to her distant cousin Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten of the Royal Navy.
A year into their marriage, the royal couple welcomed their first child, Prince Charles. Elizabeth II became Queen of the Commonwealth in February 1952 following the death of her father.
She resumed her monarchical duties for that entire year and was only coronated at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.
In 2015, Queen Elizabeth II surpassed Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history. In 2022, the world celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee, the first-ever monarch to reign on the Commonwealth’s throne for 70 years.
Queen Elizabeth died in the presence of her children and grandchildren at Balmoral.
Who will become the next British monarch?
By virtue of monarchical rules, the next in line to accede to the throne is Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son, Prince Charles.
The only way his siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew or Prince Edward, can claim heirship is if, for whatever reason, Prince Charles, as the Queen’s uncle did, abdicates his right to the throne.
Reactions to Queen Elizabeth II’s death
Tributes from all corners of the world have been streaming in since the news of the Queen’s death.
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