BALMORAL, Scotland, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth, England’s longest-dominant ruler, the country’s nonentity and a transcending presence on the world stage for a considerable length of time, passed on calmly at her home in Scotland on Thursday matured 96. “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family” the new King, her oldest child Charles, said.
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News of the Queen’s deteriorating health emerged shortly after midday on Thursday when her doctors said she was under intensive care, prompting her family to fly to Balmoral Castle in Scotland to be by her side. Thousands of people gathered outside Buckingham Palace in central London and stood in silence as the flag was lowered to half-mast. Crowds of people rushed to the gate as the announcement announcing the death of the only British monarch was on the black iron gate.
Royal officials have said that King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, will stay at Balmoral before returning to London on Friday, when Charles will address the nation and meet Prime Minister Liz Truss. Funeral details have not been released. After Elizabeth’s death, Charles immediately became king of the United Kingdom and head of 14 other kingdoms, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
The Queen, whose husband died last year, the queen has been suffering from what, Buckingham Palace has called ‘mobility issues’ since last year, forcing her to withdraw from almost all public engagements. Her last official role came only on Tuesday when she appointed Truss Prime Minister – the 15th of his term. Truss said outside his office in Downing Street, “The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a great shock to the nation, as flags have been lowered, as have those in royal palaces and government buildings across Britain.
“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,” said Truss, who announced the death at 4.30 am London Time. The news not only surprises the British, also the world leaders.
In Paris, the mayor announced that the lights of the Eiffel Tower would be extinguished in honour of her death; in Brazil, the statue of Christ the Redeemer is lit up in the colours of the Union Jack and the government has ordered three days of mourning; and the UN General Assembly and the Security Council both observed a minute of silence.
Queen Elizabeth II, who was additionally the world’s most seasoned and longest-serving head of state, came to the lofty position following the passing of her dad Lord George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, when she was only 25.