Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II Passes Away at 96

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, passed away at 96.

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement Thursday afternoon. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

This comes after the Queen was placed under medical supervision Thursday due to doctors being “concerned for Her Majesty’s health.”

Born in London in 1926, Elizabeth became queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI. Throughout her reign, in which she worked steadily until the end, she opened libraries, dedicated hospitals and honored deserving citizens — building a bond with the nation.

In February 2022, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.

Formal celebrations took place this summer, with crowds filling the streets around Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Queen’s seven decades on the throne. Throughout four days of festivities, the Queen made two brief appearances, waving at fans from her balcony.