Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
After worries about her health grew early on Thursday, her family gathered at her Scottish estate.
After passing, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, would take the throne as the new King and ruler of 14 Commonwealth states.
Buckingham Palace released the following statement: “The Queen passed away peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and the Queen Consort will spend this evening and tomorrow in Balmoral before departing for London.