By BOOM Team
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest reigning monarch, passed away "peacefully" on Thursday afternoon, the Buckingham Palace announced. She was 96 years old.
The official announcement was made by Buckingham Palace saying, "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon."
It said, "The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
This comes after the palace had said in an unusual briefing on Thursday afternoon that the Queen's doctors were concerned for her health and was placed under medical supervision.
Senior members of the Royal family such as Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince William reached Balmoral as the announcement of her ill health was made. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also going to Balmoral, BBC reported.
As the announcement was made, Prime Minister Liz Truss said on Twitter "My thoughts - and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom - are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time."
She said, "The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime."
Leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, also took to Twitter and expressed concern about her health. "Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply worried by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon. My thoughts are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time, and I join everyone across the United Kingdom in hoping for her recovery."
The Queen had cancelled a privy council meeting on September 7 on advice from doctors to take rest.
Queen Elizabeth II was coronated as the queen of England on June 2, 1953. She has been the longest-reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and has ruled for a little over 70 years. She became queen after the death of her father King George VI.
She will be succeeded by Prince Charles, her eldest son and first in line to the British throne.
Queen Elizabeth II is survived by four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
