Queen Elizabeth II death: King Charles leads tributes to Queen
- Published
Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
Her family gathered at her Scottish estate on Thursday 8 September, after her doctors expressed their "concerns" about her health and placed her under medical supervision.
With her death, her eldest son Charles, is now the UK's King. He will be known as King Charles III.
He will lead the country in mourning as the new monarch and head of state of the Commonwealth.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "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."
King Charles III
A statement by the Royal Family on behalf of Charles, the new King, said: "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.
"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.
"I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth and by countless people around the world.
"During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held."
'Her duty is an example to us all'
The Queen met with Prime Minister Liz Truss in Balmoral on Tuesday
Prime Minister Liz Truss, who met the Queen just days ago, has also spoken, saying "we are all devastated" at the news of the Queen's death, which is a "huge shock to the nation and the world".
She described the Queen as "a rock on which modern Britain was built", adding: "Britain is the great country it is today because of her."
She said the Queen was a personal inspiration to her as well as many Britons: "Her devotion to duty is an example to us all."
"Today the Crown passes, as it has done for more than a thousand years, to our new monarch, our new head of state, His Majesty King Charles III.
"With the King's family we mourn the loss of his mother and come together.
"We offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother devoted so much to us for so long."
She ended by saying: "God save the King."
Period of mourning
Flags have been lowered at Buckingham Palace
The Royal Family will now enter a period of mourning.
Official engagements will be cancelled and union flags will be flown at half-mast on royal residences, government buildings, across the Armed Forces and UK Posts overseas.
The flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half mast at 6.30pm.