Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96 CREDIT: Julian Calder
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II1926 — 2022
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, who has died aged 96, was the longest-serving monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. During a period of remarkable change throughout her realms and the world at large, she proved herself one of the most effective and best-loved sovereigns Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations has ever known.
The Queen, Britain's longest-serving monarch, sadly passed away after 70 years on the throne. Buckingham Palace said the Queen “died peacefully” on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral.
Charles, who has now ascended the throne and will be known as King Charles III, paid tribute to his much-loved mother.
The King and Camilla, now the Queen Consort, remained at Balmoral on Thursday night and will return to London on Friday.
Buckingham Palace had confirmed on Thursday lunchtime that Queen Elizabeth II had been under medical supervision after her doctors had become "concerned" about her health.
All of the Queen's children, as well as Prince William, who assumes the position of heir to the throne and will now be known as the Duke of Cambridge and Cornwall, travelled immediately to be with her.
The Queen was last pictured formally appointing the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, at Balmoral on Monday, her final public duty.
Queen Elizabeth II is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Queen Elizabeth II visited more than 100 countries across six continents during her reign. She was admired by the people, politicians and religious leaders from all corners of the world.
Many New Zealanders would have known no other monarch and head of state in their lives other than Queen Elizabeth II. Many admired, loved and followed Queen Elizabeth II for her great devotion to serving the Commonwealth and in particular Her Majesty's love of New Zealand.
Little wonder that tributes poured in from across the globe as news of Her Majesty's death spread and the world started to mourn.
World leaders were quick to pay their respects and send their messages of condolences to the Royal family.
The Queen died where she felt most comfortable and at home, at Balmoral where Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh chose to spend every long summer break, with their family, away from palace grandeur and the bustle of public life.
Large crowds dispersed from Buckingham Palace in the early hours of this morning, but bouquets of floral tributes continue to be left by mourners outside the gates. The early hours of the morning, nor the rainy weather, have stopped a steady flow of people coming to pay their respects.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was awoken just before 5am local time by a police officer shining a torch into her bedroom to tell her the news of the Queen's death.
"The last days of the queen's life captures who she was in so many ways," Ms Ardern said.
"Working until the very end on behalf of the people she loved.”
Liz Truss, the new British Prime Minister, on Thursday night praised the Queen as the “rock on which modern Britain was built”, just 48 hours after Her Majesty had appointed her.
Standing on the steps of Downing Street for a second time in two days, Ms Truss again addressed the nation as she hailed the monarch as the “very spirit of Great Britain”.
She spoke of the country’s loss and said the Queen’s death was “a huge shock to the nation and to the world”.
Thousands of people remained at Buckingham Palace just after midnight, with grieving mourners lighting candles and laying flowers outside the black iron gates to honour the Queen.
Meanwhile, police attempted to remove people from the Queen Victoria Memorial as crowds kept growing.
The huge swell of tributes and flowers from ordinary people in Britain and even around the globe, prove just how iconic Her Majesty has been: a woman the face of her nation and the Commonwealth for more than 70 years.
Pigeon Post News
Friday 9 September 2022
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