Status: 08.09.2022 9:30 p.m
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is dead. Her son Charles is now king. The health of the 96-year-old had deteriorated in recent months.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96. This was announced by Buckingham Palace. Her successor to the throne is Prince Charles. “The Queen died peacefully in Balmoral this afternoon,” the palace said. The new King Charles III. and his wife were said to be staying at Balmoral Castle in Scotland for the evening and returning to London on Friday.
The palace previously said the Queen’s doctors were “concerned” about her health and had recommended medical monitoring. Their four children and their grandsons then rushed to Balmoral Castle.
Just yesterday, Elizabeth II had to cancel her participation in a virtual meeting of her Privy Council. The day before she had first received Boris Johnson, who was handing in his resignation, and right away then Liz Truss, who appointed her the new prime minister. Contrary to tradition, this did not happen in Buckingham Palace, but at Balmoral Castle, which the Queen did not want to leave for the ceremony for health reasons. A spokesman said it was a full day.
Health problems for a long time
Elizabeth II had suffered from health problems for a long time and had greatly reduced the number of her public appearances. In the past year, she has had her son Charles represent her more and more frequently. He replaced her for the first time at the opening of Parliament in May and read out the government program for the coming session in her place.
Also at the four-day celebrations in June for her 70th throne jubilee The Queen showed her tens of thousands of followers only twice briefly on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. In all public appearances, however, she was always smiling and in a good mood.
On the throne since February 1952, Elizabeth was the longest-serving British monarch and by far the longest-serving monarch of the current reign.
Charles: Queen’s death moment of ‘greatest sadness’
Britain’s new King Charles was devastated by the death of his mother. “We are in deep mourning for the loss of a cherished sovereign and a well-loved mother,” Charles said. He added: “I know her loss deeply affects the whole country.” This also applies in the areas of their rule and the Commonwealth – and for people all over the world. Charles automatically became the new king upon the death of his mother.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss described the Queen’s death as a “shock to the nation”. Elizabeth II was “loved and admired worldwide,” Truss said in a brief statement in front of her Downing Street office in London. The 47-year-old had been appointed Prime Minister by the Queen at Balmoral Castle just two days earlier. The photo of the queen holding out her hand on a stick went around the world.
In London, Buckingham Palace officials posted the official announcement of the Queen’s death on the palace gate. Hundreds of people had gathered in front of the Queen’s official residence in London before the announcement. Many sang the national anthem and burst into tears as the flag was lowered to half-staff.