The Royal Family says Queen Elizabeth II has died at age 96

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died Thursday after 70 years on the throne.

Buckingham Palace announced the 96-year-old monarch died at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland, where members of the royal family had rushed to her after her health took a turn for the worse.

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. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022

The announcement came hours after the palace said the monarch had been placed under medical supervision because doctors were concerned for her health.

“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” A promise she kept until her death 70 years later, reaching her platinum jubilee this year at the age of 96.

The Queen ascended the throne in 1952 after the death of her father, King George VI
becoming queen at just 25 years old. She was crowned in 1953 in the first televised coronation.

During the decades, she was served by 15 British prime ministers beginning with Winston Churchill, and most recently Liz Truss, who she asked to form government in her name just two days ago at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Twelve Canadian prime ministers have come and gone, including Pierre Elliot Trudeau,
who was with her when she came to Canada in 1982 to repatriate the Canadian constitution.

The queen had struggled with her health for most of the last year, pulling out of a series of public events and often handing over duties to her son King Charles. Her husband of more than 73 years Prince Phillip, died last April.

Despite being across the pond, the queen has many connections to our communities in the Golden Horseshoe and visited our region several times.

Her 73-year-old son Prince Charles automatically becomes king. However, the coronation may not happen for months. It is not known whether he will call himself King Charles III or a different name.