Queen Elizabeth II dies – Charles becomes king
Queen Elizabeth II has died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96, after 70 years on the throne.
Her son Charles, formerly the Prince of Wales, is now the King, bringing to an end what will be known as a second Elizabethan age for Wales and England.
The former Queen had been suffering from mobility issues and had met the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, at Balmoral on Tuesday after being unable to travel to Buckingham Palace.
Prince Charles immediately became King at the age of 73 years old. It means that no one is Prince of Wales at the moment as the title is not automatically passed on.
The Queen was the first British monarch in history to reach her Platinum Jubilee, and has died just three months after the national celebrations in June celebrating her 70 years on the throne.
The Queen was also the longest-reigning still-serving monarch in the world.
She mourned the loss of her beloved husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 in April 2021.
Grieving
The long-held so-called London Bridge plans for the coming days and the Queen’s state funeral will now be put in place, as will the contingency element Operation Unicorn for a death in Scotland.
The Queen is expected to lie in state in a few days’ time, with her funeral held in Westminster Abbey in central London in around 10 days.
Alongside her public duties, the Queen was also a mother of four, grandmother to eight and great-grandmother of 12 great-grandchildren, and the royal family is now grieving for its matriarch.
One of the most famous women in the world, the Queen, recognisable for her colourful hats and distinctive wave, was known for her love of horses, racing and corgis.
The new King – Charles – is expected to speak to the nation and lead the tributes to his beloved mother.
The Duchess of Cornwall is now Queen, and as a Queen Consort, will be crowned at Charles’s side at his eventual coronation.
Fears dramatically escalated for the Queen’s health on Thursday when the Palace announced the Queen was under medical supervision at Balmoral.
The royal family including all of the monarch’s four children and the Duke of Cambridge made the urgent dash to be by her bedside.
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The death of anyone aged 96 is sad. Many don’t reach into their 60s, my father included, so the Queen was very fortunate to live such a long fruitful priveraged life as monarch. So now Charles ascends to the English throne as King so relinquishing his title Prince of Wales, a title I might add, that he didn’t deserve or respect having more affection for Scotland than the nation he pledged to serve in his half-hearted speech. Wales doesn’t need another P/T Prince of Wales. The title died in 1282 with the murder of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, or, Llywelyn the… Read more »
I once had the great honour and privilege of being presented to Her Majesty.
I recall, at the critical moment when she took my hand, letting go the most frightful trouser-ripper. Her shocked equerry grabbed my elbow and propelled me away, saying “My God, sir! Do you realise you f*rted before the queen?”
“I’m most dreadfully sorry” I replied. “I didn’t know it was her turn.”
I think she would laff at that. One of many variations of that theme over the years. No such joke would have the same traction in a republic although I would like to see that attained before I check out