'London Bridge Is Down': Queen Elizabeth II, UK's Longest Serving Monarch, Dies At 96

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at the age of 96.

She was on her traditional summer retreat at Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands, a day after she postponed a meeting of her Privy Council advisory group after doctors advised her to rest.

AFP/ File

She had been dogged by problems walking and standing since last year, forcing her to cancel a series of public engagements.?

Earlier, newly-appointed British Prime Minister Liz had said: “the whole country will be deeply concerned by the news," and other politicians expressed their disquiet.

The queen had formally asked Truss to become prime minister on Tuesday.

Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, and his wife, Camilla, and sister, Princess Anne, are already with the queen at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland.?

Prince William, Charles’ eldest son, his brother, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex also rushed to Balmoral Castle following reports of her falling health.

AFP

The gathering of the House of Windsor comes just three months after people across Britain paused over a long holiday weekend to celebrate the queen's 70 years on the throne. While crowds of cheering, flag-waving fans filled the streets around Buckingham Palace throughout four days of festivities, the queen made only two brief appearances on the palace balcony to wave to her subjects.

Elizabeth has increasingly handed over duties to Charles and other royal family members in recent months as she recovered from a bout of COVID-19, began using a cane, and struggled to get around.

AP

Since assuming the throne after her father's death on Feb. 6, 1952, Elizabeth has been a symbol of stability as Britain negotiated the end of the empire, the dawn of the information age, and the mass migration that transformed the country into a multicultural society.

Throughout it all, the queen has built a bond with the nation through a seemingly endless series of public appearances. She opened libraries and dedicated hospitals and bestowed honors on deserving citizens.

She worked steadily into the twilight of her reign. But the death of Prince Philip, her husband of more than 70 years, in April of last year reminded the UK that the reign of the queen, the only monarch most of her subjects have ever known, is finite.

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