08/09/2022
Queen Elizabeth II Passes Away Aged 96
Buckingham Place in London, confirms Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died aged 96 years.
The Queen sat on the throne of the United Kingdom for just over 70 years, making her the longest-serving head of state at the time of her death and the second-longest reigning monarch in history.
She lived to 96, and remained in relatively good health throughout her long life, 73 years of which she spent alongside her late husband, Prince Philip.
She briefly used a walking stick in 2004 after knee surgery, and spent a night in hospital in 2013 with gastroenteritis symptoms.
As she got older she resisted handing over official duties to other family members, believing they could only be carried out by the monarch.
She regularly appeared at public events and met foreign and domestic political leaders, making it clear she intended to carry on in the job until the end of her life.
She also retained control over much of the royal family's business.
She made sure Charles's wife Camilla would receive the title of Queen Consort, stripped her son Prince Andrew of his royal duties over child sexual abuse allegations, and navigated the controversy following a public falling out with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan.
It was only recently, after Prince Philip's death in April last year, that her own health issues began to affect her ability to fulfil her official duties.
She rejected the "Oldie of the Year" award, her assistant private secretary telling The Oldie magazine: "Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel. As such the Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept, and and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient."
Her eldest son, Charles, is now King.
Buckingham Palace has released a statement just after 6:30pm on Thursday local time (3:30am Friday AEST), confirming the Queen had died at her Balmoral estate in the Scottish Highlands.
"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon," it read.
"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."
Charles, who will be known as King Charles III, issued a statement saying the death of his "beloved mother" was a "moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family".
"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother," he said.
The Queen reigned for more than 70 years, coming to the throne on the death of her father George VI in 1952.
She suffered a series of health issues in the years before her death, testing positive for COVID-19 in February 2022 and being forced to miss Platinum Jubilee events in June of that year because of what Buckingham Palace said were mobility issues.
Her four children – Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward all travelled to Balmoral to be with their mother.
They were joined by her grandson Prince William and Prince Edward's wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.
Prince Harry joined the family at Balmoral later in the evening.
She also grieved for her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died at the age of 99 in April 2021.
News Source: ABC News 24; BBC News; Macquarie Media Network; Channel Seven News; Channel 7 and AAP News.
Picture source: ABC News 24
