Palace announce death of Her Majesty
By Connor Steel
BUCKINGHAM PALACE have announced that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has passed away at the age of ninety-six years old at her Scottish retreat of Balmoral Castle today; the sad news of the Monarch’s death being broadcast live to the nation and the world just after 6:30pm UK time tonight (Thursday, September 8).
The news was made public via a statement reading: “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.”
It marks a sad conclusion to a seventy year reign at the throne for the Monarch, in which she has witnessed social change across Britain and fellow Commonwealth countries since becoming Queen in February 1952. In this time she has spanned fifteen British Prime Ministers and fourteen American Presidents as Monarch.
Flags have been lowered at half mast across the country including all Royal landmarks such as Buckingham Place, Windsor Castle and Sandringham. Government buildings nationwide have also followed suit including Downing Street, Holyrood, Stormont and the Senedd; whilst all official websites have turned black in respect.
Her death announcement comes after senior Royals gathered at Balmoral earlier today after concerns about the Monarch’s health were raised by doctors. This included all four children and fellow high profile members of the family; most arriving between 4pm and 5pmm this afternoon following their flights to Aberdeen airport.
Prince Charles has automatically become King with Camilla as Queen Consort and will be known as His Majesty Charles III following his mother’s death; the new monarch releasing his own statement: “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss further gave a speech on the steps of Downing Street just after 7:10pm, saying the Monarch was “the rock on which modern Britain was built” and was a woman who had “provided us with the stability and strength that we needed”. Truss also gave a personal tribute in her speech, saying: “The Queen was a personal inspiration to myself as well as many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all.”
She concluded her short broadcast to the nation by speaking about His Majesty the King and how Britain will support him: “We offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother devoted so much, to so many, for so long. And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country, exactly as Her Majesty would have wished, by saying the words ‘God save the King’.
A period of mourning will now begin following the Queen’s death with a sequence of ceremonial events and procedures to be followed under long written plans for this historic event. Gun salutes are likely to be held in most major cities such as Portsmouth and Southampton, whilst books of condolences are due to open to the public in due course. A national minute of silence is also due to be held in the coming days in her memory.
Readers are encouraged to visit media sites such as BBC News, Sky News and ITV News for all developing updates, whilst the Globe will be publishing tributes from local figures and organisations in the coming days. Anybody who wishes to share their own tributes, personal memories or stories about Her Majesty can send these by email to either editorial@thegosportglobe.co.uk or steel.connor@live.co.uk to be published shortly.
PICTURED BY THE ROYAL FAMILY: Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, passed away peacefully at Balmoral.
