The Queen has died at the age of 96 after a reign of 70 years

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96 after a reign of 70 years.

A statement fixed to the the gates of Buckingham Palace this evening said: “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.”

Queen

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The Queen’s last appearance at an industry event was the opening of the Elizabeth Line in May

His Majesty King Charles III said: “The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is 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. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

Earlier today, the palace had released a statement saying that the Queen’s doctors were concerned about her health. 

It added that doctors had recommended that the Queen remain under medical supervision, but that she was “comfortable”.

Members of the Royal Family including her grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry flew to Balmoral this afternoon to join Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew at the Queen’s side.

Liz Truss, the prime minister, said “we are all devastated” at the news of the Queen’s death, which came as a “huge shock to the nation and the world”.

The Queen’s death comes just two days after she posed for press photographs formally appointing Truss, the 15th of the monarch’s reign.

In a break with tradition, Truss and former prime minister Boris Johnson had travelled to Balmoral for the meeting instead of the usual location of Buckingham Palace.

Her last appearance at an industry event was when she opened the Elizabeth Line in May at Paddington Station just before her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

In a tweet, Sir Robert McAlpine said: “We join with the Royal Family and people around the world in mourning the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

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