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Queen Elizabeth passes at 96

HeadlineQueen Elizabeth passes at 96

Her Majesty The Queen died at her Scottish estate, Balmoral, after reigning for 70 years, and just days after endorsing the new British prime minister, Lizz Truss.

LONDON, Thurs. Sept. 8, 2022

The United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth the Second, “died this afternoon peacefully,” a statement released by Buckingham Palace today said. Her eldest son, Charles, Prince of Wales, will be crowned the new King of England, and head of state for 14 Commonwealth Realms. Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952 and has held the crown since then, up until the time of her death—with her most recent act being her endorsement of Lizz Truss to be the next prime minister of Great Britain. On Tuesday of this week, the Queen invited Truss to form a new government.

In her statement, Truss said the Queen “provided us with the stability and strength that we needed.”

The mourning period will be led by her eldest son and new King, Charles, Prince of Wales. In his statement released today, he said, “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.”

After doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision on Thursday, all her children traveled to Balmoral Castle.

A release from the Royal Commonwealth Society stated, “Since becoming the Head of the Commonwealth and Patron of the Society in 1952 at the age of 26, The Queen’s dedication to the Commonwealth has been unparalleled. From her numerous official visits to nearly every Commonwealth country to lending her name and support to programs and events of which the Society has been honored to deliver and support, including The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, and The Queen’s Young Leaders, Her Majesty’s commitment to the value, and values, of this network of nations and peoples, is humbling and irreplaceable.”

The Queen’s reign spanned 15 British prime ministers, Truss being the most recent, and Winston Churchill being the first—with an age gap of 101 years between them. 

The Queen was born in 1926 on April 21 as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor and became heir to the throne at the age of 10 after her father became King George VI, when the previous King, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry an American woman. 

She married her third cousin, the late Prince Philip of Greece, in 1947, making him the Duke of Edinburgh. She described him as “my strength and stay.” He passed away last year at the age of 99. 

A press release issued today by the Governor General of Belize, Dame Froyla Tzalam, stated: “On behalf of the people of Belize, Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam, Governor General of Belize, expresses deep sorrow and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Belize and 14 other countries in the realm and the head of the Commonwealth.”

The press release further noted, “The Queen ruled for longer than any other Monarch in British history, having just celebrated 70 years earlier this year. She was a much loved and respected figure across the globe. Her extraordinary reign has seen her travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking many historic overseas visits. Known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service, she has been an important figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth during times of enormous social change.”

“The Governor General is requesting that as a sign of respect and mourning that all national flags be flown at half-mast commencing today until the Committal Service for Her Majesty the Queen. Long Live the King!” the concluding portion of the release said.

This evening, a release from the Office of the Prime Minister announced a period of mourning for the late Queen.

“The Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. John Briceño, has ordered that all national flags be flown at half-mast from today until the Committal Service for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 18, 2022.

The Office of the Prime Minister further informs the nation that as a sign of utmost respect and in expression of deepest condolences, the nation will observe an official period of mourning during this time,” the late evening release said.

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