The death of Queen Elizabeth II: Live updates | CNN (2024)

As anew era dawnsin Britain, arrangements for a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II are underway. Her son,King Charles III, has asked for a period of Royal Mourning to be observed from Friday, Sept. 9, until seven days after the Queen’s funeral, according to a Buckingham Palace statement.

The date of the funeral will be confirmed “in due course,” the statement added. Here’s what you can expect to happen in the coming days.

Here are some of the answers to common questions:

How will the Queen’s coffin return to London?

The coffin will first leave Balmoral, the Queen’s Scottish rural retreat, for the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The property is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. It will then likely travel in procession to Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral where the Queen will lie in rest before being moved down to London.

How can the public pay their respects?

Historical precedent suggests that once in London, the Queen will likely lie in state at Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster. Past monarchs’ coffins have rested on a raised platform — or catafalque — in the middle of the hall, guarded around the clock by units from the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, Foot Guards or the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

The coffin is likely to remain there for several days and it’s at this point that members of the public will be able to file past the platform and view the monarch’s coffin. Thousands are expected to queue, with some potentially sleeping out overnight in a bid to pay their respects.

What might the Queen’s funeral look like?

As monarch, Queen Elizabeth will automatically be granted a publicly funded state funeral. It will take place at Westminster Abbey sometime in the next two weeks, though the exact day will be confirmed in due course.

We’re still a few days away from a guest list, butheads of stateand dignitaries from around the world will likely make their way to the British capital to celebrate the Queen’s life and 70-year service to the nation. Other familiar faces will be some of the Queen’s 15 former prime ministers and senior lawmakers.

Read more.

Dame Karen Pierce, the British ambassador to the US, said while remembering the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, it is important to “confront” the history.

Asked about the criticism that the monarchy and the Queen “helped obscure a bloody history of decolonization,” as Maya Jasanoff, a professor of history at Harvard, put it in an New York Times opinion piece on Thursday, Pierce pointed out the Queen’s role of translating the British empire into the commonwealth.

Pierce said the Queen didn’t have any executive action and she wasn’t a government official.

“She was a constitutionalmonarch.She’s not directly responsiblein that sense for what has happened,” Pierce said.

“You can’t pretend to have adifferent history.The thing to do is confront thehistory in all its good thingsand its bad,” she added, saying her thoughts in the moment mirror the sentiments of Boris Johnson during the Black Lives Matter movement

Watch the moment:

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Britain's King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace, in London on September 9.

King Charles IIIdelivered his first public address as the new British monarch on Friday, just a day after ascending to the throne following the death of his motherQueen Elizabeth II.

He paid tribute to the Queen, saying she had “a life well lived”:

The speech was pre-recorded at Buckingham Palace earlier on Friday. Sitting behind a desk, with a picture of his mother displayed prominently to his left, Charles promised he would continue in her footsteps and serve his people:

He addressed his family, including his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort. He also said he wanted to “express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas.” And he announced that his son William would be given the title Prince of Wales:

The King also noted in his speech that the UK now is much different than it was 70 years ago, and said he is devoted to his duty to the nation, as his mother was:

He ended on a personal note, with another message to the late Queen:

Queen Elizabeth poses for a picture with one of her Corgi's at Sandringham House, Norfolk on February 4, 1970.

When Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history,died on Thursdayat the age of 96, she left behind not just her nation and family members but a gaggle of canine companions.

Throughout her long life, she was regularly photographed with aWelsh corgiat her feet – a dog breed that became synonymous with the monarch.

At the time of her passing, Queen Elizabeth is reported to have had four dogs.

According tothe American Kennel Club, she had two Pembroke Welsh corgis, Muick and Sandy, as well as an older, mixed-breed “dorgi” called Candy. A co*cker spaniel, Lissy, reportedly joined the gang in January this year.

The Queen was often credited with creating the dorgi breed when her corgi mated with a dachshund owned by her sister, Princess Margaret.

Joe Little, a royal biographer and managing editor of Majesty magazine, told CNN he believes the dogs will be cared for by royal staff before being adopted by Princess Anne and Prince Andrew.

“Princess Anne has had corgis of her own in the past,” he explained. “The two most recent additions came from the Duke of York and his daughters, so perhaps they could go to him. It’s unlikely that they’ll be split up.”

The British Armed Forces have conducted gun salutes across the United Kingdom, on ships at sea and overseas to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, one round was fired for every 96 years of the monarch’s life.

“Thousands of peoplestood in silence for 16 minutes at 1pm as the guns boomed once every 10 seconds,” the ministry said.

King Charles III speaks with Prime Minister Liz Truss during their first meeting at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

King Charles described the death of his mother as the moment he had been “dreading” during an audience with UK Prime Minister Liz Truss on Friday.

His comments were picked up on camera as he shook hands and posed for photos with Truss at Buckingham Palace.

“The moment I’ve been dreading, as I know a lot of people have,” the King was overheard telling Truss.

William and Kate have had their official Twitter handle changed Friday to reflect their new titles — Prince and Princess of Wales.

King Charles III officially bestowed the title on the couple during his speech to the nation on Friday. Theywere previously known as the Duke and duch*ess of Cambridge.

King Charles III recorded his first televised address to the UK in a room of Buckingham Palace referred to as the Blue Drawing Room, according to a royal source.

The room is where the late Queen Elizabeth II recorded some of her annual Christmas messages over the years.On the desk where Charles sat was a floral arrangement consisting of a a posy of sweet peas mixed with rosemary, which represents remembrance, the source said.

The vase has images of three corgis — a breed of dog the Queen was known to favor and owned two of at the time of her death — which used to be placed in her audience room.

An audience of mourners in St. Paul’s Cathedral sung the national anthem “God Save the King” for the first time during a service of prayer and reflection for the late Queen ElizabethII.

Queen Elizabeth II had spoken of her faith and referred to Jesus Christ as her “anchor and role model,” the Bishop of London said during a ceremony of remembrance at St Paul’s Cathedral Friday.

The Bishop praised the Queen for the strength she showed during the “depths of her own mourning” by putting others first.

King Charles III on Friday delivered his first televised address to the nation as sovereign following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

You can read his full remarks here.

Here is a video of his full speech:

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President Joe Biden speaks before boarding Air Force One in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday.

US President Joe Biden said he will attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

“Yes,” Biden told reporters Friday when asked whether he planned to attend the funeral, details of which have not been announced by the Palace.

“I don’t know what the details are yet, but I will be going,” Biden said.

He told reporters he’d not yet spoken to King Charles III following the Queen’s death.

“I know him. I haven’t spoken to him. I did not call him yet,” Biden said.

British Prime Minister Liz Truss delivered the second reading at St. Paul’s Cathedral during a ceremony of remembrance for the Queen.

“We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s,” the scripture said.

The Service of Prayer and Reflection on the death of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral in London has now started.

At the conclusion of his televised remarks to the United Kingdom, King Charles III again expressed his gratitude to his mother.

“To my darling mama, as youbegin your last great journeyto join my dear late papa, I wantsimply to say this: Thank you,” he said.“Thank you for your love anddevotion to our family and to thefamily of nations you haveserved so diligently all theseyears.”

King Charles III mentioned Prince Harry and his wife Meghan in his first speech as King.

“I want also to express my lovefor Harry and Meghan as theycontinue to build their livesoverseas,” he said about the Duke and duch*ess ofSussex in his speech.

Prince William and Catherine stand together with their children on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in June.

William is now the Prince of Wales, King Charles III said in his first televised speech on Friday.

“With Catherine beside him, ournew Prince and Princess of Waleswill, I know, continue toinspire and lead our nationalconversations,” the King added.

Theywere previously known as the Duke and duch*ess of Cambridge.

Some background: William is first in line to the throne. He served in the military from 2006 to 2013, participating in more than 150 helicopter search and rescue operations.

The new Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, have said they will “approach their roles in the modest and humble way they’ve approached their work previously,” a royal source told CNN.

“The couple are focused on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time,” they said.

The Princess of Wales said she “appreciates the history associated with this role but will understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path.”

CNN’s Max Foster contributed reporting to this post.

King Charles III confirmed he will give up much of his charity work as he commits himself to a new life as monarch.

“But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others,” he added.

It is expected for the British monarch to be strictly apolitical, a commitment which the Queen steadfastly upheld throughout her reign.

Charles has been involved in a number of charitable causes, and has had a particular focus on environmentalism.

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort view tributes left outside Buckingham Palace on Friday.

King Charles III noted his ascension to the British throne brings change for his family too, and highlighted the role that his wife Camilla would be stepping in.

“I know she will bring to thedemands of her new role, thesteadfast devotion to duty onwhich I have come to rely somuch,” he continued.

King Charles III, in his first address as King, pledged to uphold the duties of monarch after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

“Our values have remained, andmust remain constant.The role and the duties ofmonarchy also remain, as doesthe sovereignty, so theparticular relationship andresponsibility towards thethe church in which my ownfaith is so deeply rooted,” he said.

He also noted his devotion to British territories around the globe.

“And wherever you may live inthe United Kingdom, or in therealms and territories acrossthe world, and whatever maybeyour background or beliefs, Ishall endeavor to serve youwith loyalty, respect, and love,as I have throughout my life,” he said.

King Charles III, in his first address as King, paid tribute to his mother Queen Elizabeth II, saying her commitment to service and the people never wavered and “defined her whole life.”

He said the Queen made sacrifices and her dedication remained strong “throughtimes of change and progress,but times of joy andcelebration, and through timesof sadness and loss.”

The King said during her life of service, her love of tradition, but also her embrace of progress, made her great.

“The affection, admiration andrespect she inspired became thehallmark of her reign,” he said.“And as every member of my familycan testify, she combined thesequalities with warmth, humor,and an unerring ability alwaysto see the best in people.”

In his first address to the United Kingdom as the new monarch, King Charles III said he renews the promise of lifelong service to the nation.

“Alongside the personal griefthat all my family are feeling,we also share with so many ofyou in the United Kingdom, andall the countries where theQueen was head of state — in thecommonwealth and across theworld. A deep sense ofgratitude for the more than 70years in which my mother, asQueen, served the people of somany nations,” he added.

King Charles III is delivering his first address now as King to the UK and world.

“And we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family could owe to their mother for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example,” he added.

“Queen Elizabeth’s was a life well lived,” Charles said.

King Charles III is delivering his first televised address to the nation as sovereign following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

The speech was recorded earlier on Saturdayfrom Buckingham Palace. At the same time, a service of remembrance at St Paul’s Cathedral is now underway.

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Mourners have started to take their seats in St. Paul’s Cathedral for the service of prayer and reflection for the Queen, according tothe UK’s PA Media news agency.

Around 2,000 members of the public will be attending the service along with government leaders, including Prime Minister Liz Truss and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Senior members of the royal family are not expected to attend.

Bells can be heard tolling ahead of the service.

King Charles III will hold an audience withUK Prime Minister Liz Truss andherCabinet on Saturday, after he is officially proclaimed monarch,Downing Street said in a statement.

It will be Truss’ second audience with Charles following her audience at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

The order of service for theService of Prayer and Reflectionon the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Friday includes a reading by Prime Minister Liz Truss and and address given byThe Bishop of London,Dame Sarah Mullally.

It also includes a blessing given bythe Archbishop of Canterbury,Justin Welby.

The music before the service will include pieces fromHerbert Howells,Ralph Vaughan Williams,Peter Maxwell Davies andEdward Elgar.

The new King will be formally proclaimed monarch on Saturday at the Accession Council,Buckingham Palace announced.

The ceremony is set to take place in the state apartments of St James’s Palace in London and attended by Privy Councillors.

“The King will make his Declaration and read and sign an oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland and approve Orders in Council which facilitate continuity of government,” the palace said.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, praising her ability to “keep her finger on the pulse of the people.”

“She loved the people. She served them, but she was never complacent about the need to always to understand them,” Blair told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

Blair served as prime minister between 1997 and 2007 and was in power at a difficult time for the monarchy – the death of Princess Diana. He told Amanpour that her reticence to speak publicly after Diana died came from her desire to protect her grandchildren.

“She was a queen but also a grandmother and had two young grandchildren, the two boys, who were obviously very close to their mother. … So it was difficult for her. But once she understood the necessity of reaching out to the people, because there were people misunderstanding this reticence that she had. It was really to do with her desire to look after the children. But once she realized that she should speak, she did … in a way which completely brought people back to her,” he said.

Blair also reminisced about his audiences with Queen Elizabeth II and praised her ability to be a “sympathetic ear.”

“She was immensely gracious and kind, sympathetic. You know, we would have good discussions. She was one person in whom you could have complete confidence and say whatever you needed to say, ask whatever you wanted to ask,” he said.

Blair also predicted that King Charles III will “follow in the Queen’s footsteps” in how he serves as the UK’s new head of state.

Blair also said that he didn’t believe that previous causes the King has taken up, such as climate activism, will be an issue now that he is monarch.

“I don’t think it’s particularly, at least here [in the UK], politically contentious to be concerned about that, but I could not doubt as the monarch, as the head of state now, he will abide by the constitution in a very faithful way,” Blair said.

The England and WalesCricketBoard announced that allcricketmatches will resume on Saturday to honor the Queen’s “remarkable life and service.”

“Following the cancellation of Friday’scricketfixtures as a mark of respect on announcement of her death, the England and WalesCricketBoard can confirm that play will resume from Saturday including international, domestic, and recreational fixtures. The decision has been taken after consultation with DCMS and in line with Official National Mourning guidance,” according to a statement.

The men’s test match between England and South Africa,previously postponed on Thursday due to badweather, willbegin on Saturday at The Oval while the Women’s IT20 match between England and India will also go ahead at the Riverside in Durham.

The Men’s U19 match between England and Sri Lanka as well as recreationalcricketfixtures will also proceed as planned.

Meanwhile, in boxing, the historic middleweight championship fight between American Claressa Shields and British fighter Savannah Marshal has been called off due to national mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II.

“Our sincere thoughts are with His Majesty King Charles III and the Royal Family during this profoundly sombre time,” the organizers Boxxer said in a statement. The fight is provisionally rescheduled for Oct. 15 at the O2 Arena in London.

Police officers are deployed outside Buckingham Palace on Friday.

Additional police officers will be posted in locations across London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the King’s return to London, according to a statement from The Metropolitan Police.

“The public will see additional officers posted outside key locations, including transport hubs, Royal Parks and outside Royal residences in London. We will be keeping people safe with highly visible patrols across London,” the Met Police said on Friday.

The Met also noted that police forces across the UK routinely share officers through a process called “mutual aid” to ensure that an appropriate police presence exists in times of increased demand. This routine officer sharing will likely be implemented in the coming days, according to The Met.

The UK’s PA Media news agency has reported that around 10,000 police officers could be on duty each day in the lead-upto the Queen’s state funeral. It is expected to be “the biggest security operation the country has ever seen,” PA reported, citingformer Metropolitan Police Commander Bob Broadhurst.

Broadhurst said he expects the policing numbers to be similar to the presence during the LondonOlympics and Paralympics in 2012, during which about 10,000 officers were on duty each day, according to PA.

Earlier on Friday, Met officers and staff expressed their condolences to the royal family and held a moment of silence.

Producers of the Netflix historical drama “The Crown” are pausing production on the show’s sixth season on Friday after Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

The Emmy-winning series, created by Peter Morgan, centers on the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Harry Potter” alum Imelda Staunton will take overtherole of Queen Elizabeth, which was played in previous seasons by Claire Foy (Seasons 1 and 2) and Olivia Colman (Seasons 3 and 4).

Both Foy and Colman won Primetime Emmy Awards fortheir portrayals.

Theshow is expected to conclude after Season 6.

Correction: A previous version of this post said the fifth season of production of the show was paused. It is the sixth.

White House aides are making initial preparations for US President Joe Biden to travel to London to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, but the administration only plans to announce his attendance after the palace reveals its plans, according to people familiar with the matter.

The President will be accompanied by an official delegation.

The last time a British monarch died, the US president did not attend the funeral. President Harry S. Truman dispatched his Secretary of State Dean Acheson to attend George VI’s funeral in 1952.

For other high-profile funerals, the delegation has included former US presidents. When John Paul II died, then-President George W. Bush attended with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and former President Bill Clinton.

In 2013, then-President Barack Obama included George W. Bush, Clinton and former President Jimmy Carter in the official delegation to Nelson Mandela’s funeral. Bush traveled with him to South Africa aboard Air Force One, along with Hillary Clinton.

King Charles III has held his first in-person audience with UK Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace, according to Press Association.

The monarch will not attend a service later at St Paul’sCathedral in London.

However, he is expected to address the nation and the Commonwealth in a message to be broadcast at 1 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time).

Taoiseach Micheal Martin talks to media in May 2021 in Brussels, Belgium.

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, known as the Taoiseach, shared his“sincere condolences” over the death of Queen Elizabeth II during a call with British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Friday.

A Downing Street spokesperson said:

“The Prime Minister thanked the Taoiseach for his condolences, and the leaders agreed Her Majesty The Queen had played a central role in healing divides and bringing people together,” the spokesperson said.

A woman who gave King Charles III a peck on the cheek as he greeted the crowd before entering Buckingham Palace told CNN why she decided to kiss him.

“I couldn’t believe it and Isaid to him, ‘may I kiss you?’And he said, ‘well, yes.’So I grabbed him, and I’m veryhappy,”Jenny Assiminios told CNN’s Max Foster.

“It never crossed my mind” that she’d ever kiss a king, she said, adding that he looked sad and it was “just a feeling” that came over her to comfort him as he mourns his mother.

“He’s lovely, he’s perfect,” she said.

She said she loves the royal family and follows their lives.

Other people in the crowd earlier shook hands with the King and shouted well-wishes to him.

Watch the moment here:

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KingCharlesand Queen Camilla walk into Buckingham Palace, in London, England, on September 9.

King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, have entered Buckingham Palace after greeting crowds of well-wishers and viewing flowers left in honor of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Charles smiled and shared brief words with many of the people who had lined up to greet him. He took flowers and even received a kiss on the cheek.

The Royal Standard flag has been raised, indicating the monarch is present at the Palace.

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King Charles III will address the nation and the Commonwealth at 1 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time), a statement from Buckingham Palace said on Friday.

A transcript of the message will also be available from Press Association, the statement said.

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her son, Charles, immediately became King.

Here’s what we know about the British royal family’s line of succession.

King Charles

Born:Nov. 14, 1948

What to know:First in the line of succession, Charles wasthe longest serving British monarch-in-waiting;he’s been the heir apparent since the age of 3. As president of The Prince’s Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and president or patron of more than 400 charitable organizations, the Prince of Wales is the first royal heir to earn a university degree.

More key relatives:Diana, Princess of Wales, to whom he was married from 1981 to 1996. They had two children together: Princes William and Harry.

Diana died in 1997 following a car accident in Paris, along with boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul.

In 2005, the Prince of Wales marriedCamilla, the duch*ess of Cornwall.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Born:June 21, 1982

What to know:Prince William, next line to the throne after his father Charles, has achieved the highest educational degree – Masmer of Arta – of any member of the royal family. He served in the military from 2006 to 2013, participating in more than 150 helicopter search and rescue operations.

More key relatives:Catherine, duch*ess of Cambridge, whom he married in 2011. The couple have three children together: Prince George, 9; Princess Charlotte, 7; and Prince Louis, 4.

The family live in Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom property in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire, about 25 miles from London. The Cambridges’ London residence, Kensington Palace, will remain the family’s principal residence, however, a royal sourcetold CNNin August.

Prince George of Cambridge

Born:July 22, 2013

What to know:When Prince George arrived, he became third in line to inherit the throne. If he becomes king after the reigns of his grandfather Prince Charles and his father Prince William, George will be the 43rd monarch since William the Conqueror.

But for now,he’s still brushing up on his education: George currently attendsLambrook Schoolnear Windsor along with his younger sister, Charlotte and his younger brother, Louis.

View morehere.

King Charles III greets mourners as he arrives at Buckingham Palace in London, on September 9.

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, have arrived at London’s Buckingham Palace amid cheering crowds.

The new monarch greeted the well-wishers and shook many people’s hands, with some attendees saying, “We love you, King Charles!”

Some people could be heard singing “God save our gracious king,” the first line of the British national anthem.

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Camilla, the Queen Consort, visits The International School at ParkCity in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in November 2017.

With her husband’saccession to the thronefollowing thedeath of Queen Elizabeth IIon Thursday, Camilla has become Queen Consort and will take on a new and more prominent role alongside King Charles III.

Just over25 years after the death of Charles’ first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, Camilla remains a divisive figure in Britain.

Here’s what you should know:

Born Camilla Shand in July 1947, she reportedly met Prince Charles at a polo match in Windsor in 1970 and they became friends.

The following year Charles joined the Royal Navy and, while he was away, Camilla married cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles. The couple had two children during the 1970s.

In 1999, Clarence House embarked on a program to reintroduce Camilla to the public with a carefully orchestrated first appearance with Charles outside the Ritz Hotel in London. She moved into Clarence House to be with Charles and her name started appearing on official paperwork.

Their story reached its climax in 2005, when they were wed in Windsor, with the Queen’s consent. Camilla, now known as Her Royal Highness the duch*ess of Cornwall, was confirmed as Charles’ official consort and future queen of the United Kingdom.

The duch*ess threw herself into life as a senior royal, supporting Charles on official engagements in the UK and on overseas tours, despite her deep fear of flying. She quickly became an asset for the royal family and British government with her common touch and ability to dissipate the tension in a room.

But over the years, attitudes towards Camilla have softened. In 2015, a CNN poll found that one in four Britons had grown to like her more and fewer people opposed her becoming known as queen.

Then, in February 2022, the Queen used the landmark milestone of her Platinum Jubilee to give her blessing for the duch*ess of Cornwall to be known as queen when the time came. It was a hugely significant intervention from the monarch, the only person who can define royal titles.

Read the full story here.

A limousine carrying Britain'sKingCharlesand Queen Camilla leaves RAF Northolt, near London, England, on September 9.

The plane carrying King Charles III has landed at RAF Northolt, a military airbase near London.

He is making his way to the UK capital from Balmoral Castle, and will address the nation later.

All weekend football fixtures previously scheduled in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland have been postponed as “a mark of respect,” following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

In England, all Premier League, English Football League, Women’s Super League, Women’s Championship, Women’s FA Cup National League, FA Trophy and all grassroots football matches were postponed, the English Football Association (FA) announced on Friday.

The WSL had been ready for a major launch of its new season, hoping to capitalize on the soaring popularity since the women’s Euros this year.

All flags at Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park will continue to fly at half-mast over the weekend, according to the FA.

It comes as the sporting world responds to the death of the monarch. Horse racing in the United Kingdom has been halted and the second day of the PGA Championship golf tournament has been put on hold.

In Scotland, the Scottish Football Association announced that in conjunction with the Scottish Professional Football League, Scottish Women’s Premier League, and Scottish Highland and lowland Football Leagues that all professional football matches will also be postponed this weekend.

Scottish FA president Rod Petrie announced the decision in a statement saying that after discussions, “it was agreed that this was the appropriate step to take” after the Queen’s death.

Earlier on Friday, the Northern Ireland Football Association announced this weekend’s fixtures across all affiliated football in the country.

Separately, the English professional rugby union, Gallagher Premiership has postponed Friday’s season opening fixtures, and the Welsh Rugby Union has suspended all senior rugby matches in Wales for the weekend.

Former Prime Minister Theresa May reading a tribute out in the House of Commons, London, on September 9 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Former British Prime Minister Theresa May has said the Queen was a “thoughtful hostess” during weekends at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, recalling stories from their time together at the estate.

May said the Queen “wanted all her guests to enjoy themselves,”

“She would take an interest in what books were put in your room. And she didn’t always expect to be the center of attention. She was quite happy to sit sometimes playing her form of patience while others were mingling around her,” May said.

She recalled the Queen driving May and her husband around the Balmoral estate, which she said Philip May likened to being in a dream.

“Her Majesty loved the countryside, and she was down to earth and a woman of common sense,” the former leader said.

May recalled a picnic at Balmoral, during which she dropped some cheese on the ground, before attempting to sneakily pick it up, dust it off, and place it back on the table.

“I turned around to see that my every move had been watched very carefully by Her Majesty the Queen. I looked at her, she looked at me, and she just smiled. And the cheese remained on the table,” May said, to laughs in the Commons.

May served as Prime Minister from 2016 to 2019, in the aftermath of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.

“They were also the one meeting I went to which I knew would not be briefed out to the media,” she joked, to an eruption of laughter.

“What made those audiences so special was the understanding the Queen had of issues … she knew many of the world leaders. In some cases, she had known their fathers.”

“Yesterday was a day that we all knew would come some time, but in our hearts of hearts, we hoped never would,” May said in the House of Commons.

“Queen Elizabeth II was quite simply the most remarkable person I have ever met,” she added.

People walk past closed shops, including Selfridges, on Oxford Street in London on Friday.

Selfridges, one of the United Kingdom’s oldest department stores, is honoring Queen Elizabeth II by closing its stores on Friday.

“As a mark of respect, our London, Manchester and Birmingham stores are now closed and will reopen on Saturday 10 September,” Selfridges announced on its website.

Luxury department store Harrods announced on Friday that it wouldbe closing its stores on the day of the Queen’s state funeral “to commemorate the life of Her Majesty the Queen and pay our respects.”

“Harrods stands with the entire nation in grief on the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. Her Majesty stood as a symbol of Britain, bringing comfort, leadership and steadfastness to millions over her 70 year reign,” it said in a statement.

Prince William,the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge, has left the Balmoral Castle, and is traveling back to Windsor Castle to be with his family ahead of the Accession Council tomorrow, a Kensington Palace spokesperson told CNN on Friday.

Catherine, the duch*ess of Cornwall and Cambridge, remained in Windsor as her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are on their first week at their new school, Kensington Palace had said in a statement on Thursday.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks in the House of Commons, Westminster, England, on September 9.

Boris Johnson called the Queen “the keystone in the vast arch in the British state” during his tribute to the monarch in the House of Commons.

He said that during his time as Prime Minister, the BBC filmed an interview with him in which they asked him to discuss the Queen in the past tense. Johnson did not explain why the request was made, but networks routinely prepare footage to broadcast in the event of a notable figure’s death.

“I’m afraid I simply choked up, and I couldn’t go on. And I’m really not easily moved to tears, but I was so overcome with sadness that I had to ask them to go away,” Johnson said.

“Think of what we asked that 25-year-old woman all those years ago. To be the person so globally trusted that her image should be on every unit of our currency, every postage stamp, the person in whose name all justice is dispensed in this country,” Johnson said.

“Think what we asked of her in that moment.”

Outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives for an audience with the Queen to formally resign as Prime Minister at Balmoral Castle on September 6, in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The Queen was “radiant” and “knowledgable” in her audience with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday, Johnson has said in the House of Commons.

Johnson told lawmakers the Queen’s “impulse to do her duty carried her right through into her tenth decade, to the very moment in Balmoral only three days ago when she saw off her 14th Prime Minister and welcomed her 15th.”

“I can tell you in that audience, she was as radiant and as knowledgable and as fascinated by politics as ever I can remember — and as wise in her advice as anyone I know, if not wiser,” Johnson said.

The Queen met Johnson to formally accept his resignation as Prime Minister on Tuesday, and moments she later welcomed his successor Liz Truss. It was her final official duty as monarch.

King Charles III will be proclaimed at the Accession Council at 10 a.m. in London (5 a.m. ET) on Saturday in the state apartments of St. James’ Palace, a statement from Buckingham Palace said Friday.

The statement said the Accession Council will be followed by the Principal Proclamation which will be read at 11 a.m. local from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St. James’ Palace in the British capital.

A second proclamation will be read out at the Royal Exchange at noon on Sunday, it added.

Further proclamations will be read out in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales at the same time.

The Bank of England will postpone its interest rate decision by one week, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The UK’s central bank had been due to meet on Sept. 15, and was widely expected to raise interest rates as it deals with high inflation and increased government borrowing. It will now meet on Sept. 22.

“In light of the period of national mourning now being observed in the United Kingdom, the September 2022 meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee has been postponed for a period of one week. The Committee’s decision will be announced at 12 noon on 22 September,” the bank said in a statement.

Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, speaks at the House of Commons, London, England, on September 9.

“Today our country, our people, this House are united in mourning,” Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, has told the House of Commons as he paid tribute to the Queen.

“Queen Elizabeth II was this great country’s greatest monarch. And for the vast majority of us, it feels impossible to imagine a Britain without her,” Starmer said.

“Queen Elizabeth created a special personal relationship with us all.”

“She did not simply reign over us; she lived alongside us. She shared in our hopes and our fears, our joy and our pain, our good times and our bad,” Starmer added.

Like Prime Minister Liz Truss, the Labour leader singled out the Queen’s public intervention during the Covid-19 pandemic as a key moment in her rule.

“At the time we were most alone, at a time we’d been driven apart, she held the nation close in a way no-one else could have done.”

“For that, we say thank you.”

Starmer also marked the beginning of the reign of King Charles III.

“We join together today, not just to say goodbye to our Queen or to share in our mourning, but to say something else important: God Save The King,” he said.

“Because as one era ends, so another begins. King Charles III has been a devoted servant of this country his entire life, he has been a powerful voice for fairness, and understood the importance of the environment long before many others.”

He wished the new monarch “a long, happy and successful reign.”

CNN’s Zahid Mahmood contributed reporting.

Liz Truss has told the Commons she spoke to the new King on Thursday evening, shortly after the Queen’s death was announced.

“Even as he mourns, his sense of duty and service is clear,” Truss said. “He has already made a profound contribution through his work on conservation, education, and his tireless diplomacy.”

“We owe him our loyalty and devotion.”

Truss went on: “The British people, the Commonwealth and all of us in this House will support him as he takes our country forward to a new era of hope and progress: Our new Carolean age.”

Britain's King Charles III boards his plane at Aberdeen Airport to travel to London on September 9.

King Charles III was seen boarding an aircraft at Aberdeen airport and is now bound for London.

WATCH: King Charles III boards plane at Aberdeen airport.

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Prime Minister Liz Truss reading a tribute out in the House of Commons, London, on September 9 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has praised the Queen’s history of facilitating diplomacy in her speech to the House of Commons.

“She was the nation’s greatest diplomat; her visits to post-Apartheid South Africa and to the Republic of Ireland showed a unique ability to transcend difference and heal division,” Truss said.

“She met more people than any other monarch in our history,” Truss went on. “I have personally greatly valued her wise advice.”

Truss also praised the Queen’s speech in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the country was in lockdown.

“During the darkest moments of the pandemic, she gave us hope that we would meet again,” Truss said.

“She knew this generation of Britons would be as strong as any … her devotion to duty remains an example to us all.”

Prime Minister Liz Truss addresses the House of Commons in Westminster, England, on September 9.

A special session of Parliament has begun in London, where lawmakers will pay tribute to the Queen for the next 10 hours.

Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss is opening the session with a speech.

“In the hours since last night’s shocking news, we have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of grief at the loss of the Her late Majesty, the Queen,” Truss said.

“Crowds have gathered; flags have been lowered to half mast; tributes have been sent from every continent.”

The Queen “was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known,” Truss added, to quiet cheers of approval from lawmakers.

In the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth and in cities around the world, the Queen’s image has been projected onto buildings in tribute to her life.

Piccadilly Circus in London displayed an image of the smiling Queen on its big screens.

Members of the public stop in the rain to study a huge picture of Queen Elizabeth displayed at Piccadilly Circus in central London on September 8, after the announcement of her death.

Another image was shown on the side of the Sydney Opera House, Australia.

An image of the Queen is projected onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House on September 9.

And a picture of the Queen was broadcast on a large screen in central Tokyo, the Japanese capital.

A big screen at Tokyo's Shibuya Crossing showing images of Queen Elizabeth II in a news program on September 9.

In Paris, France, the lights of the Eiffel Tower were switched off to pay tribute to Elizabeth II.

The lights of the Eiffel tower are turned off in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, in Paris, France.

And London bus stops showed images of the monarch on Thursday evening.

Digital advertising boards at bus stops in London, England, adorned with images of Queen Elizabeth II following her death.

King Charles III leaves the Balmoral estate to return to London on September 9, in Aberdeen, Scotland.

King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, have left Balmoral Castle in Scotland en route to London.

The new monarch will make an address to the nation later on Friday.

MPs observe one minute's silence in memory of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Houses of Parliament, London, England, on September 9.

The government of the United Kingdom has advised there is “no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues” during the period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

“This is at the discretion of individual organisations,” stated the guidance released by the Cabinet Office on Friday. “As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral.”

“If sporting fixtures or events are planned for the day of the State Funeral, organisations may want to adjust the event timings so they do not clash with the timings of the funeral service and associated processions,” it added.

A period of national mourning forQueenElizabeth II has now started and will continue until the end of the day of the State Funeral, the Cabinet Office said.The date for theQueen’s funeral has not yet been confirmed, according to a Buckingham Palace statement released earlier on Friday.

Football fixtures went ahead in the UK on Thursday evening, with moments of silence held beforehand.

“As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands.”

The Cabinet Office guidance also noted that public museums, galleries, and similar venues are not obliged to close, but may choose to on the day of theQueen’s State Funeral.

“As with other organisations, these institutions may wish to display or share images of previous Royal visits, particularly if they are one of Her Majesty’s patronages,” the guidance said.

More than 8 out of 10 people (86%) in England and Wales have never known a monarch other than Queen Elizabeth II, CNN analysis of 2021 census data shows.

Census figures from the Office for National Statistics show about 8.1 million people – out of England and Wales’s population of 59.6 million people – are aged 70 or above.

Queen Elizabeth’s reign, the longest ever for a British monarch, began in February 1952.

The Duke of Sussex boards a plane at Aberdeen Airport on September 9, as he travels to London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Prince Harry arrived at Aberdeen airport on Friday morning where he was escorted onto a commercial British Airways flight to London’s Heathrow Airport, the UK’s PA Media news agency reported.

He was seen walking across the tarmac with a backpack over his shoulder, talking to a staff member wearing a hi-vis jacket. At one point, Harry placed his hand on the back of the woman.

The Duke of Sussex boards a plane at Aberdeen Airport on September 9, as he travels to London following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The plane believed to be carrying Harry is en route to London, expected to arrive around 11:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. ET).

Harry traveled to Balmoral Castle on Thursday evening, arriving shortly after the Queen’s death was announced. He made his way to the estate separately from other members, who boarded an RAF flight from London earlier.

Harry lives in California with his wife Meghan, duch*ess of Sussex, but the couple happened to be in the UK this week for a series of events.

Images of the Queen at various stages of her long reign adorn the front pages of all of Britain’s major newspapers on Friday.

The Times was one of a handful of papers to use an image from the Queen’s coronation. It ran the headline “A Life in Service,” and like its competitors dedicated several pages to cover her death.

The Mirror instead showed a profile of the Queen later in life, in front of a black background. Its headline read simply: “Thank you.”

The Mirror joined a number of other tabloids in removing the color from its masthead.

The Daily Express tabloid told readers: “Our beloved Queen is dead.” It used the same image that the Royal Family did when it announced her death on its social media accounts.

And the Daily Mail, using an image of a young Queen staring directly into a camera, said “Our hearts are broken.”

King Charles III attends the Braemar Highland Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on September 3, in Braemar, Scotland.

Friday morning marked the dawn of a new era in the United Kingdom and around the Commonwealth.

Charles — the country’s longest-serving heir apparent, whom Brits had grown so accustomed to viewing in the shadow of his enduring mother — has begun his reign as King. He will soon travel to London and introduce himself to the world as the new monarch.

Meanwhile, there will be a series of tributes to Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign began in the aftermath of World War II and spanned seven decades.

Here’s what we’re expecting on Friday.

QueenElizabethII’slifewasfull and she never lost hope, eveninbad moments, theArchbishopofCanterbury JustinWelby told the BBC on Friday.

“I obviously spoke to her after the deathofthe DukeofEdinburgh and spent some time with her, andtherewasjusta solidity of hopeinherlife,” Welby said.

Losing theQueenis an “enormous shift” for manyinthe United Kingdom and around the world, according to Welby.

“A partofour lives we’ve taken for granted as being permanent is no longerthere,” he said.

“I think many people will be finding that senseofnot just grief, but also uncertainty and to some extent a wondering about what is permanent,” he added.

ThearchbishopofCanterburyis the principal leaderofthe ChurchofEngland,ofwhich the British Monarch is the head.

Windsor Castle shortly after the announcement by Buckingham Palace of the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8.

KingCharlesIII has asked for a period of Royal Mourning to be observed from Friday until seven days after the Queen’s funeral, according to a Buckingham Palace statement, which added that the date of the funeral will be confirmed “in due course.”

Royal Residences will close until after the Queen’s funeral, according to the Palace.

Royal Mourning is a separate process to National Mourning, which also began on Friday.

The period of Royal Mourning will be observed by “Members of the Royal Family, Royal Household staff and Representatives of the Royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to Ceremonial Duties,” according to Buckingham Palace’s statement.

General Secretary Mick Lynch, center, and Eddie Dempsey, right, Assistant General Secretary, of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), outside London Euston train station as union members take part in a fresh strike over jobs, pay and conditions on July 27.

Trade unions in the UK have suspended strike action following the death of Queen Elizabeth.

The RMT, which represents rail and transport workers, said it would not be going on strike on Sept. 15and 17. Its General Secretary Mick Lynch said “RMT joins the whole nation in paying its respects to Queen Elizabeth. We express our deepest condolences to her family, friends and the country.”

The CWU, which represents postal workers, has also called off strike action due to take place Friday. It tweeted that it called off the action “following the very sad news of the passing of the Queen and out of respect for her service to the country and her family.”

Australia's Speaker Milton Dick, Prime MinisterAnthonyAlbaneseand President Sue Lines sign the condolence book following the death of Queen Elizabeth at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on September 9.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed the words Queen Elizabeth II used more than 20 years ago to comfort New York following the September 11 terrorist attacks as he paid tribute on Friday to the British monarch following her death.

Albanese noted the Queen had visited Australia 16 times during her reign, traveling to every state and territory in the country.

CNN spoke with some of the Australians who showed up to sign a condolence book at a church in Sydney.

Dozens were waiting at any one time and the line extended out the door of the church.

Chase Griffiths, who served in the Australian navy for more than seven years, said “hearing the news this morning was quite devastating.”

“It can’t be denied that there’s some kind of sentiment toward the Queen,” regardless of people’s feelings on the monarchy itself, he said, referring to a long-running debate over whether the country should become a republic.

Oliver Addis said the Queen was somebody “who put others before herself, fundamentally. She put her job as the Queen, and all that that represented, ahead of her personal wishes.”

“I think the trouble with our leaders today is so many of them put themselves and their personal wishes ahead of those of the nation,” he said.

“I take my hat off to her.”

Kylie Riddle said she planned to write “God Bless the Queen” in the condolence book, adding that the Queen will “be missed.”

Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence on Friday to King Charles III of the United Kingdom following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“On behalf of the Chinese government, the Chinese people and himself, Xi expressed deep condolences over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, and extended sincere sympathies to the royal family, government and people of the UK,” Chinese state media CCTV reported.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, in his message Xi emphasized the importance of “the development of China-UK relations.”

In his message, Xi said, as the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth won praise and admiration widely. She was the first British monarch to visit China and her death was a huge loss for the people of UK, he said, according to CCTV.

Some context: In 1986 Queen Elizabeth II visited China with stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Kunming and Guangzhou. She became the first, and so far only British monarch to set foot in mainland China.

She toured various Chinese landmarks, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors.

Her visit came some two years after the two governments signed a joint declaration, paving the way for former British colony Hong Kong’s return to China.

Among the Chinese leaders the Queen met in Beijing was then-paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.

The Christ the Redeemer statue is illuminated in red, blue and white, the colors of the flag of The United Kingdom, as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on her passing, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Thursday, Sept. 8.

In France, the Eiffel Tower went dark; in Brazil, the Christ the Redeemer statue was lit up in the colors of the Union Jack; in Israel, an image of the flag was projected on a government building in Tel Aviv.

The Tel Aviv Municipality building is illuminated with the colors of the United Kingdom flag as a sign of solidarity to the British royal family following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8.

See how nations around the world are reacting to the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II:

The Empire State Building is lit in purple and silver in celebration of the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Thursday, Sept. 8.

The Empire State Building in New York lit up in purple in honor of Queen Elizabeth II and members of the New York Yankees stood during a moment of silence prior to their game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters in Tokyo on September 9 about the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

Political leaders in Asia woke on Friday to the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he was “deeply saddened”, noting that Britain’s longest-serving monarch “had played a significant role for world peace and prosperity”.

He said the Queen had helped strengthen ties between Britain and Japan, which is home to the world’s oldest continuous monarchy.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sent his “deepest condolences to the people of the United Kingdom”.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen extended her “deepest condolences to the British government, the people of the Commonwealth, King Charles III and the royal family,” her office said.

Tsai praised the Queen as a “backbone of global democracy”, noting she had led the British people during the second world war and more recently against the face of global authoritarianism.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, a former British colony, wrote on Facebook that the Queen’s passing was being “greatly mourned by everyone in Singapore” and called her “the very heart and soul of the UK.”

“On behalf of the Singapore government, I extend my deepest condolences,” Lee added.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee issued a statement expressing his sadness at the passing ofQueen Elizabeth II.The Queen visited Hong Kong twice while the city was a British territory. Her son, now King Charles III, attended the Hong Kong handover ceremony in 1997.

“On behalf of the people and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, it is with great sadness that I express our profound condolences on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom,” Lee said, according to a HK government statement Friday.

Chinese officials also expressed condolences with top leader Xi Jinping sending a message to King Charles III and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sending a message to UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, Chinese state media CCTV reported.

Ons Jabeur of Tunisia and Caroline Garcia of France stand on court for a moment of silence for Queen Elizabeth prior to their Women’s Singles Semifinal match of the 2022 US Open in New York on September 08, 2022.

America turned its eyes to the old country on Thursday, afterthe death of Queen Elizabeth II.When news of her sudden decline broke, television networks broke into programing – almost as if a US President had died. In New York, the US Open tennis tournament and the United Nations held moments of silence to honor her passing. In Washington, flags on official buildings were lowered to half-staff.

Duringa reign that lasted seven decades, the Queen and the royal family conjured fascination, affection and even some jealousy in a nation that broke away from the throne almost 250 years ago.

She met 13 US Presidents, starting with a visit to Washington to see Harry Truman before she became Queen. (Her first official head-of-state meeting with a US commander-in-chief was with Dwight Eisenhower). President Joe Biden, who stopped by the British embassy in Washington on Thursday to sign a book of condolences, was the last President to hold official talks with the Queen.

In a statement, Biden sent “our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world.”

And amid the official rituals of remembrance, there were some smaller, but poignant gestures. In Santa Monica, California, patrons showed up at “Ye Olde King’s Head” a restaurant and gift shop, to buy memorabilia and share memories of the Queen.

The Queen is seen in October 2020.

It was a vow she made repeatedly throughout her record-breaking reign, most recently in a message marking the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

Elizabeth II may not have been born to be a monarch, but once fate had intervened, she steadfastly committed her time on earth to duty and service.

Even in the twilight years of her life, as many speculated on whether she might step back or perhaps even abdicate, she remained resolute in her devotion to her role.

As the coronavirus pandemic swept the world in 2020, the Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, retreated from London to Windsor Castle.

Keen to remain a presence in public life amid the lockdowns and social distancing measures, she pivoted like many of us did and began working from home, participating in virtual engagements and undertaking more calls.

Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s death in April 2021, she resumed her royal duties with typical steadfastness.

Her first public appearance took place a month after the death of her “strength and stay” with the State Opening of Parliament.

She tested positive for Covid-19 in February 2022, though she continued with some of her light duties despite suffering from mild cold-like symptoms.

In July, she traveled to her private Scottish home of Balmoral for the start of her traditional summer break. On Sept. 6, the Queen received former Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Balmoral Castle as he left office before she greeted Liz Truss to ask her to form a government and become prime minister. The historic audience was the first time the 96-year-old monarch carried out the key duty at her retreat in Aberdeenshire, rather than at London’s Buckingham Palace.

News of her death truly marks the end of an era for the United Kingdom, with most of its people having known no other monarch at their head.

Queen Elizabeth II, whohas died age 96after the longest reign in British history, will be mourned around the globe as one of the last monarchs born to a classic age of European royalty, when kings and queens wielded genuine political power.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in 1926, the first child of the Duke and duch*ess of York.

But she didn’t become heir presumptive to the throne until 1937, when her father was crowned King George VI after the scandalous abdication of his older brother — events dramatized in the Oscar-winning film “The King’s Speech” and hit Netflix show “The Crown.”

Wartime freedoms

As World War II erupted, Elizabeth was quietly groomed for statehood.

While living out the Blitz on London in nearby Windsor Castle, she was privately tutored in matters of constitution by Henry Marten, an eccentric yet respected teacher who reputedly kept a pet raven in his study.

She began taking tentative steps into public life in 1940 when, aged 14, she made her first radio broadcast: a speech to children displaced by the conflict. At 16, she was made an honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards, a British army infantry regiment.

Wartime offered her certain freedoms beyond the traditional constraints of royal life.

In 1945 she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service and spent four weeks getting her hands covered in oil and grease as she learned to drive and maintain military vehicles.

When victory was declared in Europe, a uniformed Elizabeth mingled with jubilant crowds outside Buckingham Palace.

Peacetime brought the return of Lieutenant Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, a handsome young naval officer who had, by all accounts, won her heart when she was just 13. The pair married in Westminster Abbey in 1947. Their first son, Charles, was born just over a year later.

Read the full story here.

With the death ofBritain’s Queen Elizabeth II, every detail of the next fortnight has been planned and rehearsed to the finest detail — and was even signed off by the monarch herself.

There have been regular meetings for decades between the many agencies involved, from central and local government departments to military and religious authorities and representatives of the other 14 countries where she was also head of state.

The Union Flag will be lowered on public buildings across the United Kingdom. The Royal Standard, which is the monarch’s personal flag, is never lowered because the monarch never dies.

While many of the specifics are yet to be released, here’s what we know right now.

King Charles III

Prince Charles automatically became King upon the death of his mother. He will be known as King Charles III. He is now head of state not just in the UK but in 14 other Commonwealth realms including Australia and Canada. He will also become head of the 56-member Commonwealth, although that is not a hereditary position, after his succession to the role was agreed by Commonwealth leaders at a meeting in London in 2018.

He has become head of the British Armed Forces, the judiciary and the civil service, and he is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. He is the Fount of Honour, which means all honors, such as knighthoods, will now be given in his name.

Gun salutes and title changes

The Accession Council will meet at the 500-year-old St James’s Palace in London. The Queen’s death will be formally announced, and the new sovereign will be proclaimed.

The Garter King of Arms will read the Proclamation from the palace balcony and gun salutes will echo across the capital.

Prince William is now first in line to the throne.

There will be gun salutes across London — one round for every year of Elizabeth’s life — and a broadcast by the new King will be played out.

Funeral arrangements

As monarch, Queen Elizabeth is automatically granted a publicly funded state funeral, and details will be released in the coming days. The Queen died at Balmoral Castle, her residence in Scotland, so over the coming days arrangements will be made for her to be transported back to England.

Read amore detailed rundown of next steps here.

CNN’s David Wilkinson, Susannah Cullinane, Peter Wilkinson and Laura Smith-Spark contributed reporting to this post.

Charles immediately became King upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth.

The Royal family referred to Charles as Kingin announcing the deathof Queen Elizabeth. The tweet referred to Camila as the Queen Consort.

As heir apparent since the age of three, he has been the longest serving heir to the throne in British history.

Charles had already been taking on some of the Queen’s engagements this year as her health had become enough of a concern for her to cancel some of her commitments, including theState Opening of Parliament.

Both Charles and Prince William had been prioritizing the Queen’s diary over theirs. Both of them had been activated as Counsellors of State, where the Queen delegates her sovereign power for specific purposes, and they were obligated to be even more available for those duties.

In an address on Thursday, Prime Minister Liz Truss Truss said the death of the Queen “is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.”

She called on Britons to “come together” to support Charles, the United Kingdom’s new King.

“In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world, to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service,” Truss said.

“It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy,” she said. “Today the Crown passes, as it has done for more than a thousand years, to our new monarch, our new head of state: his majesty, King Charles III,” Truss added.

Truss concluded her speech outside Downing Street with a call to unite behind Charles.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnsontweeted a statementfollowing the announcement that Queen Elizabeth II had died on Thursday, saying it’s the “country’s saddest day.”

“In the hearts of every one of us there is an ache at the passing of our Queen, a deep and personal sense of loss — far more intense, perhaps, than we expected,” he wrote.

Read the tweet:

Queen Elizabeth poses for a photo with President Joe Biden during their visit to Windsor Castle in June 2021.

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Bidenreleased a statementon Thursday on the death of Queen ElizabethII, calling her a “steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations.”

“The thoughts and prayers of people all across the United States are with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in their grief. We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world,” the Bidens wrote in the statement.

“We were honored that she extended her hospitality to us in June 2021 during our first overseas trip as President and First Lady, where she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom. … She helped Americans commemorate both the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the bicentennial of our independence. And she stood in solidarity with the United States during our darkest days after 9/11, when she poignantly reminded us that ‘Grief is the price we pay for love,’” the statement continued.

The Bidens said they first met the Queen in 1982 while the President traveled to the UK as part of a Senate delegation.

They said they “look forward to continuing a close friendship with the King and the Queen Consort.”

US Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoffalso offered their condolences on the Queen’s passing.

“QueenElizabeth II lived an incredible life of service and had a profound impact on countless lives and historic events. We send our condolences to the Royal Family and join the people of the United Kingdom and all those around the world who mourn her loss,” the vice president’s and second gentleman’s Twitter accounts tweeted.