Queen Elizabeth II dies; Charles III becomes king

Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday evening, September 8, that Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has died.

"The Queen passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle this evening," the palace said in a statement.

The statement added, referring to Prince Charles and his wife Camilla: "The King and Queen will stay at Balmoral this evening and return to London tomorrow."

The Queen's eldest son, Charles, 73, will automatically become King of Britain and the leader of 14 other territories, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. His wife, Camilla, will be Queen Consort. However, Charles' coronation may be delayed for several months .

Britain has had two kings named Charles so far; Charles I, who ascended to the throne in the 17th century, and his son Charles II, who now takes the name Charles III upon ascending to the throne.

Queen Elizabeth II, 96, was the world's longest-reigning monarch, having reigned over the country and other territories for 70 years. She ascended to the throne at the age of 25 after the death of her father, George V.

He was crowned in June of that year. In her coronation speech, Queen Elizabeth II said: "I pledge myself sincerely to your service, as so many of you have pledged themselves to me. I will strive with all my heart and soul to be worthy of your trust throughout my life."

Elizabeth II came to power at a time when Britain still held many of its colonies, the country was emerging from the ruins of World War II, food was still rationed, and class and privilege still dominated society.

At the beginning of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, Winston Churchill was Prime Minister of Britain, Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union, Mohammad Mossadegh was Prime Minister of Iran, and the Korean War was raging.

In the decades that followed, Queen Elizabeth witnessed political and social changes in Britain and the wider world. The turmoil within the royal family, most notably the divorce of Charles and Diana, was fully exposed to the public.

With a seven-decade reign that saw 15 prime ministers in Britain, Queen Elizabeth II is associated with an era that many call the modern "Elizabethan" era, a comparison to the golden age of Elizabeth I in the 16th century, when the Renaissance flourished in Britain .

The impact of his loss will be heavy for both British citizens and the royal family, as he helped bring stability and widespread social change over the decades, while also resolving royal family controversies .

Elizabeth II's life is also linked to World War II, when she gave her first inspiring radio address in 1940, at the age of 14, to children evacuated from Britain abroad: "We children at home are full of passion and courage. We are trying to help the brave soldiers, sailors and airmen with all our might. And we are trying to bear our share of danger and sorrow. Each of us knows that the end will be all good."

Elizabeth II reigned from February 6, 1952, to September 8, 2022, a period that saw the collapse of the empire and the era of British reconstruction, the transition from the industrial age to the 21st century, as well as Britain's entry into and exit from the European Union .

He is the longest-reigning monarch in history after Louis XIV of France, who ascended the throne at the age of four .

At the age of 21, when he was still five years away from attaining the throne, he promised the people that "my entire life, whether short or long, will be dedicated to service."

Condolences from world leaders

Following the release of news of the British Queen's death, world leaders and figures paid tribute to her and expressed condolences on her passing.

In a message paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, the US President called her an "unparalleled statesman" and said he was ready to work with her son, King Charles, with whom they already had a "close friendship."

"Queen Elizabeth II was a statesman of unparalleled dignity and steadfastness who deepened the alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom," Joe Biden said in a joint message with his wife, Jill.

He added that Queen Elizabeth II "helped make our relationship special."

Mr Biden said he first met her in 1982, when he was a senator, and last in June 2021 during his first foreign trip as president – ​​the 14th US president the Queen had met in her lifetime.

The US President stated: "He was the first British royal with whom people around the world could have a personal and immediate connection."

“She [Queen Elizabeth II], in turn, dedicated her entire life to serving them,” Mr. Biden added.

"In the years ahead, we will continue our close friendship with Their Majesty the King and Queen," he said, referring to Charles, the late Queen's son.

French President Emmanuel Macron also tweeted on Thursday that the Queen "embodies the continuity and unity of the British people over the past 70 years. I pay tribute to a friend of France, the Queen of Hearts who carved her name on her country and her century in an unprecedented way."

Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, the five living former US presidents, paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II by releasing separate messages.

In this regard, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, also expressed her condolences on the death of the British Queen in a message.

In her message, Ms. Pelosi praised the character of Elizabeth II throughout her reign.

In this context, Nancy Pelosi ordered flags at the US Capitol to be flown at half-staff in honor of Queen Elizabeth II.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also sent a message of condolences to the royal family, the British people, and the people of the Commonwealth countries on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also expressed her sadness upon hearing the news of the British Queen's death, tweeting: "Germany will always be grateful to her for reaching out to us for reconciliation after the horrors of World War II."

The German Chancellor also called Queen Elizabeth II a "symbol of reconciliation" after World War II.

"His commitment to reconciliation between Britain and Germany after the horrors of World War II is unforgettable," said Olaf Schulz.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also said that the Queen's official visit to post-war Germany in 1965 was "a very important sign of reconciliation after two devastating world wars."

Mario Draghi, the interim Prime Minister of Italy, also sent a message of condolences, referring to the Queen as "an outstanding figure in world history over the past 70 years" and saying: "The Queen represented Britain and the Commonwealth with "moderation, wisdom and respect for institutions and democracy."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, saying she will "forever be an important part" of Canadian history.

"He was a constant presence in our lives - and his service to Canadians will always be an important part of our country's history," he added.

Mr. Trudeau described the British Queen as a "wise, compassionate and warm-hearted" figure.

New British Prime Minister Liz Truss also called Queen Elizabeth II "loved and admired around the world" on Thursday.

"The Queen's death came as a huge shock to the country and the world," he said.

Former US President Donald Trump also referred to Queen Elizabeth II as a "great lady" who, he said, never made any mistakes.

"Who could do greater than what he did? And he did it very well for a long time and never made a mistake," he said.

The King of Spain also sent a message of condolence to the British royal family, saying that we will miss him very much.

"You are in our hearts and thoughts. We will miss you very much," King Felipe said, referring to Queen Elizabeth II.

Previous developments

Doctors had previously expressed concern about Britain's health following the cancellation of a virtual meeting of the Royal Council by Queen Elizabeth II to swear in the country's new prime minister.

Members of the family of the 96-year-old British Queen rushed to Balmoral Castle, her summer retreat in Scotland, following concerns about her health.

Queen Elizabeth has been suffering from "irregular movement" since late last year, and doctors have advised her to remain under medical care and stay in hospital for a full day.

Queen Elizabeth was hospitalized overnight last October and has since delegated many of her duties to those closest to her, especially Prince Charles.

Yesterday, on the advice of doctors, he canceled the virtual meeting of the Royal Council, consisting of advisors and senior officials of the country, to swear in Liz Truss as the new British Prime Minister.

The day before, Ms. Truss had met with the Queen of Great Britain at Balmoral Castle, pictures of which were released.

Source: Radio Farda