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Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday (8 September) aged 96, 17 months after her beloved husband Prince Philip, who passed away in April 2021 aged 99.
The Queen once described Philip as her 'strength and stay’, and it will bring comfort to many knowing that the two have now been reunited.
A great love story if ever there was one, the Queen was just 13-years-old and still a princess when she met Philip, an 18-year-old naval cadet, whose official title was ‘Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark’.
When Philip passed last year, the Queen repeated the words she’d first shared at their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1997, saying: “He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know.”
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The royal family announced on Thursday that the Queen had died aged 96 in a Twitter statement, and soon after, Buckingham Palace confirmed the news, writing: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and Queen consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and return to London tomorrow.”
It was dated: ‘Thursday, 8th September 2022’.
King Charles also shared a heartbreaking statement: “The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all my family members.
“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.
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“During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss also paid tribute to the Queen, calling her ‘the rock on which modern Britain was built’.
She added in her address: “Britain is the great country it is today because of her. She was the very spirit of Britain, and that spirit will endure."
Truss continued: "It's an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years. Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.
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"In return she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.
"She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons - her devotion to duty is an example to us all."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock/ShutterstockTopics: The Queen, Royal Family