Buckingham Palace's statement in full as they announce the death of Queen Elizabeth

Buckingham Palace has released a full statement in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, aged 96, today on Thursday, 8 September.

The palace wrote: “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 2002’.

The monarch’s death was first announced by the royal family in a Twitter post that read: “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."

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Both before and after the news of Her Majesty’s passing broke, the queen sparked concerns of ill health by cancelling various appearances and duties, including scrapping the traditional welcome to Balmoral Castle in August and choosing to remain in Balmoral to receive the new prime minister, Liz Truss, in September.  

The death of the Queen marks a monumental moment of history: having ascended to the throne in 1952 aged just 27, she was the longest reigning British monarch, as well as the longest-serving female head of state ever.

Earlier this year, she reached 70 years on the throne and became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

Her long reign bore witness to hugely significant moments in British history, including the legalisation of abortion and homosexuality, the Troubles and the Good Friday Agreement, as well as the UK joining (and subsequently leaving) the European Union.

Her last foreign trip was in November 2015 when she visited Malta for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Despite her advancing years, the Queen never considered abdicating the throne, having reportedly told family members she would not give up the crown unless ‘she had a stroke, or got Alzheimer’s’.

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Last year, she lost her husband of 74 years, Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 just two months before his 100th birthday.

She described the death of Philip as having left a ‘huge void’ in her life.

Charles has assumed the role of King and the world prepares to see the crown handed over to the Queen’s son and heir to the throne.

The Queen had links either as Royal Patron or President with more than 600 charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organisations, encompassing causes including opportunities for young people, and the preservation of wildlife and the environment.