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–Pix(above): Queen Elizabeth (L) during swearing in of Liz Truss
LONDON/ Queen Elizabeth II, the Monarch of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth, on Thursday afternoon, died at the age of 96, 48 hours after swearing in the new UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The queen died as members of her immediate family rushed to her side, including her son and heir, Prince Charles.
A statement from Charles, now His Majesty the King and King Charles III, said, shortly after the news broke of his mother’s death: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon (Thursday). The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening (Thursday) and will return to London tomorrow.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.
“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.”
The queen fulfilled her final official engagement, Tuesday after she swore in the new Prime Minister Truss – the 15th prime minister in her 70-year-long reign.
Prime Minister Liz Truss, paying tribute to the queen at No. 10, Downing Street, said it had been a “huge shock to the nation and the world, adding that Thursday marked the “passing of the second Elizabethan age. God save the king.”
Earlier on Thursday, the palace had announced royal doctors were concerned over her health and put her under intense medical scrutiny at her Balmoral Castle residence in Scotland. The day before, the 96-year-old queen had pulled out of a virtual Privy Council meeting after her doctors advised her to rest.(Additional report from Yahoo News)/ SHARE THIS