08/09/2022
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history and a symbol of continuity and stability from the postwar era into the 21st century, has died. She was 96.
Her death at Balmoral Castle, in the Scottish Highlands, was announced at 6:30pm London time (3:30am AEST) - just three months after Britain held four days of public celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee, which marked her 70 years on the throne.
Her eldest son, Prince Charles, is now the King of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Since the end of last year, Queen Elizabeth II had been suffering from "episodic mobility problems," which forced her to withdraw from nearly all of her public engagements. Although she was the world's oldest and longest-serving head of state, she remained an active monarch until her final days.
The end of an era.
