Her reign was long and served well the citizens with dignity and steadiness. Now, all will say, God Save the King - King Charles III.
The palace announced she died at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland, where members of the royal family had rushed to her side after her health took a turn for the worse. A link to the almost-vanished generation that fought World War II, she was the only monarch most Britons have ever known.
Her 73-year-old son Prince Charles automatically becomes king, though the coronation might not take place for months.
Former President Jimmy Carter: "Rosalynn and I extend our condolences to the family of Queen Elizabeth II and the citizens of the United Kingdom. Her dignity, graciousness, and sense of duty have been an inspiration, and we join the millions around the world in mourning a remarkable leader."Pope Francis: "I willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late Queen’s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth, her example of devotion to duty, her steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ and her firm hope in his promises," said Francis, who added that he would pray for Charles as he took up his "high responsibilities as King."
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has set into motion an intricate period of mourning which will culminate with a huge state funeral on September 19 honoring her lifetime of devotion and steadfast service. Codenamed "Operation London Bridge," arrangements for Britain's longest-serving monarch have been carefully pored over for years by the many agencies involved, with the Queen herself signing off on every single detail before her death.
On Monday morning, the King will start the day with a trip to Westminster Hall where both Houses of Parliament will express their condolences. He and his wife Camilla then fly to Edinburgh, arriving at 12:45 p.m. (7:45 a.m. ET), where they will head straight to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
At 2:35 p.m. (9:35 a.m. ET), the Queen's coffin will proceed to St Giles' Cathedral for a service of prayer and reflection attended by the King and Queen Consort and royal family members, as well as a congregation made up "from all areas of Scottish society," according to a senior palace official. Afterward, the coffin will rest there for 24 hours to allow the Scottish public to see it, in a tradition known as lying in state.
On the morning of Monday, September 19 -- declared a public holiday across the UK -- the Queen's lying in state will end. The coffin will then travel in procession once more to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral.
Westminster Abbey, founded in 960 AD by Benedictine monks, is one of the most recognizable landmarks in London. The historic church has been the setting for every coronation since 1066, and was where the then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947. But there hasn't been a funeral of a monarch there since that of George II in 1760.
Watching her funeral on Monday, 09/19/22:
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