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Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II

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Death of Elizabeth II
Balmoral Castle, where Elizabeth II died
Date8 September 2022 (2022-09-08)
LocationBalmoral Castle, Scotland
Coordinates57°2′27″N 3°13′48″W / 57.04083°N 3.23000°W / 57.04083; -3.23000

Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms and the longest-living and longest-reigning British monarch, died at the age of 96 on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The announcement came at 18:31 BST. Earlier in the day, doctors reported her health had been rapidly deteriorating, and placed her under medical supervision.[1]

Elizabeth's death set into motion Operation London Bridge, a plan that details how to handle her death, including organising a funeral.

Background

Notice of Elizabeth II's death posted at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh

The Queen's health had been in decline since the death of her husband. In October 2021, she began using a walking stick during public engagements[2] and following an overnight stay in hospital on 20 October, visits to Northern Ireland,[3] the COP26 summit in Glasgow,[4] and the 2021 National Service of Remembrance were cancelled on health grounds.[5]

In June, the Queen did not attend a church service for her Platinum Jubilee, with official sources mentioning the Queen's "discomfort" after standing during the military parade celebrating her official birthday on the first day of celebrations.[6] During the celebrations, the Queen was largely confined to balcony appearances, and missed the National Service of Thanksgiving.[7]

The Queen was present at the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on 29 March,[8] but was unable to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service that month[9] or the Royal Maundy Service in April.[10] She missed the State Opening of Parliament in May for the first time in 59 years. (She did not attend in 1959 and 1963 as she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, respectively.)[11] In her absence, Parliament was opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge as Counsellors of State.[12] The Prince of Wales, the heir apparent, gained more official responsibilities towards the end of the Queen's life[13] and stood in for Her Majesty at the State Opening of Parliament.[14]

In September, two days before her death, the Queen appointed Liz Truss as prime minister at Balmoral Castle (where the Queen was on holiday) in a break with tradition; this was usually done at Buckingham Palace.[15]

Timeline

Queen Elizabeth II in 2021

At approximately 12:30 BST on 8 September 2022, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen was under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle after doctors expressed concern. The statement read, "Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral."[16][17] The Queen's four children along with her daughters-in-law, and Prince William and Prince Harry, travelled to be with her.[18][19]

It was reported that at around 14:00 the BBC had suspended the schedule for BBC One until 18:00 to continuously cover the Queen's condition, with all BBC news journalists and broadcasters dressed in black. Special reports about her condition were run on other main United Kingdom channels: ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.[20] At 15:00, a BBC correspondent, Yalda Hakim, prematurely tweeted, in advance of any formal announcement, that Queen Elizabeth II had died. She later withdrew the tweet.[21]

The Royal Family's official Twitter account announced her death in a tweet time-stamped 18:30 BST, stating: "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."[22][23] The first British television announcement of the Queen's death came at 18:31, as read by Huw Edwards on the BBC during a live broadcast.[1] The American News Channel CNN broke into their domestic channel during a commercial break shortly before 18:31BST to announce the death of the Queen.[24]

Succession

Charles III, then Prince of Wales, in 2017

Upon her death, her eldest son Charles III succeeded Elizabeth II as the reigning monarch and King of the United Kingdom and fourteen other Commonwealth realms.[1][25] No date has been announced for his coronation.[23]

Funeral

Details about the state funeral have not yet been announced; however, it is expected to be twelve days after her death.[26]

Reaction

Main article: Reactions to the death of Elizabeth II

In accordance with the protocol implemented after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Union flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half mast.[27] Because the new monarch was already at Balmoral Castle when he became King, the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom remained flying at the castle following his mother's death.

Hundreds of people were gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London at the time of the announcement.[27] Others, such as members of the public and notable figures, took to social media to post condolences and tributes for her and the British Royal Family.[28]

Flags at Parliament Hill in Ottawa and the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. were flown at half-mast in honour of the Queen's death.[29][30]

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden released a statement on Twitter following the Queen's death, as did former U.S. President Barack Obama.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Queen Elizabeth II has died, Buckingham Palace announces". BBC News. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  2. ^ Murray, Jessica (12 October 2021). "Queen seen using walking stick for first time in 20 years". The Guardian.
  3. ^ Taylor, Harry (21 October 2021), "The Queen spent night in hospital after cancelling Northern Ireland visit", The Guardian, archived from the original on 25 February 2022, retrieved 8 September 2022
  4. ^ Lee, Joseph (26 October 2021), "Queen will not attend COP26 climate change summit", BBC News, archived from the original on 1 February 2022, retrieved 8 September 2022
  5. ^ Becky Morton (14 November 2021), "The Queen to miss Remembrance Sunday service", BBC News, archived from the original on 9 March 2022, retrieved 8 September 2022
  6. ^ Landler, Mark (2 June 2022). "Queen Elizabeth will skip Friday's church service after 'discomfort' during the jubilee's first day". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  7. ^ Furness, Hannah (2 June 2022), "The Queen to miss service of thanksgiving after suffering discomfort", The Telegraph, archived from the original on 27 June 2022, retrieved 8 September 2022
  8. ^ Lauren, Turner (29 March 2022), "Queen attends Prince Philip memorial service at Westminster Abbey", BBC News, archived from the original on 6 June 2022, retrieved 5 April 2022
  9. ^ Thompson, Eliza (14 March 2022), "Prince Charles Fills in for Queen Elizabeth II at Commonwealth Day Service Alongside Prince William", Us Weekly, archived from the original on 14 March 2022, retrieved 14 March 2022
  10. ^ Adams, Charley (14 April 2022), "Prince Charles stands in for Queen at Maundy Service", BBC News, archived from the original on 6 June 2022, retrieved 8 September 2022
  11. ^ "Queen to miss State Opening of Parliament – Prince of Wales to read speech instead", Sky News, 9 May 2022, archived from the original on 11 June 2022, retrieved 8 September 2022
  12. ^ Furness, Hannah (10 May 2022), "Queen's Speech: Why Prince William is attending State Opening of Parliament", The Telegraph, archived from the original on 12 June 2022, retrieved 8 September 2022
  13. ^ Duffy, Nick (3 July 2022). "Queen's official duties trimmed down as power shifts to Prince Charles". i. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  14. ^ Landler, Mark (9 May 2022). "Queen Elizabeth to Miss Opening of Parliament". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  15. ^ Bubola, Emma (6 September 2022). "The queen will meet the new prime minister at Balmoral Castle in Scotland". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Queen's doctors concerned for her health – palace". BBC News. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  17. ^ Davies, Caroline (8 September 2022). "Queen under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors' concerns". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Queen under medical supervision as doctors are concerned for her health. Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince William are currently travelling to Balmoral, Clarence House and Kensington Palace said". Sky News. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  19. ^ Shaw, Neil (8 September 2022). "Duke of York, Princess Anne and Prince Edward all called to Queen's side". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  20. ^ Whittock, Jesse (8 September 2022). "BBC Suspends Schedule As Concerns Grow Over Queen's Health; UK Broadcasters Cut Into Programs To Relay News". Deadline. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  21. ^ Cost, Ben (8 September 2022). "BBC correspondent falsely reported queen died, shocking Twitter". New York Post. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Queen Elizabeth II has died, Buckingham Palace announces". BBC News. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  23. ^ a b Hallemann, Caroline (8 September 2022). "Queen Elizabeth, the Longest-Reigning British Monarch in History, Has Died". Town & Country. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  24. ^ Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96, retrieved 8 September 2022
  25. ^ "Charles is the new King". BBC News. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  26. ^ "The Queen's funeral: what we can expect over the next 10 days". the Guardian. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  27. ^ a b "UK and world react to death of Queen Elizabeth II". BBC News. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  28. ^ Reichard, Ryan (8 September 2022). "Late Queen Elizabeth II Mourned on Social Media: See Twitter Reactions to Her Majesty's Death". PopCrush. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  29. ^ @DanTaekema (8 September 2022). "The flag at the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill is now flying at half-mast to mark the passing of Queen Elizabeth II" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. ^ Wang, Amy (8 September 2022). "Pelosi orders Capitol flags to be flown at half-staff after queen's death". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  31. ^ @POTUS (8 September 2022). "Our statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth II" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via Twitter.
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