The Royal Family has announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away aged 96.
Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on the 6th February 1953 and was coronated on 2nd June of the same year. Her stunning 70-year reign was marked with the Platinum Jubilee earlier this year. The Queen had been under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, where her doctors were concerned for her health.
Much of her family – including Prince Charles, Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, and Harry and Meghan – had travelled Balmoral to be with her.
This led to concern around the world for the Queen’s health, which will now give way to a period of immense grief and sorrow.
King Charles III, as it has been confirmed he will be known, released his own tribute:
“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.
During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in with The Queen was so widely held.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss, who became The Queen’s 15th Prime Minster just days ago at Balmoral said
“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her.
It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy. Today the Crown passes – as it is has done for more than a thousand years – to our new monarch, our new head of state:
His Majesty King Charles III.
God save the King.”
Tributes have been paid in the legal sector with President of the Law Society of England and Wales I. Stephanie Boyce, saying:
“On this sad occasion we share in the grief of the nation at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the solicitor profession, I would also like to offer our condolences to the Royal Family.
As the holder of a Royal Charter, the Society has been very grateful to the Queen for her role in public life, as a defender of the constitution and source of stability in an era of great change. As our longest serving monarch we’re thankful for the way she dedicated her life to the service of this country.”
Mark Fenhalls KC, Chair of the Bar Council, said:
“The Officers, members and staff of the General Council of the Bar of England and Wales join with colleagues across the legal professions in mourning the loss of our country’s most devoted public servant.
“Throughout a long, loyal, and steadfast reign, Queen Elizabeth II embodied the symbolic role of the figure in whose name justice is carried out with great integrity.
“I have written to offer our deep and sincere condolences to His Majesty The King. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.”
Lord Burnett of Maldon, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, said:
“Today is a day of great sadness for all judicial office holders in England & Wales, across the United Kingdom and around the Commonwealth.
Her Majesty’s service to this country and the Commonwealth throughout the seven decades of her reign has been unparalleled.
I am sure many of you will want to pay your respects over the coming days. Guidance will follow on any changes to court and tribunal business during the period of national mourning.”
Today’s Media, the publishers of Today’s Family Lawyer, offers our sincere and deepest sympathy to all members of the Royal family on the death of Her late Majesty the Queen. We thank you for making our country a “great” country, and entrust in King Charles III to follow your successful reign. Sleep in peace, reunited with your beloved Prince Philip.