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Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 8, the Royal Family announced. Her Majesty’s reign eclipsed even the staggeringly impressive 63-year reign of Queen Victoria.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the Royal Family’s official Twitter account revealed. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The queen’s passing was preceded by the news that she had been under medical observation, while multiple outlets reported that Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, were traveling to Balmoral to be with Her Majesty ahead of her death.
According to a report from The Washington Post, the queen reigned over the United Kingdom for a stunning 70 years and passed away at 96. The outlet shared that she became the reigning monarch in 1952 after her father, King George VI, died.
Queen Elizabeth II lived through decades of change as the United Kingdom and the world weathered the storms of technological innovation and the turning of political tides. The queen was preceded in death by her husband, Prince Philip, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 99.