Queen Elizabeth 11, the queen of England is dead. She died at the age of 96 after reigning for 70 years. She has been the longest reigning monarch in England. Her health has been a source of concern of late, such that preparations were already being made for her transition. But the doctors kept assuring people that she was doing well.
But in the last few days her family had had to be by her bedside in the hospital, thus raising fears that she might not return to Buckingham palace.
Flowers have adorned London bridge as part of rituals for indicating that the monarch who is the head of government in the United kingdom, as well as head of the Commonwealth has passed on. The heir apparent, in this case Prince Charles , her first son will also announce the demise of the monarch, while the prime minister will announce on behalf of the government. Prince Charles, in a statement said, “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”. Before the statement went out those who kept vigil at the palace gate had started to mourn the moment the flag went half mast, an indication that she had taken a last bow.
Though the prince remained at the Balmoral Castle, where she died, till Friday when he would give an address at the palace, he is expected to take the place of his mother and would be addressed as King Charles 111.
Messages poured in from around the world,heads of governments and international organisations. In the United States the flag was also flown at half mast for the queen whose stature bestrode the global landscape.
The queen, believed to have received Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister last Tuesday, departed within the week that Britain welcomed a new leader who is also a woman.
Truss curiously had before she converted to conservative joined liberal democrat activists to rally against the retention of monarchy in the country. But as a convert she would now play the role of the chief mourner and also welcome the new king.
