Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96

Buckingham Palace said Thursday that Queen Elizabeth II has died. Earlier the same day, Palace officials announced that she was under medical supervision since doctors were concerned about her health. Members of the royal family abandoned long-planned engagements to rush up to the Scottish Highlands to be by her side. The queen’s oldest son, Prince Charles, has automatically become the new monarch, but a formal coronation may not take place for months.

What happened leading up to her death? Buckingham Palace said the queen was comfortable at Balmoral Castle, but she was placed under medical supervision after a full day of events Tuesday, including her officially asking Liz Truss to be the new prime minister of Britain. The 96-year-old queen just celebrated 70 years on the English throne. She took up the mantle of ruler from her father in 1952 when she was just 25. 

Dig deeper: Read Lynde Langdon’s obituary of the monarch on the WORLD website.