"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 which The Queen was so widely held." This is the statement written by King Charles III after the passing of his mother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8th 2022. Not only are they the words of a newly appointed King, but those of a son that has lost his beloved mother. The official statement released by Buckingham Palace simply read: “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.”
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952 following the passing of her father, King George VI and reigned for seventy years, becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history. She was Head of State of the UK and fourteen other countries. She dedicated herself to a life of service and faced social change, scandals and global upheavals throughout her reign, and is credited with modernising the monarchy. In a 1957 Christmas broadcast, the first to be televised, she addressed the nation with a heartfelt statement demonstrating her dedication. "I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else: I can give you my heart and my devotion to all these old islands, and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations." For most, Queen Elizabeth II was the only Queen they have known, contributing to the deep sadness felt in the United Kingdom and throughout the world. Mourners have gathered outside Buckingham Palace, leaving tokens at its gates as sombre renditions of United Kingdom's national anthem God Save Our Queen break out among an emotional crowd.
The funeral will reportedly take place on Saturday 17th September and national mourning will continue from now until seven days after the funeral. King Charles is expected to be officially proclaimed King - and Camilla, Queen Consort - on Saturday 10th September although an official coronation could be months away.
