UK’s Queen Elizabeth II has died – what happens next?

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in the United Kingdom’s history, died on Thursday at age 96.

She died peacefully on Thursday at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer.

The Queen came to the throne in 1952.

Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Ms. Truss, born 101 years later in 1975.

Elizabeth led the UK through a time of political upheaval. She began her reign as head of an empire.

Elizabeth became the UK's longest-serving monarch in 2015 when she surpassed the record of Queen Victoria, who had ruled from 1837 to 1901. The partner whom Elizabeth described as her "strength and stay," Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years, died in April 2021, at 99.

Senior royals had gathered at Balmoral after the Queen's doctors became concerned about her health earlier in the day.

Who will succeed her?
Clarence House confirmed on Thursday that the UK’s new monarch will be known as King Charles III.

King Charles will address the nation on Friday, his spokesman said, his first speech following the death of his mother.

Charles has now become king of the UK and 14 other realms, ending a wait of more than 70 years – the longest by an heir in British history.