Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, has died at Balmoral in Scotland aged 96. Tony McDonough reports
Queen Elizabeth II has died at Balmoral in Scotland aged 96. She was Britain’s longest serving monarch, reigning for 70 years.
In a short statement at 6.30pm on Thursday, The Royal Family Twitter account announced her passing. It said: “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.
Earlier today it was announced the Queen was “under medical supervision”. Members of the Royal family, including eldest son Charles and he other children Andrew, Edward and Ann, all rushed up to Scotland. Prince William is also there and Prince Harry is on his way.
Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952 and her reign spanned 15 Prime Ministers starting with Winston Churchill and ending with Liz Truss, whom she welcomed at Balmoral earlier this week.
Charles will now become king and head of state for 14 Commonwealth countries. He will lead the country in mourning.
She was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, in Mayfair, London, on April 21, 1926. In December 1936 her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated from the throne to marry Wallis Simpson.
Elizabeth’s father became King George VI and, at age 10, Lilibet, as she was known in the family, became heir to the throne. After turning 18, Elizabeth spent five months with the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
She married her third cousin Philip, Prince of Greece, who served in the Royal Navy. The ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947, with the prince taking the title of Duke of Edinburgh.
She would later describe him as “my strength and stay” through 74 years of marriage, before his death in 2021, aged 99.
The Queen visited Merseyside many many times during her reign. One of the first in Liverpool to offer a tribute was social enterprise The Women’s Organisation. On Twitter it said: “Rest in peace Queen Elizabeth II. Longest running female monarch in British History, junior commander in the ATS, wife, mother and grandmother. Our thoughts are with the Royal family during this time.”
The city of Liverpool will now enter a 10-day period of mourning. Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson said: “For many people this will be a very sad day in our nation’s history.
“There can’t be many people who do not have a memory of Her Majesty The Queen visiting the city, whether it was for the opening of the Kingsway Tunnel, the Garden Festival, during the Golden Jubilee celebrations, or when the Queen opened the new Museum of Liverpool.
“Others will also have memories of the many street party celebrations held to mark the Silver Jubilee in 1977. The warm welcome always afforded to Her Majesty during her visits to Liverpool is testament to the high regard in which she was held.”
And Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Roy Gladden, added: “We join with the rest of the nation in paying tribute to Her Majesty The Queen, who has served our nation with selfless devotion.
Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram recalls meeting the Queen in 2008. He said: “The people of our city will remember her with great fondness and affection, particularly for her many visits to Liverpool during her long reign, which always drew large crowds of well-wishers. Over the coming days, we will be giving residents the opportunity to pay their respects and reflect on the Queen’s remarkable reign.
“It is fitting that our Town Hall – a building Her Majesty always enjoyed visiting – will be one of the places that people can come to pay tribute.
“The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marks the end of a remarkable life from a remarkable monarch, the only one that many of us have ever known. The country she leaves behind as one radically transformed from the one she inherited at 70 years ago. She was a constant, and for many, a reassuring presence throughout that time. A beacon of stability in an often turbulent world.
“In 2008 I had the honour of serving as Lord Mayor of Liverpool acting as the city’s first citizen during our illustrious year as European Capital of Culture. My first official duty was to welcome the Queen to Liverpool. I spent several hours in her company and sat besides her at lunch at St George’s Hall. It is an occasion that I look back on fondly
“That day I saw a side of her that very few people get a chance to see. It’s safe to say she was a fan of the Scouse sense of humour as at times she was in fits of laughter. So much so that she had to retrieve a handkerchief from her handbag the dab away the tears rolling down her face.
“Hers was a life epitomised by duty, service and quiet dignity. My thoughts are with her loved ones. May she rest in peace.”
There was also a tribute from Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Clare Carragher. She said: “While we all deal with loss differently, we can remember the Queen fondly and look back at the many occasions she visited our wonderful borough and touched the lives of so many.
“She officially made numerous visits to Sefton including a stop off in Bootle and Crosby in October 1954 and a tour of Lancashire which included a motor cavalcade driving through Southport in April, 1955. “The Grand National at Aintree was attended by the Queen in March, 1956 and it wasn’t until December, 1962 that the Monarch returned to Bootle.
“Further visits to Bootle were recorded in June 1977 as part of her Silver Jubilee Tour and also in May 1993 when the Queen visited Bootle Town Hall commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic. Prior to that Her Majesty the Queen spent time in Southport in June, 1985 which included a visit to Altcar Training Camp.
“I’m sure so many people will remember these visits to Sefton with great fondness and contentment.”