Buckingham Palace announced the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland this afternoon.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace 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.”
The Palace made an announcement earlier today, stating the Queen’s physicians were concerned about her health. This was unusual as the Royal Family have tended to keep their health matters personal. This caused growing concern and speculation across the globe.
Close members of the Royal Family arrived at Balmoral this afternoon. Prince William, Prince Andrew and the Earl and Countess of Wessex arrived together in an RAF aircraft. Prince Charles, now King Charles III and his wife , alongside the Princess Royal, were already in Scotland and were the first to arrive at the Queen’s bedside.
As the flags were lowered to half mast at Buckingham Palace following the announcement of Her Majesty’s death at 18.30 (BST), a rainbow appeared in the sky.
King Charles said: “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.”
He will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms. Camilla, his wife, becomes Queen Consort.
Global tributes to a devoted sovereign
British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was appointed by the Queen on Tuesday, said the monarch was the rock on which modern Britain was built, who had “provided us with the stability and strength that we needed”.
Speaking about the new King, she said: “We offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother devoted so much, to so many, for so long.
“And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country, exactly as Her Majesty would have wished, by saying the words ‘God save the King’.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine offered condolences to the British royal family, Britain and the Commonwealth, tweeting that the death of Queen Elizabeth II was an “irreparable loss.”
President Biden called Queen Elizabeth a “steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons.” He said the queen’s “legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world,” and pledged to continue “a close friendship with the king and the queen consort.”
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi released the following statement, following the announcement of the Queen’s death.
“The President of the Council of Ministers, Mario Draghi, expresses deepest sympathy on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
“Queen Elizabeth has been a key figure in world history over the last seventy years. She represented the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth with poise, wisdom and respect for the institutions and for democracy. She was the most beloved symbol of her country and garnered respect, affection and fondness all over the world. She ensured stability in times of crisis and kept the value of tradition alive in a society undergoing continuous and profound change.
“Her spirit of service, her dedication to the United Kingdom and to the Commonwealth and the immense dignity with which she carried out her role for such a long time have been an endless source of admiration for generations. Our heartfelt condolences go to the Royal Family and the governments and all citizens of the United Kingdom and the countries of the Commonwealth.”
Italy News Online Commentary
Although as Britons we no longer reside in the United Kingdom, we at Italy News Online remain patriotic to our homeland and the monarchy.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has darkened a corner of our lives. She has been a constant for us, the only monarch we’ve known and one who has represented all that is good and great about our country.
We had been fortunate enough to meet Her Majesty and Prince Philip on a number of occasions throughout the years; most notably when my sister found her way into the Royal Enclosure at Ascot aged just 4. One of the Ladies-in-Waiting returned the errant sibling after she had approached the Queen.
We have celebrated the Queen’s Silver, Golden and Platinum Jubilees, joining in the nation’s celebration of Her Majesty’s reign. We have watched her adapt as the world in which we lived changed, and yet remain constant. Always with a sense of duty. Never waivering from her steadfast belief in her role and her devotion to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
It is with sadness that we write, Rest in Peace, Your Majesty. Our heartfelt condolences are with the Royal Family.
