Breaking! Queen Elizabeth II Dies at 96: Buckingham Palace Announces

Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s longest-reigned queen, died at the age of 96 at Balmoral, after reigning for 70 years, the Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday evening.

In the statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

The Queen was crowned in 1952.

With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in grief as the next King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth states.