But on 7 March 1702 the news broke that the King was dying and hurried arrangements were made to complete the war preparations. The following day the King was dead and had been succeeded by his sister-in-law, Queen Anne. Under an Act of 1696 Parliament continued to meet for the next two months to enable the new Queen and her ministers to finalise the essential war measures. On 2 May 1702 the Queen communicated to the Commons the declaration of war by England and her allies on France and Spain.