Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II

Crowds at Buckingham Palace following the death of Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth II, died at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. The news was made public by the BBC during a live broadcast at 18:31 BST. Earlier in the day, doctors reported that his health was deteriorating rapidly and he was under medical supervision.

## Background

The Queen's health had worsened since her husband's death. In October 2021, he began using a cane during his public engagements and, after spending a night in hospital on 20 October, visits to Northern Ireland, the COP26 summit in Glasgow, and the 2021 National Service of Remembrance for health reasons.

In June, the Queen did not attend a religious service for her Platinum Jubilee, with official sources citing the Queen's "discomfort" after standing during the military parade celebrating her official birthday on the first day of celebrations.

The Queen attended Prince Philip's service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on March 29, but was unable to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service this month or the Royal Whitsunday Service at April and missed the opening of Parliament in May for the first time in 59 years (She did not attend in 1959 and 1963 because she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward respectively). In his absence, the Parliament was inaugurated by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge in the capacity of Councilors of State. The Prince of Wales, heir apparent, took on more official responsibilities towards the end of the Queen's life and stood in for Her Majesty at the opening of Parliament.

## Timeline

At approximately 12:30 BST on September 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen was under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle after doctors raised concerns. The statement said: "Following further assessment this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned about Her Majesty's health and have recommended that she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable at Balmoral." The Queen's four children, along with their daughters-in-law, and Princes William and Henry, traveled to be with her.

It was reported that at around 2pm the BBC had suspended BBC One programming until 6pm to provide continuous coverage of the Queen's state, with all BBC journalists and broadcasters dressed in black. Special reports on his condition were broadcast on other major UK networks: ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. At 3pm, a BBC correspondent, Yalda Hakim, tweeted prematurely, before any official announcement, that Queen Elizabeth II had died. He later took down the tweet.

The Royal Family's official Twitter account announced her death in a tweet at 6:30pm BST, saying: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this afternoon and they will return to London tomorrow." The first television announcement of the Queen's death came at 6.31pm, read by the BBC during a live broadcast.

## Succession

Upon her death, her eldest son Charles III succeeded Elizabeth II as reigning monarch and King of the United Kingdom and fourteen other Commonwealth realms. No date has been announced for the coronation.

## Funeral

Elizabeth II's burial was held at Westminster Church on September 19 at 1:00 pm (11:00 BST).

After the ceremony, the coffin will travel in procession from Westminster Church to Wellington Arch and from there to Windsor.

Elizabeth II's body was buried in the procession at Windsor Castle in St. George's Chapel and the burial will take place.

## Reactions

*Main article: Reactions to the death of Elizabeth II*

In accordance with protocol implemented following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Union Flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast. As the new monarch was already at Balmoral Castle when he became King, the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom continued to fly at the castle after his mother's death.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London at the time of the announcement.

On September 8, the United States flag at the Capitol flies at half-mast in honor of the Queen's death.