Queen Elizabeth dies at 96

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, head of the Commonwealth and monarch of 15 countries, has been confirmed dead.

Queen Elizabeth died on Thursday at the age of 96 after more than 70 years on the throne.

Buckingham Palace announced the Queen’s death via a short statement issued on Thursday.

The Palace stated that the Queen died at the Balmoral royal estate in Scotland after having suffered from health problems since last October.

“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 statement read.

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However, the eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 is the oldest heir apparent in British history, becomes king immediately.

The queen’s death came after the palace announced on Thursday that doctors were “concerned” for her health and recommended she stayed under medical supervision.

She was in her Platinum Jubilee year, marking 70 years since she succeeded her father king George VI in 1952.

The British flag was lowered to half-mast at Buckingham Palace, where hundreds of people were gathered, as the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced.

The Star