Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who was the second-longest reigning monarch in history, after France's Louis XIV, died yesterday at the age of 96. Several leaders across the world have issued statements paying tribute to her.
She died peacefully at her estate in Balmoral, Scotland , according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II's eldest son, Charles, succeeds as king immediately, according to centuries of protocol, beginning a new, less certain chapter for the royal family after the queen's record-breaking 70-year reign.
"The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family," King Charles said in a statement.
British business paid tribute Friday to Queen Elizabeth II, with department stores shut, flags lowered, clocks stopped and meetings postponed, but souvenir sales boomed near Buckingham Palace as well-wishers thronged.
London's iconic Selfridges, on the capital's Oxford Street shopping thoroughfare, and nearby Liberty on Regent Street closed out of respect for the nation's longest-serving monarch who died Thursday.
Her funeral due September 19 "should have an impact on the tourism sector and the souvenir industry", according to Mirabaud analyst John Plassard.
"The royal family, which regularly features on the front pages of newspapers, is an object of constant fascination, including well beyond the kingdom's borders.
"Souvenir sales are expected to rise by $69 million as a result of the funeral," he added. Read more
Britain's King Charles shook hands with dozens of members of the public outside Buckingham Palace on Friday, as emotional well-wishers snapped pictures and greeted the new monarch following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth on Thursday.
The couple, dressed in black, were received by huge cheers and applause from a crowd of hundreds gathered outside the palace, television footage showed.
The king proceeded to shake hands with dozens of well-wishers and look at floral tributes to his mother for more than ten minutes. Several members of the public sang "God save the King" and one shouted, "Love you, Charles!"
Church bells rang across Britain on Friday in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II after her death at the age of 96.
Bells rang at London's St Paul's Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, and at the late monarch's residence Windsor, west of the capital.
The 96 shots - one for every year of her life - were fired from Hyde Park and the Tower of London in the capital, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland and Cardiff Castle in Wales, as well as the Channel Islands and Gibraltar.
New British Prime Minister Liz Truss's cabinet of ministers stands fully behind King Charles III, Downing Street said Friday following the death of Elizabeth II.
"Cabinet was united in their support for His Majesty the King, as he and the United Kingdom continue to mourn the passing of his mother," a spokesman told reporters, adding the ministers held a moment of silence for the late queen.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hailed the "wisdom and empathy" of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, saying that "we all feel an emptiness" following her death.
"With her, France and the United Kingdom shared not just an 'entente cordiale', but a warm, sincere and loyal partnership. To you, she was your Queen. To us, she was the Queen," Macron said in English in a video message posted on Twitter.
"We are grateful for her deep affection for France: Elizabeth II mastered our language, loved our culture and touched our hearts," he added.
"From her coronation on, she knew and spoke with all of our presidents. No other country had the privilege of welcoming her as many times as we did."
"At this sad moment, we send our heartfelt condolences to His Majesty the King, the royal family, the British people, and all those who loved the Queen and will miss her so deeply."
Macron was to visit the British embassy in Paris to sign a condolence book for the queen, who died Thursday aged 96.
"I express my heartfelt respect and gratitude to the queen for the many achievements and contributions she has made," Emperor Naruhito said in a statement issued by the Imperial Household Agency.
"Her way of always wishing for peace and tranquillity in the world deeply impressed many people."
The emperor's comments followed a tribute from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who praised her "extremely important role in world peace and stability".
"The death of the queen, who led Britain through turbulent times in the world, is a great loss not only for the British people but also the international community," he told reporters on Friday morning, also expressing his "deep sorrow".
In 1975, the queen made the first visit to Japan by a British monarch, and met then emperor Hirohito.
The British government on Friday officially declared the start of a period of national mourning for Queen Elizabeth, publishing 'national mourning guidance'.
The document, which carried guidance on flying flags, information on travel, and other business and public services, stated that the mourning will continue until the end of the day of the state funeral.
The government said there was no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during this time, adding that it was at the discretion of individual organisations.
Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign took Britain from the age of steam to the era of the smartphone, died yesterday. She was 96.
Queen Elizabeth, the longest-reigning monarch in Britain's history, died on Thursday aged 96, with her son Charles succeeding her as king.
British government dubs the intricate protocol of handling #QueenElizabeth's death "Operation London Bridge". It ranges from succession rules to the process of bringing the queen's coffin from Balmoral Castle in Scotland to London. NDTV's Parmeshwar Bawa breaks down the details. pic.twitter.com/XB0qHflWye
- NDTV (@ndtv) September 9, 2022
The American people join our friends in the UK mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Here's a look back at some of her engagements with U.S. presidents over the years that helped forge the #SpecialRelationship. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/kWfRcfw3g7
- Department of State (@StateDept) September 9, 2022
While Charles automatically became king the moment his mother Queen Elizabeth II died, the coronation will not come until later as this deeply symbolic ceremony takes time to organise.
King Charles III was on Friday due to address his new subjects, as Britain was plunged into mourning by the death of queen Elizabeth II, ending a history making 70-year reign.
My deepest condolences to the Royal Family, the people of the United Kingdom, and the peoples of the Commonwealth upon the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was an inspiration to many Americans, and through her leadership forged an even deeper U.S.-UK Alliance.
- Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 9, 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday extended his condolences to Britain for the "irreparable loss" of Queen Elizabeth, who died earlier in the day aged 96, Russian news agencies said.