Queen Elizabeth II has died

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has died in Scotland at the age of 96, reports . Buckingham Palace

“The Queen passed away peacefully at Balmoral this evening,” the royal family said in a statement. On the afternoon of September 8, the Queen's doctors reported that they were concerned about her health and recommended that she remain under medical supervision.

Elizabeth II ruled Great Britain, Canada, Australia and 12 independent states for 70 years, from 1952. She was on the throne the longest of all British monarchs. During this time, the UK has had 15 prime ministers.

Prime Minister Liz Truss called the queen's death a "shock to the nation and the world" and described it as "the rock on which modern Britain was built."

The country declared ten days of national mourning. The British throne legally passed to Elizabeth II's eldest son, 73-year-old Charles, Prince of Wales. The new king took the name Charles III.