Queen Elizabeth II has died - sending the world into mourning for a monarch who reigned supreme for 70 years. King Charles takes the throne immediately and will be known as King Charles III.
The 96-year-old, who died peacefully at Balmoral early on Friday NZT, was the longest-serving monarch in the history of Britain and the Commonwealth, having acceded the throne in 1952.
King Charles mourned the passing of his mother soon after her death was announced.
"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. We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother."
Members of the Royal family had earlier rushed to be with her at Balmoral overnight and in a statement at 5.30am (NZT) on Friday, Buckingham Palace confirmed her death.
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. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
A fleet of cars carrying Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, had earlier arrived at Balmoral Castle.
The plane carrying the royal party arrived at Aberdeen Airport just before 4pm Thursday (3am NZT Friday) and arrived at the Queen's estate about an hour later. Prince Charles - now King Charles - along with his wife, Camilla, and sister, Princess Anne, who were already in Scotland, arrived at Balmoral Castle earlier Thursday.
Prince Harry, who was due to appear at a charity awards ceremony in London later Thursday, cancelled that appearance and was making his way to Scotland separately.
He and Meghan paid tribute to the Queen by blacking out their website with the words: In Loving Memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022".
World leaders, including New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, have released tributes.
An at-times emotional Ardern recalled advice from the Queen on raising children while serving your country and spoke about how much she admired and had learned from the monarch. "She was extraordinary," Ardern said from the Beehive this morning.
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King Charles said: "I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
"During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held."
Her death comes a day after the Queen cancelled a virtual meeting of her Privy Council when doctors advised her to rest following a full day of events on Tuesday, when she formally asked Liz Truss to become UK prime minister.
'I am profoundly sad' - Ardern
Ardern said it was with "great sadness" that New Zealand has woken up with the news of the Queen's passing.
Ardern said flags will be flown at half-mast today.
Ardern's fond memories
Asked how she remembered the Queen, Ardern said what stood out for her when meeting with the monarch was the level of knowledge and care she had for New Zealand.
She recalled gifting the Queen a Polaroid image of her during a visit to New Zealand.
Ardern said the Queen remembered the photo.
On her earliest memory of the Queen, Ardern said most of hers would be images that had been replayed over the years. One of her fondest memories was when the Queen called during the Covid lockdown, just to see how things were going. "It was a very human conversation".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was "profoundly sad" at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Ardern said she would soon determine details on if she would go to England. There would be a formal service in about 10 days' time in the United Kingdom.
It was expected that Ardern and the Governor-General would be invited. A small New Zealand contingent would be expected to go if invited.
Ardern suspected it would mean a lot for many New Zealanders who had lived in the Queen's reign.
"I know there will be many many New Zealanders that will share my deep sadness today."
Ardern said she had had many interactions with King Charles, who she said had a great love for New Zealand. She referenced his comments regarding climate change and commitment to seeing young people prosper.
She was yet to speak to the leader of the House but leaders would be given a chance to speak about the Queen's passing and pay respect to the new King and that was most likely set to happen on Tuesday.
The official state service for New Zealand will not happen until the service in England happens.
"Once we are aware of arrangements over there, more details will be released on what happens in New Zealand."
On what the state memorial would look like, Ardern said she would look to hold a central event but she suspected there would be other events for people around the country to pay their respects.
Ardern said she hadn't yet sent a personal message to the Queen's family but she intended to.
The New Zealand Defence Force would soon release details on a gun salute.
A minute's silence would also take place at some stage and a proclamation will be read in New Zealand to acknowledge formally the role of the King.
The proclamation ceremony, in the coming days, is very ceremonial, involving the Governor-General, and the role of the King will be announced on the steps of Parliament.
It's the one period where the flags will be moved from half-mast to full-mast, before being moved back to half-mast.
On her message to Kiwis, Ardern said she "felt similar emotions ... deep sadness but deep gratitude".
Regardless of what people thought of the role of monarchy, Ardern said it was undoubted the duty the Queen performed and the service she gave
"Despite that there had been some discussion publicly around her health and wellbeing, people will still feel a sense of shock.
"Here is a woman who gave her life utterly to their service of others."
She considered it a "great honour" to be able to meet and speak with her.
"I asked her what it was like to raise children in her role, she was someone who offered up her opinion and very stoic...she pondered for a moment and essentially said you just have to get on."
During the conversation Ardern had with the Queen in 2020 during the lockdown, Ardern had asked the Queen how she was passing the time, the Queen said she had been listening to radio about a political prisoner. The Queen reportedly said listening to that, it made "one feel rather small". Ardern noted how the role of a leader could make you distant from people but she never got the sense that that had happened to the Queen. "She was extraordinary."
A lifetime of devotion
Queen Elizabeth II is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. With Charles now King, his eldest son, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, assumes the position of heir to the throne.
William and Kate's Twitter account @KensingtonRoyal now refers to the couple as The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.
Queen Elizabeth II entertains New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at her castle in Balmoral in 2013. Photo / Claire Trevett
The Queen will be remembered for her selfless devotion to duty and the cause of the monarchy - which carried her through countless political and personal crises, often involving members of her own family.
Throughout it all - from the highs of her coronation and jubilee celebrations to the depths of her self-declared "annus horribilis" in 1992, when her children's marriages fell apart - her calm and dignified manner ensured strong public support throughout her long reign.
The Queen's death now triggers a series of events to allow her family and her subjects around the world to grieve.
Her body will be at Buckingham Palace for several days so the Royal family can grieve together.
After four days the Queen's coffin will be led on a military procession from the palace to Westminster Hall.
She will lie in state over the next four days, after which King Charles, the family, and dignitaries will pay their respects. Then, the doors will open to hundreds of thousands of people queued up outside.
The funeral is estimated to take place 10-12 days after the Queen's passing and will be attended by state officials from all over the world and will be co-ordinated by the armed forces and Government.
At 11am sharp the bells of Big Ben will chime, the country will fall silent, and the coffin will be brought inside Westminster Abbey, where 2000 specially invited guests will bow their heads in prayer.
After the service, the coffin will be taken to Windsor Castle, then finally to St George's Chapel, where Queen Elizabeth II will likely be laid to rest next to her father, King George VI.
King Charles III
Queen Elizabeth's death leads to Charles ascending the throne. His wife Camilla will be known as Queen Consort, a request made by the Queen to mark the 70th anniversary of her reign in February 2022.
Charles is allowed to choose his own name - and is expected to become King Charles III.
Charles will be named King one day after the Queen's death - after his siblings have ceremoniously kissed his hand.
At 10am on the day after the Queen's death, the Accession Council — which includes senior government figures — meets at St James's Palace to proclaim King Charles the new sovereign.
Proclamations will be made and while the Queen lies in state, Charles will visit Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. His first words as monarch are expected to take place at St James's Palace.
Elizabeth: A sovereign since the age of 25
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor came to the throne on the death of her father, King George VI, on February 6, 1952.
She was on a wildlife-watching escape in the central highlands of Kenya and days into a months-long Commonwealth tour, when her husband of four years, Prince Philip, broke the news of her father's death.
At the age of 25, she became the sovereign of almost 140 million people, welcomed onto the throne in a televised coronation that combined pomp and modernity.
She worked with 14 British prime ministers and met a dozen US presidents, four popes and countless other leaders, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2018.
A frequent traveller until her last years, she undertook more than 270 overseas trips, and in 2011 became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland.
There were 10 visits to New Zealand and, as always, she favoured the brightly-coloured outfits she chose for all her public duties. Daughter-in-law, Sophie, Countess of Wessex explained why in 2016's Our Queen at Ninety.
"When she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, ten, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the Queen's hat as she went past. She needs to stand out for people to be able to say, 'I saw the Queen'."
The Queen had four children, Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. She loved horses and corgis and bred both, branching out into "dorgis" with the help of a dachshund owned by her sister Princess Margaret.
Her approach to monarchy buoyed the public's perception of the royal family, with few rumblings of republicanism in the latter years of her reign, but the 1990s proved a low point - starting with her self-declared "annus horribilis" in 1992, when heir Charles and second-born son Andrew separated from their wives, daughter Anne divorced Mark Phillips and a major fire damaged Windsor Castle, one of her homes.
Scandals returned in recent years, notably the defection of her grandson Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan from "the Firm" to the United States and sexual abuse allegations against Andrew, a friend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
in April 2021 she lost her husband Prince Philip, the man she called "my strength and stay all these years", at the age of 99.
Queen's health declines
It was reported earlier that the Queen was under medical supervision in Balmoral, Scotland and her immediate family had travelled to be with her amid concerns about her health.
In a brief statement on Thursday night (NZ time), Buckingham Palace said the doctors of the 96-year-old monarch were "concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision".
Her Majesty had earlier been advised by her doctors to rest after "a full day" appointing Liz Truss as the new British Prime Minister at Balmoral Castle, but following further evaluation the following morning, medical supervision was recommended.
The statement said the Queen "remains comfortable and at Balmoral" following the cancellation of her scheduled meeting with the Privy Council.
According to reports in the UK, members of the Royal Family have been informed of the Queen's condition, with several of them rushing to be with her.
Queen Elizabeth at the Chelsea Flower Show in May. Photo / RHS, Luke MacGregor
Heir to the throne Prince Charles, and Camilla are staying nearby at Birkhall, according to Buckingham Palace.
The BBC reported a flight with seven members of the royal household - including Prince William, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward - had landed at Aberdeen just before 3am Friday (NZ time).
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, has remained in Windsor as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are on their first full day at their new school, Kensington Palace has said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, are in the UK, and Harry will also be travelling to Balmoral, their spokesman has confirmed.
The pair are in the UK, with the Duke due to speak at the WellChild Awards in London, before returning to their children in the US.
Scores of well-wishers had gathered at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, while it was announced there would be no changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen is the longest-reigning British monarch and the second-longest reigning monarch in history after taking the crown in 1952.
Earlier this week, Her Majesty - looking frail and hunched over - was photographed when she formally appointed Truss.
Truss and outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson made the trip to Aberdeenshire for the key audiences this week.
Concerns were raised over what seemed to be a bruise on the back of the Queen's right hand, while she was also using a walking stick indoors, during her meeting with Truss.
The handover of power has historically taken place at Buckingham Palace, however, it was moved to Scotland in light of the Queen's mobility issues. It's the first time in her reign the location of the meeting has been changed.
Early on Friday morning (NZ time) Truss said: "The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime.
"My thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time," she said on Twitter.
The UK's Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, interrupted a speech to tell MPs about the Queen's health.
"I know I speak on behalf of the entire House when I say that we send our best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen and that she and the Royal Family are in our thoughts and prayers at this moment."
Truss also left the chamber as news broke, British political journalists reported.
In a tweet, the Archbishop of Canterbury said: "My prayers, and the prayers of people across the Church of England and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today. May God's presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral."
British MP David Lammy wrote on Twitter: "Incredibly concerned to hear reports from Buckingham Palace. I am praying for the Queen's health along with the rest of the country and millions around the world. Wishing her a full and speedy recovery."
In his first speech in the House of Commons, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said "it is a matter of the gravest concern to all of us when our sovereign is unwell".
Her Majesty during a visit to officially open the new building at Thames Hospice in Maidenhead, England in July. Photo / AP
Meanwhile, political leaders from across the world have shared messages of support.
My thoughts, and the thoughts of Canadians across the country, are with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at this time. We’re wishing her well, and sending our best to the Royal Family.
In a social media post, Wales' Mark Drakeford also shared his concern.
"Concerned to hear the news from Buckingham Palace. I send my best wishes to Her Majesty and her family on behalf of the people of Wales."
Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff some hours later, Drakeford said the news would bring "an afternoon of sober reflection and anxiety for households across Wales".
Former British PM David Cameron tweeted his "deep concern".
"I send my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family at this worrying time," Cameron said.
Tony Blair said the update on the ailing Queen's health was "deeply concerning".
Palace officials have been forced to make decisions about the Queen's travel on a day-to-day basis in recent months.
Reports claim Prince Charles has been making "regular, daily" visits to his mother, which is seen as unusual.
The heir to the throne does not usually make unplanned visits to the Queen - they are most often arranged by palace officials.
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew has been staying with the Queen at Balmoral, which is where she spends most of her summers.
Her Majesty has pulled out from a number of planned events in recent times and had been resting for more than three months on medical advice.
Last year, she spent a night in hospital for "preliminary investigations" and did not attend the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow. In April this year, she skipped the Maundy Thursday and Easter Matins church services at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
According to the Telegraph, the doctor tasked with her medical care is Professor Sir Huw Thomas - the Head of the Medical Household since 2014 and a professor of gastrointestinal genetics at Imperial College London's department of surgery and cancer.
The Queen's husband of 73 years, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, died at Windsor Castle in April last year. He was 99.
