It was a loss felt across the nation. The U.K. is in mourning after the death of Queen Elizabeth II at age 96 — and the whole nation is coming together to pay tribute.
Church bells tolled at Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral in the early hours of Friday, September 9, as the official mourning period began. A special session of Parliament was held to honor the queen. However, normal government business has been delayed. A salute firing 96 gunshots — one for each year of the late monarch’s life — was also planned to take place on Friday.
Sporting events — from cricket to Premier League soccer — were put on hold after news broke of Elizabeth’s passing on Thursday, September 8. The English Football League also cancelled all games that were due to be played on the following weekend.
Queen Elizabeth II Steve Parsons/AP/Shutterstock
Tickets to the royal residencies — including Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle — are currently suspended. Friday was a day of closure for popular tourist destinations. Flags flew at half-mast in Elizabeth’s honor, and signs were posted throughout the airports and underground stations to commemorate the late royal’s legacy.
Buckingham Palace announced that Elizabeth died on Thursday at her Balmoral estate, Scotland. She was placed under medical supervision for her declining health. The longest-reigning monarch of Britain had been suffering from mobility issues and other health problems for several months. She was even forced to miss some of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in July because of discomfort.
Before the palace confirmed Elizabeth’s passing, King Charles IIIHe and his wife. Queen Consort Camilla, traveled to Scotland to be by the queen’s side. They were joined by Prince William, Prince Harry was spotted arriving in Scotland shortly after — without Meghan Markle.
Crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace, as a Rainbow appears on September 8, 2022, London, England. This is when news of Queen Elizabeth’s ill-health spreads. Mark Thomas/Shutterstock
The Archewell cofounders issued a brief tribute to Elizabeth via their foundation’s website as mourners gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to pay their respects. A rainbow appeared across London’s sky while mourners flocked to Buckingham Palace’s gates.
Charles, 73, was immediately named king after his mother’s death, though a coronation date has not yet been confirmed. The new monarch broke the silence by signing a statement signed by His Majesty King.
“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,” he wrote on Thursday. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
Charles continued: “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”
