Savvy members of the public noticed that flight records showed members of the Royal Family rushing to be by her side, and news anchors were already beginning to change into black ties as a sign of mourning. As speculation increased, more and more news channels suspended their schedule to cover the queen’s condition.

At 18:30 BST, just six hours after the public learned that the Queen was ill, a tweet from the Royal Family announced her death. The precise time of death of Queen Elizabeth still is not known. However, we have learned that the Prime Minister knew about the death two hours before it was made public.

How Did Queen Elizabeth Pass Away?

So what happened behind the scenes? Queen Elizabeth’s death reason hasn’t been formally announced, but we know her health has been in decline for a few months. Starting in October 2021, the formerly healthy queen started using a walking stick during public appearances. She’s also had a few overnight stays in the hospital and has canceled a few public engagements due to health reasons. Many people have speculated that her cause of death is essentially heartbreak. Those near to the queen confirm her health started going downhill after her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, died.

When she passed away, Queen Elizabeth was comfortably situated in Balmoral Castle. This Scottish residence has long been her favorite home, and it’s the place where she frequently vacationed with her husband and children. All four of her children were with her, and many of her grandchildren, including Prince William, were by her side. Unfortunately, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton arrived just a little too late to say goodbye.

A Look Back at Queen Elizabeth’s Life

Queen Elizabeth’s death marks the end of an impressive reign. She became the Queen of the United Kingdom in 1952 and ruled for 70 years and 214 days. This makes her the longest-reigning monarch in the UK and the second-longest in the world. Queen Elizabeth’s age when she passed away was 96, making her the oldest monarch in history. In addition to being the queen of Britain, Elizabeth was also the queen of 14 other Commonwealth realms, including Canada, Jamaica, Australia, The Bahamas, and New Zealand.

Queen Elizabeth has played an important role in British and international politics for decades. As Queen, her role was mostly figurative. Though she never got involved in things like Parliamentary elections, she welcomed foreign dignitaries and counseled the UK’s prime ministers. Despite the British monarchy being controversial, Queen Elizabeth II was a beloved public figure. She was well-known for having a subtle sense of humor, devout faith, and a passionate interest in horses and corgi dogs. The queen was also a patron of a variety of charities, and records show that she helped to raise more than £1.4 billion for charitable causes throughout her life.

Political Figures and Celebrities React to the Queen’s Death

Since the news of Queen Elizabeth’s passing was made public, leaders have begun making public statements. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited the British embassy with flowers and signed a condolence book that will later go to the British government. In France, the Presidential Palace released a statement thanking her for fostering positive relationships between France and Britain. Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand both offered their sympathy and honored her for years of charity and public service.

Many British celebrities have also spoken out about mourning for the queen. Sir Elton John has posted a statement on Instagram saying, “She was an inspiring presence to be around, and lead the country through some of our greatest, and darkest, moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth.” Meanwhile, Dame Helen Mirren says, “We mourn a woman, who, with or without the crown, was the epitome of nobility.” When asked about her passing at a red carpet event, Sir Patrick Stewart stated, ” I’m sad, I met her several times, she gave me my knighthood, and I was delighted. I wanted her to see the century, having been England’s longest-serving monarch.”

What Happens Next?

For most people around the world, Queen Elizabeth II is the only British monarch they’ve ever known. Her passing away will be a major change for her nation and the world. There are already concerns that Queen Elizabeth’s successor may struggle to hold the monarchy together.

Due to the way British law works, her son, Prince Charles, automatically became King Charles at the time of her death. Despite rumors that Charles would change his name because the former King Charles was beheaded, he’s chosen King Charles III as his regnal name. Queen Elizabeth’s death also means that Prince William moves from being second-in-line to being the heir apparent.

For the past several decades, the UK government has had a meticulous plan for what happens when the queen dies. Codenamed Operation London Bridge, this plan covers everything from where her body goes next to where her funeral service will be. Most of this plan has been public for years, so we have a pretty good idea of how things will proceed.

On Saturday, King Charles III will be formally proclaimed king, and on Sunday, he will start a tour of the nation to visit the Scottish, Welsh, and Irish parliaments. To mourn the queen, Parliament will pause for six days. Meanwhile, the Queen’s coffin will lie in state at Holyrood Palace before going to London. Her state funeral will most likely be on September 20.