In the last few moments staff have carried a podium onto Downing Street after Buckingham Palace announced the news of the Queen's death.
Flags have been lowered to half-mast and Prime Minister Liz Truss is expected to speak shortly.
A moment the nation has never experienced before
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent
Even though it was
inevitable that something like this would eventually happen, it still has the
power to shock when it actually does.
For many people in
the UK, the Queen has been a reassuring symbol of certainty and continuity
throughout their lifetime.
She was a figure of
immense global stature, one of the most instantly recognisable people on the
planet.
This is a historic
moment and the end of an era, the like of which few of us will have seen before,
with her reign stretching back across so many decades.
There will be an
emotional jolt, and for many a profound sense of loss.
She was part of the
fabric of national life, a monarch who gave many a sense of stability and
constancy.
The UK's longest reigning monarch
The Queen’s death
brings to an end the longest reign in the history of the United Kingdom, and
one of the longest reigns by any head of state.
Elizabeth II became
Queen on the death of her father King George VI on 6 February 1952. She held
her coronation at Westminster Abbey the following year.
Her reign of 70
years was seven years longer than that of Queen Victoria.
Leading the
monarchy from the final years of the British Empire into the age of social
media, she became one of the world’s most recognised and respected figures.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Charles is now King
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The Queen’s 70-year
reign has ended, and her eldest son, Charles, is now King of the United
Kingdom.
The Queen guided
the UK and the monarchy through generations of change, winning respect and
admiration around the world for her dedication to duty.
Most people living
in the UK and in the Commonwealth will not have known a time without her as
monarch.
An era that began in 1952 - known by some as the New Elizabethan age -
is over.
Buckingham Palace: The Queen died peacefully this afternoon
BBCCopyright: BBC
In a statement Buckingham Palace said:
"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."
BreakingPalace announces death of Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II,
the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at the age of 96, Buckingham Palace
has announced.
Welcome to our
rolling coverage of this momentous story. We will bring you updates and
reaction from the UK and around the world.
Live Reporting
Edited by Dulcie Lee
All times stated are UK
Prime minister expected to make a statement
In the last few moments staff have carried a podium onto Downing Street after Buckingham Palace announced the news of the Queen's death.
Flags have been lowered to half-mast and Prime Minister Liz Truss is expected to speak shortly.
A moment the nation has never experienced before
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent
Even though it was inevitable that something like this would eventually happen, it still has the power to shock when it actually does.
For many people in the UK, the Queen has been a reassuring symbol of certainty and continuity throughout their lifetime.
She was a figure of immense global stature, one of the most instantly recognisable people on the planet.
This is a historic moment and the end of an era, the like of which few of us will have seen before, with her reign stretching back across so many decades.
There will be an emotional jolt, and for many a profound sense of loss.
She was part of the fabric of national life, a monarch who gave many a sense of stability and constancy.
The UK's longest reigning monarch
The Queen’s death brings to an end the longest reign in the history of the United Kingdom, and one of the longest reigns by any head of state.
Elizabeth II became Queen on the death of her father King George VI on 6 February 1952. She held her coronation at Westminster Abbey the following year.
Her reign of 70 years was seven years longer than that of Queen Victoria.
Leading the monarchy from the final years of the British Empire into the age of social media, she became one of the world’s most recognised and respected figures.
Charles is now King
The Queen’s 70-year reign has ended, and her eldest son, Charles, is now King of the United Kingdom.
The Queen guided the UK and the monarchy through generations of change, winning respect and admiration around the world for her dedication to duty.
Most people living in the UK and in the Commonwealth will not have known a time without her as monarch.
An era that began in 1952 - known by some as the New Elizabethan age - is over.
Buckingham Palace: The Queen died peacefully this afternoon
In a statement Buckingham Palace said:
"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."
BreakingPalace announces death of Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at the age of 96, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Welcome to our rolling coverage of this momentous story. We will bring you updates and reaction from the UK and around the world.