Queen Elizabeth

The Queen’s eldest son and heir, Charles – the former Prince of Wales – became King of the United Kingdom and the 14 Commonwealth realms.

“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,” Charles said in a statement later the same evening.

“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.”

King Charles added: “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.”

Queen Elizabeth was 96 years old at the time of her passing. Several reports concerning her health subsequently came to light, and one of those courtesy of former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In his memoir, Unleashed, he recalled his final meeting with the late monarch, claiming she had a form of bone cancer.

“I had known for a year or more that she had a form of bone cancer, and her doctors were worried that at any time she could enter a sharp decline.” He went on to quote the queen’s private secretary, Sir Edward Young, who told him, “She’s gone down quite a bit over the summer,” before the ex-PM began his last audience as prime minister with her.