UK's Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96
United Kingdom's Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday at the age of 96.
"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," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "Flags across the UK were lowered to half-mast ahead of a national minute's silence and the start of an official period of mourning," the palace added. The Royal Family will enter a period of mourning and flags will be flown at half-mast.
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne after the death of her father in 1952 and ruled the country for a record 70 years, six more than Queen Victoria, who had been Britain's longest-reigning monarch until 2015. She will be succeeded by her son Charles, who is expected to be known as King Charles III.