Queen Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and the nation's figurehead for seven decades, has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.Following the announcement of the Queen's death today at the age of 96, 17 months after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, a look back at how her love for Prince Philip grew from a teenage infatuation into a steadfast marriage. Princess Elizabeth was just 13 years old when she met Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, an 18-year-old naval cadet. From that day on Elizabeth was a 'one-man woman'. As one friend would later say: 'She never looked at anyone else. She was smitten from the start'. This deep, unwavering love formed the foundation of a marriage that lasted 73 years and was at the heart of the modern British monarchy (left, on their wedding day in 1947 and inset). It only ended with the death of the Duke of Edinburgh in April 2021, at the age of 99 (right, in June 2020). Now, following the Queen's death at the age of 96, a look back at the great love of her life.
"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will
Her eldest son Charles, 73, automatically becomes king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.Her family had rushed to be by her side at her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, after doctors expressed concern about her health. She had been suffering from what Buckingham Palace has called "episodic mobility problems" since the end of last year, forcing her to withdraw from nearly all her public engagements.
Queen Elizabeth II, who was also the world's oldest and longest-serving head of state, came to the throne following the death of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, when she was just 25.
She was crowned in June the following year.Her son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, is now King. He will address the shocked nation imminently, as the world grieves Britain's longest-reigning monarch. Her children, and Prince William and Prince Harry, had rushed to her bedside at Balmoral after doctors became 'concerned' for her health. Hours later she died, surrounded by her family. The Queen's death will see Britain and her Commonwealth realms enter into a ten-day period of mourning as millions of her subjects in the UK and abroad come to terms with her passing. And as her son accedes to the throne, there will also be a celebration of her historic 70-year reign that saw her reach her Platinum Jubilee this year - a landmark unlikely to be reached again by a British monarch. The Queen's passing came more than a year after that of her beloved husband Philip, her 'strength and guide', who died aged 99 in April 2021. Since his funeral, where she poignantly sat alone because of lockdown restrictions, her own health faltered, and she was forced to miss an increasing number of events mainly due to 'mobility problems' and tiredness. But she was well enough to meet with Boris Johnson at Balmoral to accept his resignation, before asking the 15th Prime Minister of her reign, Liz Truss, to form a Government. Her Majesty, who stood with the support of a stick and smiled as she greeted Ms Truss in front of a roaring fire, had not been seen in public for two months. It would be her final picture..