Update 8 Sep 2022: Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96
In this file photo taken on June 5, 2022, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowd from Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the Platinum Pageant in London as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. (Photo: AFP/Frank Augstein)
Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, the nation's figurehead and a towering presence on the world stage for seven decades, died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday (Sep 8) aged 96. "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," the new king, her eldest son Charles, said.
"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," the 73-year-old said in a statement. News that the queen's health was deteriorating emerged shortly after midday on Thursday when her doctors said she was under medical supervision, prompting her family to rush to Scotland to be by her side. Thousands gathered outside Buckingham Palace, in central London, and there was a stunned silence when the flag was lowered to half-mast. The crowd surged to the gates as the notice announcing the death of the only monarch most Britons have ever known was attached to the black iron gates.
Royal officials said King Charles III and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, would remain at Balmoral Castle, where the queen died, before returning to London on Friday, when he is expected to address the nation and meet Prime Minister Liz Truss. Details of the funeral have not been confirmed. On Elizabeth's death, Charles automatically became monarch of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. He is expected to visit all the nations of the United Kingdom in the coming days.
Reaching the age of 95 would be a significant milestone for any of us, not to mention for a figure as renowned as the Queen. Yet under the combined circumstances of the pandemic and the recent death of Prince Philip, the day will not be commemorated in the fashion usually befitting such an occasion.
The monarch has, however, reached out to the public to acknowledge the significant event. A statement from Buckingham Palace, dispatched on Wednesday 21 April, explains that ‘The Queen has sent the following message, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s birthday.‘ It reads:
- ‘I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate.
- ‘While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world.
- ‘My family and I would like to thank you all for the support and kindness shown to us in recent days. We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.‘
- The touching message is signed, ‘ELIZABETH R.‘
Funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sits alone in St. George’s Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip, the man who had been by her side for 73 years, at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, Saturday April 17, 2021. Prince Philip died April 9 at the age of 99 after 73 years of marriage to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. (Jonathan Brady/Pool via AP)
Sitting by herself at the funeral of Prince Philip on Saturday, Queen Elizabeth cut a regal but solitary figure: still the monarch, but now alone.
The queen sat apart from family members at the simple but somber ceremony at Windsor Castle, in accordance with strict social distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic. But if the ceremony had been for anyone else, at her side would have been her husband of 73 years, who gave a lifetime of service to the crown.
Wearing a face mask, the queen was dressed all in black, except for the diamond brooch that flashed on her left shoulder — a piece she had often worn on engagements with her husband.
Prince Philip's Life in Pictures
Take a look back at the iconic moments in his extraordinary life
Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, has died. He was 99-years-old. The royal family confirmed the sad news this morning.
"It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," reads a statement."His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle. Further announcements will be made in due course. The Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss."
Take a look back at his extraordinary life in photos, here.
Here's Why Queen Elizabeth II Has Two Birthdays
Queen Elizabeth II turned 93 this year, her 67th birthday since she ascended the throne in 1952. However, that’s not the only birthday she celebrates this year. As always, Her Royal Majesty not only observes her actual birth date, but also her official birthday as monarch.
Here’s why the Queen has two birthdays:
- Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born to the Duke and Duchess of York—later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother—on April 21, 1926, making April 21 her real birthday. However, when she became queen in 1952 following her father’s death, she also began celebrating her official birthday.
- Celebrating an official birthday as monarch is a practice that started more than 250 years ago in 1748 when King George II decided that he wanted a better chance of good weather on his birthday than his November birth date afforded, according to the BBC. The King solved this problem by combining his birthday celebration with an annual military parade that took place each summer, beginning the double birthday tradition.
- Since then, the second Saturday of June has become the usual date of the British monarch’s official birthday.
Tradition explained: Why does the Queen have two birthdays?
The Queen’s 95th birthday falls less than a week after Prince Philip’s funeral (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II was born on 21 April in 1926 to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, so this year marks her 95th birthday. Her second, ceremonial birthday celebration is marked on the second Saturday in June, which this year falls on the 12 June.
The convention of an official monarch’s birthday has been in place since 1748, during the reign of King George II. George’s birthday fell in November, with the inclement autumn weather hampering his desire to mark the occasion with a large-scale public celebration. He made the decision to combine his celebration with Trooping the Colour, an annual military parade in the summer.
The Queen: Why does she have two birthdays?
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Today is the Queen's official birthday, despite the fact she was born in April
It is the Queen's birthday celebration on Saturday 12 June - but she also has another one earlier in the year. The Queen has two birthdays - her real one - on 21 April, as she was born on 21 April 1926 and turned 95 this year. Then a second one - the official celebration - on the second Saturday of June. So why does the Queen have two birthdays, and how does she celebrate them?
In the past, official celebrations to mark a King or Queen's birthday in the UK have been held on a day that isn't their actual birthday. The Queen's great-grandfather, Edward VII, who was King from 1901 to 1910 was born in November, which is not known in the UK for its good weather.
But he wanted it to be possible to have a big public celebration - and November wasn't the time do it. So, given that his actual birthday wouldn't be a good time of year for a birthday parade, he decided to combine it with an annual military parade in the summer, when the weather would hopefully be nice.
Commemorating the Queen's 94th birthday
Her first official public appearance since Covid-19 safety measures were placed on the country in March, the monarch marked the occasion with a subdued celebration that included a military ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The queen said: "At this time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavour, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal, we will succeed and that success will belong to every one of us."
While her official birthday is typically marked with the Trooping the Colour parade, Buckingham Palace announced in March the cancellation of the parade this year in light of restrictions amid the ongoing pandemic, the BBC reported. The queen's real birthday is actually on April 21. But British royals mark their official birthdays on the second Saturday of June due to a tradition set by King George II back in 1748 to make sure that his birthday could be commemorated on a day when the weather would be good, according to the BBC.
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Queen's official birthday marked with unique ceremony
It is the first time the Queen has celebrated her official birthday at Windsor Castle
The Queen's official birthday has been marked with a unique ceremony performed by the Welsh Guard at Windsor Castle. It comes after the traditional Trooping the Colour parade was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It is only the second time in her 68-year reign that the parade in London has not gone ahead. The Queen, flanked by officials, sat alone on a dais for the ceremony. It was her first official public appearance since lockdown began.
The Queen celebrated her 94th birthday in April, but it is officially - and publicly - celebrated on the second Saturday of June every year. It is typically accompanied by the annual announcement of the Queen's Birthday Honours' List. However, this year she has "graciously agreed" to postpone publication of the list to the autumn.
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UK in Singapore 20 hrs
Join us on Saturday in wishing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II a happy 94th birthday from the comfort of your homes. Tune in to the @UKinSG Facebook for the virtual commemoration and join in by tagging pictures of your own toast to The Queen using #QueensBirthdayToastSG
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The Royal Family @RoyalFamily
The Queen enjoying today’s military ceremony at Windsor Castle, held to mark Her Majesty’s Official Birthday.
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The one food item that both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip refuse to eat
Being a monarch sometimes means that you have to follow guidelines. This also includes being told what you can and cannot eat. However, there is one specific food item that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will not eat because they dislike it.
With a marriage spanning more than 70 years, the royal couple has contrasting tastebuds and do not always agree on what to have for dinner. However, there is one dish that they both equally hate and it is never served to them. Hello! pointed out in the book Dinner at Buckingham Palace written by Charles Oliver what the former royal servant shared what the food is. “Inevitably there are one or two things the queen and her husband do not like and hosts are duly warned in advance,” he wrote.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip do not eat oysters and garlic. Picture: Instagram
Being a monarch sometimes means that you have to follow guidelines. This also includes being told what you can and cannot eat. However, there is one specific food item that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will not eat because they dislike it.
With a marriage spanning more than 70 years, the royal couple has contrasting tastebuds and do not always agree on what to have for dinner. However, there is one dish that they both equally hate and it is never served to them. Hello! pointed out in the book Dinner at Buckingham Palace written by Charles Oliver what the former royal servant shared what the food is. “Inevitably there are one or two things the queen and her husband do not like and hosts are duly warned in advance,” he wrote.
“Inevitably there are one or two things the queen and her husband do not like and hosts are duly warned in advance,” he wrote. “The palace instruction states: ‘Neither the queen nor the Duke of Edinburgh like oysters.'” It’s not just oysters that the queen and duke won’t touch. They won’t consume garlic either and that rule applies to every member of their family. It’s been reported that there’s another common food that Queen Elizabeth has never eaten even though there’s no rule against having it. That food is pizza.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH II, 94 YEARS OLD
At 94 years old, Queen Elizabeth the Second is the longest-reigning monarch of all time. She was crowned the Queen of England at the tender age of 25 in 1952 when her father, King George, passed away. Queen Elizabeth the Second has ruled England for more than 67 years and is both loved and respected by her people as a result of her large amount of public relations and former British colonies. This Queen still has many fantastic years left as Britain’s monarch!
PRINCE PHILIP, 99 YEARS OLD
Prince Philip was born from two royal families, one from Greece and one from Denmark. The royal mix may be to thank for his marriage to the long-reigning Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth the Second. The now 99-year-old Prince Philip has lived a life in the limelight next to the Queen and he still attends Royal events alongside his wife. He has been her constant companion and confidant through a lifetime of challenges and victories.
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A look back at Queen Elizabeth's life in photos
Princesses Elizabeth, left, & Margaret, right, with their mother in June 1936 in the garden of the Royal Lodge at Windsor
From princess to queen, from mother to monarch, Queen Elizabeth II saw a lot in almost a century of life.
On February 6, 1952, the then-Princess Elizabeth received news that would change her life forever: her father, King George VI, had passed away, and she was going to be Queen. Since then, Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to reach the historic milestone of a Platinum Jubilee.
Having overseen the throne for seven decades, she was the longest-reigning British monarch in history. In this gallery, we take a look at the Queen's life.
