Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at the age of 96.
In 70 years as the world has not witnessed a changeover in Britain’s monarchy, with the queen’s death come questions about what happens next.
Outside Buckingham Palace in central London large crowds gathered, while tributes poured in from across the country and around the world.
After Buckingham Palace said she had been placed under medical supervision, fears about the queen’s health had been growing as the royal family rushed to Scotland to be by her side.
The end of Elizabeth’s reign after more than 70 years will thrust the royal family and Britain into days of mourning and an uncertain new era, few Britons have known another monarch.
After the queen’s death the U.K. government and the royal family have been planning for years to ensure a smooth transition, and to appropriately honour her history-making reign.
After her death the queen’s funeral will take place 10 days, following the traditional observance of a national period of mourning.
At Westminster Abbey Elizabeth’s funeral is expected to be held, which would make her the first sovereign to have a funeral there since 1760.
From around the world the queen’s funeral is expected to be attended by dignitaries and heads of states.
Normally, Westminster Abbey holds 2,200 congregants, but to accommodate more than 8,000 people extra seating can be arranged, as it did at the queen’s coronation.
At St. George’s Chapel the queen is expected to be laid to rest in a private burial, on the grounds of Windsor Castle, where she spent many of her final years.
Next to her father King George VI the queen will be buried, her sister Princess Margaret, and Prince Philip, the queen’s beloved late-husband of 73 years.
To allow the public to pay their last respects the queen’s coffin is set to lie in state in Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster.
Since the queen’s death was confirmed crowds of people have continued to grow outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.
The eldest child of Elizabeth and Philip, Charles, became King Charles III upon his mother’s death.
By government figures the Accession Council led, and the day after the queen’s death to formally proclaim Charles the new sovereign is expected to meet at St. James’s Palace in London.
From now Charles’ coronation is likely to take place several months. After she ascended to the throne upon her father’s death the queen’s coronation, for example, took place on June 2, 1953, 14 months.
The title given to the spouse of a king is Queen Consort, and under U.K. law, whoever is married to a king would immediately become that and be known as queen.
In 2005 when Charles and Camilla married there was some debate as to what title Camilla, a divorcee, would take when Charles became king. A spokesperson for the couple suggested she would take the title Princess Consort, at the time of their wedding.
In a letter marking her 70 years on the throne the queen’s request laid out, and in the future monarchy was the first time the 96-year-old queen had publicly addressed her daughter-in-law’s role.
Prince William , his oldest son, becomes heir to the throne and becomes the Duke of Cornwall, now that Charles is king.
With the new title, William inherits the Duchy of Cornwall, in 1337 the private estate that was established to provide financial independence for the heir to the throne and his family. Formerly the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, inherits the new title of the Duchess of Cornwall.
As the Prince of Wales Charles still has to appoint his son, which is expected to happen sometime in the coming days.
A four-bedroom cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle, William, Kate and their three children Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte moved this summer from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage.
George, Louis and Charlotte have each moved up in the line of succession, with the death of the queen and the ascension of their grandfather Charles to king.
In the line of succession Charles’s youngest son, Prince Harry, is still a member of the royal family.
In the line of succession he is now fifth, and his two children Archie and Lilibet are now sixth and seventh, respectively.
To keep their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Harry and his wife Meghan are expected. From their roles as senior working royals in 2020 the couple stepped down.
Source:- https://livenewzus.com/uk-queen-named-elizabeth-ii-has-died/
