Back
PremiumQueen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. Her family gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier on Thursday. The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change. With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms.
The funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth who died this week after 70 years on the throne, will be held on Monday, September 19 at 1000 GMT, England's most senior peer who is in charge of state occasions said on Saturday, according to Reuters report.
The coffin will be taken from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh on Sunday before being flown to London on Tuesday and it will later lie in state at Westminster Hall from Wednesday until the morning of the funeral which will take place at London's Westminster Abbey, the Reuters reported.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss and senior members of her government have taken oaths of loyalty to King Charles III in the House of Commons, while House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle was the first to pledge he will “bear true allegiance to his Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors," followed by the longest-serving lawmakers and the prime minister, according to AP report.
It is important to note that all lawmakers pledge allegiance to the monarch after they are elected and making a new vow when the monarch changes is not a legal requirement, but all 650 lawmakers will have a chance to retake the oath in the coming days if they wish, as per the AP report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday offered his "sincerest congratulations" to Britain's King Charles III after he was officially proclaimed monarch at a pomp-filled ceremony in London, according to AFP report.
"Please receive my sincerest congratulations on your accession to the throne," Putin said in a telegram addressed to the new king, the Kremlin said. "I wish Your Majesty success, robust health and above all the best," as per AFP report.
King Charles III publicly proclaimed Britain's new monarch for the first time by a royal official at St James's Palace on Saturday. During the event, he issued a personal statement. Read here: King Charles says ‘deeply aware of this great inheritance’ as he's proclaimed monarch
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the discussion on inheritance of exquisite collection of jewels owned by her has come forward, as Queen Elizabeth II was known to have an exquisite collection of jewels including expensive crowns and tiaras, while it is believed that the Queen's private collection has around 50 tiaras.
So the most important question is, will Queen's tiaras from the personal collection be given to the female members of the Royal Family? Well, in all likelihood, it is a possibility but only time will tell what happens to these jewels. As far as the Kohinoor mounted crown is concerned, it is likely that the crown will be passed on to the Queen Consort - Camilla Parker Bowles.
Queen Elizabeth enjoyed a "warm friendship" with South Africa's President Nelson Mandela, who once joked about her weight on a visit to Buckingham Palace - an unheard of liberty attesting to the strong bond between the freedom fighter and the monarch, Mandela's private secretary said according to Reuters report.
Zelda la Grange, Mandela's private secretary from 1994 to 2013 told Reuters, “they had a very warm friendship. They shared the sense of duty, the sense of service and a calling that they adhered to throughout their lives, and there was a deep respect between the two of them and I think that was the basis of the connection between the two people, having an appreciation for tradition within their own nations."
Queen had once visited the sets of an Indian film? South Megastar Kamal Haasan recently spoke to ANI and revealed that the Queen had attended the launch of the 'Marudhanaygam' film at MGR Film City on October 16, 1997.
He added that the Queen had spent 20 minutes on the 'Marudhanaygam' film set during which the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had also joined her.
He said, "I was pained to learn of the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, who had been Queen of England for seventy years. She was someone who had earned the love of not just the English people but people from all over the world. Queen Elizabeth 2 came to our film Marudhanayagam set to show that no colonialism is still there. In fact, the 'Marudhanayagam' film which I shot and the dialogues were against them (British)."
He continued, "Twenty-five years ago, she accepted our invitation to attend the inaugural function of the 'Marudhanayagam' film. She graced the occasion and felicitated us."
Tehran has avoided official comment on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, but some Iranians expressed outright hostility, accusing Britain of having supported the late shah's regime. Unlike many countries with wall-to-wall coverage, state television in the Islamic republic reported the bare minimum on the death Thursday of the woman who had been the world's longest reigning monarch, with just a brief announcement along with archive footage and photographs.
Haniyeh, a student, told AFP she had learned of the queen's death from social media. "I saw the news of her death on Instagram. I felt nothing, and frankly I couldn't care less," she said. Broadcasters around the world interrupted normal programming to announce her death, but young north Tehran market trader Faraz said he hadn't even heard of her. "I don't have a television at home and I've no interest in politics. I didn't know her," he said.
King Charles will officially be proclaimed as Britain's new monarch on Saturday in a ceremony followed by gun salutes and the reading of proclamations in London and across the four corners of the United Kingdom. The death of 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth on Thursday after 70 years on the throne set in train long-established and highly choreographed plans for days of mourning and a state funeral that will be held in just over a week.
The death of Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, has drawn drawing an outpouring of tributes from at home and around the globe. Charles, 73, succeeded his mother immediately on Thursday but an Accession Council made up of hundreds of politicians, bishops and senior civil servants will proclaim his succession on Saturday at a ceremony with officials in traditional heraldic clothing.
Queen Elizabeth II's Wedding Dress: According to many documentaries and Palace staff, the Queen's wedding gown had a very special message. Curated by Joanna Marshner, the gown was paid for by ration coupons given by ordinary women post War. When the Queen married Prince Philip, Britain was still recovering from the economic losses incurred in War and it was difficult to pay for such a heavy gown. So the Queen used her ration coupons given to her by the Government along with a few sent to her by women across the country to pay for the gown. The dress, made of satin, had many spring flowers, which gave a message of hope and renewal to the British nationals at that point.
Queen Elizabeth's outfit after Brexit: Right after Britain opted to exit European Union, the Queen attended the first opening parliament in 2017 right after the decision was made public. She wore a blue and yellow outfit, which are the featured colours in the European Union Flag. Many believe that the message Queen wanted to give was her disapproval of the decision.
Queen's outfit for her COVID-19 address to the nation: The Queen chose a green coloured outfit for addressing the nation as the pandemic made waves across the world. Many say that the colour green was picked by her to symbolize growth and renewal. The Queen also wore a diamond and turquoise brooch. The same brooch that Queen Mary gifted her upon her death in 1953. The brooch is considered to be a symbol of protection.
Queen's ruby tiara when she met former US President Donald Trump: The Royal family is always neutral when it comes to politics however the Queen, has, on a number of occasions, given a message through her outfit of whether she approves or disapproves of a certain decision or person. When the Queen met Donald Trump, she wore a ruby tiara that was originally gifted to her on her wedding day by the people of Burma (now Myanmar). The Burmese ruby tiara symbolises protection from evil and illness. Well, we're not going to say what the hidden message behind Queen wearing the tiara was, just connect the dots!
Her bright outfits during public appearances: The Queen used to wear bright, vibrant colours during her public appearances for a very simple reason - so that she is noticed amongst the crowd! The Queen's daughter-in-law Sophie revealed this in a 2017 documentary 'The Queen at 90'.
Japan's Emperor Naruhito plans to attend the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, while Prime Minister Fumio Kishida may also attend, Japanese media said. It would be Naruhito's first overseas trip since acceding to the throne in May 2019. Empress Masako has also expressed a wish to attend, and the Japanese government is arranging their trip, NTV, TBS and other media said on Friday, citing government sources.
Kishida is considering attending the funeral, which Britain says will be held in a little over a week, before visiting New York for the United Nations General Assembly late in the month, TV Asahi reported on Saturday. U.S. President Joe Biden has said he will attend the funeral of Britain's longest-reigning monarch.
Rail and postal workers have suspended strike action, the Bank of England has postponed its next interest-rate decision, and the government might delay an emergency budget. Even the pound halted its decline. The UK has hit pause following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday as an official 10-day mourning period starts. For now, national attention is focused on the state funeral and tributes to the life and service of the 96-year-old monarch rather than inflation and the parlous state of the economy.
But as reminiscences over her majesty give way to renewed rumblings of anxiety about a long, cold winter ahead, another harsh reality will hit home: just as the UK craves strong leadership and guidance, in the space of 48 hours the country has ushered in a new, untested prime minister and seen the departure of a legendary head of state who had seen it all before.
Queen Elizabeth II has been depicted on British banknotes and coins for decades. Her portrait also has been featured on currencies in dozens of other places around the world, in a reminder of the British empire's colonial reach.
The queen’s portrait on British notes and coins is expected to replaced by a likeness of the new King Charles III, but it won’t be immediate.
“Current banknotes featuring the image of Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be legal tender," the Bank of England said. An announcement on existing paper money issued by the U.K.’s central bank will be made after the official 10-day mourning period has ended, it said.
The Royal Mint, which is the official maker of British coins, said all coins with her portrait “remain legal tender and in circulation," with more information to come later.
“As we respect this period of respectful mourning, we continue to strike coins as usual," the Royal Mint said on its website.
With 4.7 billion U.K. banknotes worth 82 billion pounds ($95 billion) in circulation and about 29 billion coins, British money bearing the queen’s image will likely be in circulation for years.
“Rather than all of the current coins and notes being handed in, the process will be a gradual one and many of the coins featuring portraits of Queen Elizabeth II will remain in circulation for many years to come," according to Coin Expert, a British coin research website.
After Charles takes the crown at his coronation, a new portrait will need to be taken to use on redesigned notes and coins, the website said.
Coins featuring him will show him facing to the left, replacing the queen’s rightward gaze in line with tradition dating to the 17th century. It dictates monarchs be shown in profile and in opposite direction to their predecessors.
Canadians were attached to Queen Elizabeth II right to the end, but their relationship with the monarchy has been increasingly strained and experts believe her death on Thursday will reignite debate over its future.
"Canada is a monarchist exception in the middle of a rather republican continent," said Marc Chevrier, a politics professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal. In a few weeks, after the period of mourning, "the debates will resurface, Pandora's box will open," he added.
Queen Elizabeth II, who marked 70 years on the throne and the oldest and longest-reigning monarch in British history died on Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, along with her beloved cohort of furry companions. It’s widely known that Queen Elizabeth loved corgis. Over the years, she owned more than 30 corgis. At the time of death, she owned two Corgis, Muick and Sandy, one Dorgi, named Candy, and a Cocker Spaniel. A Dorgi is a mix between a Corgi and a daschund. Read more here
King Charles III, in his first address to Britain and his Commonwealth realms, expressed love for his younger son Harry and his daughter-in-law Meghan. His statement showed a significant gesture towards the young couple whose relationship have been strained with the rest of the family. Read more here
For decades, every British prime minister has prepared to navigate the weighty national questions surrounding the possible demise of Queen Elizabeth II. Liz Truss barely got 48 hours. For the first time in its long history, Britain acquired a new prime minister and monarch in the same week with the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. Read more here
Travel startup Hopper said on Friday it had noticed a surge in flight searches to London from the United States following the death of Queen Elizabeth. In the hour of the announcement of the queen's death flight searches to London from the U.S. saw a 49% spike compared with the previous day, according to the company.
This comes at a time when the British pound is weak against the dollar making Britain an appealing tourist destination for people traveling from the United States. Flight searches from around the world to London airports surged by 40% compared with the previous day, and jumped 41% compared with 3 hours before the announcement of the queen's death, Hopper said.
While news of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's children now being able to use royal titles after their grandfather King Charles III accession to the throne goes viral, what remains unfamiliar is what happens to the King's younger son and his spouse. For the uninitiated, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stepped back as "senior" royals in 2020. They had announced that they would work to become financially independent. The couple resides in California, United States of America with their two children- Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Lillibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. Read more here
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth after a wreath-laying ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra on Saturday, saying Australians were mourning an "enormous loss". Albanese, Governor General David Hurley and other dignitaries laid floral wreaths at the foot of a bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth at the parliament's Queen's Terrace.
Speaking after the ceremony, which was conducted in silence, Albanese said King Charles' reflections on his late mother were "extraordinarily fitting". "So many Australians have made moving tributes and are mourning this enormous loss," he added. The British monarch is the head of state in Australia, among 14 realms outside the United Kingdom, although the role is largely ceremonial.
US President Joe Biden has said that he would attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. “Yes. I do not know what the details are yet, but I will be going," Biden told reporters at the Columbus International Airport in Ohio on Friday. He was responding to a question of whether he will be going to the Queen's funeral.
In response to another question, the president said he has not spoken to King Charles III yet. “I know him. I have not spoken to him yet," he added. In Brussels, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken said Queen Elizabeth II was a powerful, unifying force, and a source of comfort and resilience to millions of people from all walks of life.
“On behalf of the United States, I extend our deepest condolences to our British friends, government of the United Kingdom and to the royal family," he said.
People from several countries across the world paid homage to the longest ever reigning Britain monarch, Queen Elizabeth II after her demise on Thursday. Check more pictures here
“The Crown," Netflix's acclaimed series about Queen Elizabeth II and her family, has paused production due to the monarch's death. A spokesperson for the series said production was paused on Friday “as a mark of respect" and will also be suspended on the day of the queen's funeral.
The show is in production on its sixth season. Its first two seasons starred Claire Foy as the young princess Elizabeth ascending to the throne and gradually growing into her role as monarch, and seasons three and four featured Olivia Colman as a more mature queen. The show has gradually moved closer to current events. Netflix recently revealed casting of the actors who are playing Prince William and his wife Kate in the sixth season.
Seems like even Queen Elizabeth II's death might not be enough to repair the strained relationship between her grandsons, Prince William and Harry. According to Fox News, the reason for this is simply because Harry and Meghan, and Catherine and William are not speaking.
Though people speculated that the Queen's death would be an opportunity for the royals to get back together but as a source pointed out, while the duo feel sorry for Harry, any feelings of the thaw taking a turn halted when Meghan decided to offer her guttural feelings to the New York-based magazine, The Cut, reported the outlet.
As per some media reports the Kohinoor-studded crown will go to the next monarch i.e. King Charles III, Queen's eledest son. However, going by the ascension history of the Kohinoor, the diamond will go to the next Queen, which in this case is Camilla Parker Bowles, the Queen Consort. The Kohinoor diamond is currently in the platinum crown which was worn by Queen Elizabeth II during her reign as the monarch of England. Read more here
On 10 September, at 10 am (2:30 pm in India) Charles will meet with senior officials known as the Accession Council at St. James’s Palace and will be officially proclaimed king.
At 11am (3.30pm in India) an official will read the proclamation aloud from a balcony at St. James's Palace. It will also be read out in other locations across Britain
Former Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, was named as the Queen Consort by Britain's King Charles III.
“In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort.
“I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much
Britain's King Charles on Friday bestowed the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales on his eldest son William and daughter-in-law Kate, passing on the titles that he and his late wife Diana previously held.
King Charles III said 'thank you' to his ‘darling Mama’ Queen Elizabeth II and vowed to carry on her “lifelong service" to the nation.
“I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love," said King Charles. “Our values have remained and must remain constant"
Download the App to get 14 days of unlimited access to Mint Premium absolutely free!
