announcements in the past have been made of course about all kinds of things and events in the royal family's life. but i think today reflects a proud which is starting to gather, basically expressing concern and just hoping best. yes, i think that is the fairest way _ best. yes, i think that is the fairest way we _ best. yes, i think that is the fairest way we can _ best. yes, i think that is the fairest way we can put - best. yes, i think that is the fairest way we can put it, i best. yes, i think that is the i fairest way we can put it, huw. millions of people here and elsewhere will be hoping for the best but they will be i think now fearing the worst and perhaps preparing for the worst, but we must continue to hope that whatever news we get from buckingham palace will indicate that things are ok at balmoral. but i think that is as much as we can say at this stage. there is great concern. that concern has been expressed by politicians at the most senior level, and they will know what the true situation is. they will have been briefed and they will have briefed each other on

privy council terms, so i think that is the fairest indication we can give to our viewers here and around the world at this stage that there is, as we keep saying, there is profound concern, deep concern. but at this stage we don't have any further news from buckingham palace. nick, we'rejust looking nick, we're just looking at these images here, because of course, they are really reflecting people deep alarm and concern about the fact that the queen is extremely unwell, and of course, that we are expecting the news from balmoral that she is having treatment or that, indeed, they are unable to help her majesty any more. a few moments ago, buckingham palace

announced the death of her majesty, queen elizabeth ii. the palace has just issued this statement. it says that 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. within the past few minutes, buckingham palace has announced the death of her majesty the queen, queen elizabeth ii. to recap on the statement, the queen died peacefully at balmoral this afternoon. the king, that is charles, and the queen consort, will remain at balmoral this evening and will return to london tomorrow. her majesty was 96 years old. she became queen on the 6th of february 1952.

this was on the death of her father, king george vi. she heard the news while staying at a game lodge in cannes yet at the age of 25, and her coronation at westminster abbey was watched by more than 20 million people. she was married to prince philip until his death in 2021. charles, theirfirst philip until his death in 2021. charles, their first child, philip until his death in 2021. charles, theirfirst child, was born in 1948. charles, theirfirst child, was born in 19118. he now becomes the new king. in 2015, her majesty passed queen victoria to become the longest reigning monarch in british history. and in february 2022, we saw the 75th anniversary of her becoming queen. she made more than 250 visits to commonwealth countries, and was head of state in australia and canada, and new zealand. winston

churchill was briton's prime minister when she came to the throne, and liz truss was her 15th prime minister. the bbc is interrupting its normal programmes to bring you an important announcement. this is bbc news from london. buckingham palace has announced the death of her majesty, queen elizabeth ii. in a statement, the palace said the queen died peacefully at balmoral this afternoon. the king and queen consort will at balmoral this evening, and will return to london

tomorrow. bbc television is broadcasting this special programme, reporting the death of her majesty the queen. the national anthem

this is bbc news from london. buckingham palace has announced the death of her majesty, queen elizabeth ii. in a statement, the palace said 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. the death of her majesty brings to an end the longest reign in british history, spanning eight decades of immense change. throughout that time, her majesty was the one constant presence in

public life, a head of state who personified stability and reassurance. her life had been dedicated to the service of the people, and her reign was characterised by a steadfast sense of duty. elizabeth was just 25 when she came to the throne in 1952, on the sudden death of her father, king george vi, as britain was still recovering from the second world war. she was sustained by her 73 year marriage to the late prince philip. her strength and stay, as she once described him, was at her side for three majorjubilee celebrations. three major jubilee celebrations. elizabeth three majorjubilee celebrations. elizabeth ii was the most widely travelled head of state in history. the queen of 15 nations, head of commonwealth of 5a countries and territories. her majesty's death brings the second elizabethan age to

a close, and a long and momentous chapter in british life. a reign marked above all else by a sense of service to others, a reign unlike all others in the history of britain and the commonwealth. 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchell is with me, as we report the news of the death of her majesty, queen elizabeth ii. and one thinks immediately, nick, first of all, of the loss for the royal family. 0ne family. one does. this, for the nation, for them, is an absolutely massive moment, a moment that so many people have dreaded for so long has come. it is a moment of great solemnity and national sadness. it's hard, really, fully, to take it in. it's

no great surprise, given her age and declining health, but nevertheless, it is a very considerable shock to feel that she has died. millions of people, i think, as they learn this news, will feel a sense of personal loss, and i think many people will find it rather disorientating. let'sjust understand this moment. it isn't just the death of the longest lived, longest reigning monarch in british history, a monarch who has been there in the background to our lives for most of us, for all of our lives. it is the end of what i think history willjudge to have been one of the most remarkable reigns in the 1000 plus years of the british monarchy, a reign which will be remembered and talked about in years to come. now, whether you are a monarchist or not, and we know, as we have said this afternoon, that not everyone is, she was a monarch

that in the widest possible respect here in the united kingdom, and throughout the world. it is the end of the reign of elizabeth ii, a monarch who always put duty first, who brought dignity and decency to the highest office in the land. who embodied the best of qualities, who has been a focus for national unity and identity, and who has been is still, calm centre of stability and reassurance to this nation and the other nations of which she has been head of state for more than 70 years, while so much around her has changed. she has been a distillation of our national identity. she has been constant in an ever shifting world, constant, steadfast, world, co nsta nt, steadfast, dependable, world, constant, steadfast, dependable, dutiful. these are all rather old—fashioned words, old—fashioned concepts, even, but i think that they sum up what she

brought to the role of monarch. we recall the pledge she made on her zist recall the pledge she made on her 21st birthday. "i declare before you or that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service." well, she truly remained true to that pledge. it was a life of finelyjudged service, true to the principles of constitutional monarchy, driven by duty, sustained by faith. and we recall also the message that she issued when she reached her 75th birthday this year. do you remember the message that she wrote? she said i remain eternally grateful for and humbled by the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me. she said, i look forward to continuing to serve you with all of my heart, and she signed that message, your servant, elizabeth r. well, that servant has gone. the end of the

reign of elizabeth ii, elizabeth the great, as many people will regard her. that reign has ended, and we have a new king.— her. that reign has ended, and we have a new king. yes. the crown asses have a new king. yes. the crown passes invisibly, _ have a new king. yes. the crown passes invisibly, but immediately, imperceptibly, and charles is now our king and our head of state. camilla is now queen consort. it remains to be seen what name he will take, but we will refer to him as the king, and he will lead the nation's mourning for his mother. as you said, she came to the throne just after the end of the second world war, succeeding to the throne in 1952 after the death of her father, and on the night of her coronation, on a broadcast on the bbc, she said throughout all of my life and with all of my heart, i

shall strive to be worthy of your service. and there is that message and the message she issued on the anniversary of her accession, and i think they show that if there is one key to her reign, i would suggest it is not actually duty, the word which is not actually duty, the word which is normally associated with her, but humility. because for all of the grandness of her position here, the coronation, the imperial state crown being lowered onto her head by the archbishop of canterbury, for all the grandness of her position, it never went to her head. she had, i think, an instinctive understanding that as a hereditary monarch, she had to win the trust of the people of this country and the other countries of which she was queen, and that, i believe, is what she did. she gained it, and she kept it. she kept the monarchy strong. now,

post, there have been a few bumps along the way. it would be extraordinary if there hadn't been. bumps which almost without exception have been caused by other members of her family. have been caused by other members of herfamily. but she pursued her role with that sense of humility and by putting duty first, and she was at heart, people who knew her... it is funny to talk in the past tense now, isn't it? she was a very down—to—earth, straightforward and unpretentious woman, rather reserved, certainly in her early years. there was none of that sort of vainglorious and overbearing behaviour we have sometimes perhaps seen with other members of her family. for70 seen with other members of her family. for 70 years, she has been a constant, unchanging presence in the background to our lives, the head of the nation, as she has sometimes been referred to, above politics, but with a shrewd interest in and a grasp of politics and of political

figures. so, we now look back on, and there will be so many tributes, so many tributes now, as people take this in, as they come to terms with their own emotions, and i'm quite sure there will be many people who are very emotional at this moment, as they learn of this news, the death of the queen, but this nation and so many other nations will now pay tribute to this long life of service, which has now ended. symbolised everywhere, nick. the flags are being lowered and the rainbow along with the lowered flag at windsor, the favourite home of the queen for so many years. the flag is lowered already at buckingham palace. so many elements,

nick, of yourappreciation buckingham palace. so many elements, nick, of your appreciation and tribute will be echoed by political leaders at downing street. we are expecting liz truss to say something fairly soon. the prime minister will offer her own sympathy to the royal family and she will of course have her own words of appreciation for the long service of her majesty. there will be other political leaders too wanting to pay tribute to a lifetime of service, a lifetime of humble commitment to duty, as nick was saying, and of taking the role as seriously as it is possible to take it. very much in line with the teaching that her father had shared with her all those years ago in buckingham palace, king george vi, very proud of his two daughters

and took a long time to offer the experience and learning to his elder daughter, elizabeth. there you have at the railings of buckingham palace, they are in line with tradition posting the formal notice. and that notice will say that her majesty queen elizabeth ii has died peacefully today at balmoral in scotland. the age of 96. the longest reigning monarch in british history. a lifetime of service to people in the united kingdom throughout the commonwealth and in many parts of the world. an example of leadership, which didn't stray into the realm of politics. and for lots of people,

the ideal symbol of what a constitutional monarchy should be like. now the world has been told, and the official notice has been posted, as the palace staff make their way back into what was the queen's home. it is now the home of the king and the queen consort because prince charles is now king charles. it remains to be seen whether he will call himself charles as king but we are assuming that he will. and this now is the home of the new monarch, the king, and his consort, the queen consort. crowds still gathering at buckingham palace because the news has travelled very rapidly. here and at windsor and all the other royal residences. but of

course people will be following these events closely on their televisions and their mobile devices and all kinds of different means of spreading the news on social media as people come to terms with what has happened. as nick was saying memorably a few moments ago, it is a seismic event. the longest reigning monarch in british history who has left us at the age of 96, and it is not a surprise when someone of that age suffers ill—health and eventually passes away. but what is left, of course, is the reflection of what was achieved and the kind of life that was led, and the sense of duty and the sense of loyalty. and as nick was saying, the sense of humility, which seems bizarre to say as a monarch that somebody who had a

sense of service to others. this was a theme that was repeated so often in the queen's statements at great milestones in her life. those four greatjubilee is where she underlined the notion of service to be at the service of people and to appreciate the fact that people were loyal to her as a monarch and appreciated the fact that she was of, well, incalculable value in terms of her service to britain. having come to the throne at such a young age and with very little experience, at the age of 25 when she didn't expect to be in that position at all. her father suddenly dying in his 50s. a terrible blow, and then a huge burden for the young queen to be bearing. what she did so, and with a strong sense of what the monarchy was meant to be, the

sense that her father had shared with her. as we said earlier, for those considering the nature of the reign, the longest reign in british history, it was in many senses a continuation of the reign of george vi. the crowds at the palace will have seen this formal announcement. "the queen died peacefully at balmoral this afternoon. the king and queen consort will be staying at balmoral tonight and will be returning to london tomorrow." that is the formal announcement to the world in the traditional way, the printed statement being fixed to the railings of buckingham palace. and when we see that, nick, that is the chapter completed. find when we see that, nick, that is the chapter completed.— when we see that, nick, that is the chapter completed. and the vehicle is there outside _ chapter completed. and the vehicle is there outside buckingham - chapter completed. and the vehicle is there outside buckingham palace are stopping. the word will be

reaching people. people will be very shocked, i think, reaching people. people will be very shocked, ithink, by reaching people. people will be very shocked, i think, by this. reaching people. people will be very shocked, ithink, by this. it reaching people. people will be very shocked, i think, by this. it is very hard to take it in, but there is the news the queen died peacefully at balmoral this afternoon, so presumably she must have died before the members of her family arrived at balmoral but they will have known as they drove in through the gates, they will have known that the queen, their mother or their grandmother had died. it doesn't make any reference as to whether the king was at her bedside, but we do know that charles and camilla had travelled across to balmoral castle so one presumes that they will have been there at the end. and the princess royal as well, one must assume, though they have not said that. and of course there will be many arrangements, but before the arrangements there will before the arrangements there will be all the tributes. and those will

be all the tributes. and those will be on a scale that we have really not seen before. ha. be on a scale that we have really not seen before.— not seen before. no. they have started already, _ not seen before. no. they have started already, as _ not seen before. no. they have started already, as you - not seen before. no. they have started already, as you can - not seen before. no. they have - started already, as you can imagine. president biden, the white house, he and his wife saying "0ur president biden, the white house, he and his wife saying "our hearts and our thoughts go to the queen's family and the british people of course" coming from our strongest ally so you would expect the statement to be warm and sincere as it is, but as you say, nick, it will bejust it is, but as you say, nick, it will be just the start of countless tributes from world leaders, religious leaders, and of course i think it is right to say this, from millions of people, ordinary people who will want to be sharing their sense of loss.— who will want to be sharing their sense of loss. yes, and that sense of loss will— sense of loss. yes, and that sense of loss will be _ sense of loss. yes, and that sense of loss will be deep _ sense of loss. yes, and that sense of loss will be deep and _ sense of loss. yes, and that sense of loss will be deep and it - sense of loss. yes, and that sense of loss will be deep and it will - sense of loss. yes, and that sense of loss will be deep and it will be l of loss will be deep and it will be widespread. as we have both been saying, people will feel a personal loss that a person who they in some way new or felt they knew has gone,

who was always there, who was this reassuring presence, this embodiment of stability and continuity, and who personified the unity of the united kingdom. it is, as i think you used the word, it is a seismic event in terms of the united kingdom and it will i think rather add to that sense of flocks that we have at the moment. of political change with a new prime minister, of economic crisis with all the energy costs. gosh, who is giving a thought of that huge statement that the prime minister made in the house of commons today about that? the war in europe. well, the monarchy in one of those hard to put your finger on ways is a stabilising and unifying force, and that will be the challenge now for charles as king. he will want to act quickly, he will

lead the mourning for his mother, the queen, but he will want to indicate that he understands what is required as a constitutional monarch. he has already indicated that he does completely understand that he does completely understand that it that he does completely understand thatitis that he does completely understand that it is a different role, that he will have to give up his interventions. but i think that he will reign in a slightly different way. the fundamentals are the same but each monarch bring something of their own personality to the role and i think charles will try to continue his interest in some of thoseissues continue his interest in some of those issues without in any way allowing politics or a political scope to come into it. i’m allowing politics or a political scope to come into it. i'm told that we are expecting — scope to come into it. i'm told that we are expecting a _ scope to come into it. i'm told that we are expecting a statement - scope to come into it. i'm told that we are expecting a statement from the new king fairly shortly, so when we have that we will bring it right away. as we look at these rather nice images of her majesty, of

course engaged in the endless official engagements that she has done over the years, it is worth bringing in as well some remarks from the dutch royal family because the british royal family from the dutch royal family because the british royalfamily and from the dutch royal family because the british royal family and the dutch royal family have enjoyed close relations over the years. the dutch royal family saying, close relations over the years. the dutch royalfamily saying, "we remember queen elizabeth ii with deep respect and affection. steadfast and wise, she dedicated her long life to serving the british people. we feel a strong bond." this is the king of the netherlands. "we feel a strong bond with the united kingdom and its royalfamily, and we share their sorrow at this time. we are very gratefulfor our share their sorrow at this time. we are very grateful for our country's close friendship to which queen elizabeth made such an unforgettable contribution. " the royalfamily

elizabeth made such an unforgettable contribution. " the royal family of the netherlands offering their tributes. just worth underlining the scale and the importance of the impact of what we are reporting today. it is a huge milestone in the history of the united kingdom. the fact that the queen, who was crowned backin fact that the queen, who was crowned back in 1953, has died peacefully at balmoral in scotland this afternoon. the king, that is king charles, and the queen consort will be staying at balmoral this evening, and then we will be expecting them to return to london tomorrow. and that is a statement also expected from the new king sometime in the next maybe 20 minutes or so. but these images remind us of those happy days which

really set the foundations really for a hugely successful and productive reign, coronation day backin productive reign, coronation day back in 1953. queen elizabeth the queen motherjust on the side there, the duke of edinburghjust behind her. but the young queen became queen at the age of 25, acknowledging the huge crowd that had gathered on coronation day back in 1953. we are looking at the woman who would become the longest reigning monarch in the history of the united kingdom. and here we are in 2022 reporting on the queen's death at the age of 96. buckingham palace formally making that announcement a short while ago, saying that the queen, whose health

was a matter of a bulletin earlier today and doctors expressing their concern, the queen died peacefully at balmoral during the course of this evening. we don't have a precise time but we do know that several members of the royal family were at balmoral and they were no doubt in a meeting with the doctors and the experts when they got there. indeed the news came fairly soon after their arrival that the majesty had indeed passed away at the age of 96. earliertoday had indeed passed away at the age of 96. earlier today they were saying she was being kept comfortable in balmoral. there was no sign of any move to hospital, no sign of any further intervention by doctors in a different kind of facility. all the care was being done at balmoral itself, and indeed a few hours later

came the very sad news which will affect many millions of people that her majesty queen elizabeth ii has died at the age of 96. having lost her husband, prince philip, back in 2021, and on the queen's death we now have a new king. prince charles will become king charles, possibly, with a consort who will be the queen consort. known as camilla, the duchess of cornwall. buckingham palace has announced the death of queen elizabeth ii, the longest serving monarch in the history of the united kingdom. and the commanding presence in british public life for more than eight decades. .,

public life for more than eight decades. ,, �* ., ., ., decades. she died in balmoral in aberdeenshire _ decades. she died in balmoral in aberdeenshire today _ decades. she died in balmoral in aberdeenshire today at - decades. she died in balmoral in aberdeenshire today at the - decades. she died in balmoral in aberdeenshire today at the age l decades. she died in balmoral inl aberdeenshire today at the age of 96. her eldest son,— aberdeenshire today at the age of 96. her eldest son, charles,, at the ace of 96. her eldest son, charles,, at the age of 93. — 96. her eldest son, charles,, at the age of 93. has _ 96. her eldest son, charles,, at the age of 93, has become _ 96. her eldest son, charles,, at the age of 93, has become -- _ 96. her eldest son, charles,, at the age of 93, has become -- at - 96. her eldest son, charles,, at the age of 93, has become -- at the - 96. her eldest son, charles,, at the | age of 93, has become -- at the age age of 93, has become —— at the age of 73, has become king. in the last few minutes, buckingham palace released this formal statement. we are expecting a statement from the new king fairly shortly, and we are also expecting a statement from the new prime minister, liz truss, who visited the queen in balmoral a few days ago, and the queen was seen to be smiling broadly, and looked very focused on the task at hand, i'll be at looking rather frail.

well, that was two days ago, and yesterday came the news that she was unable to fulfil an appointment with the privy council, the senior ministers in the new government of liz truss. it was to be an online meeting, but nonetheless, the queen was judged to be too tired, and needed to rest. she was too tired, and her doctor suggested last evening that she should rest, and by this evening, indeed, late morning, the queen's doctors were clearly very concerned that her condition had deteriorated fairly rapidly, and then by lunchtime, we have the statement that her health was causing particular concern, and then we saw the members of the family arriving at balmoral. shortly after that, within the past half hour or so, came the formal statement that

her majesty, queen elizabeth ii, has died at the age of 96. we have statements from lots of world leaders. we will come to them in a second. the president of the irish republic, for example, michael d higgins. the queen visited the irish republic some years ago, and was the first queen to do so. the queen served the public with extraordinary dignity. her sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as queen, which will hold a unique place in british history. there aren't many who will disagree with that. that is president michael

higgins of the republic of ireland. the archbishop of canterburyjustin welby has just issued the statement, which of course will be welcomed by charles as the new king as well. he says, may her late majesty, queen elizabeth ii, rest in peace and rise in glory. the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby. as she has before, she reminded us of a deep truth about ourselves, says the archbishop. we are a people of hope who care for one another. in very warm tribute and a sincere tribute from the archbishop himself. i think we can bring a little more from the archbishop, and it's a very eloquent tribute, as you'd imagine, from justin welby. he says it is with profound sadness that ijoin the nation, the commonwealth and the world in mourning the death of the late queen, her majesty. my prayers

are with the king and the royal family. may god draw near them and comfort them in the days and weeks and months ahead. the archbishop goes on... in losing our beloved queen, we have lost the person who steadfast service, loyalty and humility has helped us extensive who we are through decades of extraordinary change in our nation and society. and as deep as our grief runs, even deeper is our gratitude for her late majesty's extraordinary dedication to the united kingdom, her realms, and the commonwealth. through times of war and and the commonwealth. through times of warand hardship, and the commonwealth. through times of war and hardship, says the archbishop, through seasons of upheaval and change, and through moments ofjoy and celebration, we have sustained, by her late majesty's faith in what and who we

are called to be. the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby, with that moving statement. we also have a statement from the king, from charles, who became king on the death of his mother. charles says this. 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 tribute thereby the new king, by charles, who became king immediately on his mother's death. so the town, as one would expect, is loving, it is warm, it is respectful, and it

just underlines the affection in which the queen was held. we are expecting the prime minister in just a moment, neck, but that statement was moving, wasn't it? it a moment, neck, but that statement was moving, wasn't it?— was moving, wasn't it? it was, yes. my beloved — was moving, wasn't it? it was, yes. my beloved mother— was moving, wasn't it? it was, yes. my beloved mother stop _ was moving, wasn't it? it was, yes. my beloved mother stop a - was moving, wasn't it? it was, yes. my beloved mother stop a moment| was moving, wasn't it? it was, yes. l my beloved mother stop a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all the greatest sadness for me and all the members of my family. interesting that it is not signed as king charles. there is no name on it. it has been suggested that he might take another name is king, but i suspect it will be tomorrow before we learn that. but yes, it's quite hard to sum up the profound nature of this moment, isn't it, really? they have lost their mother, or their grandmother, they must grieve privately, but charles must now begin to assert himself and begin his reign. i'm sure he will travel

around the country. this is challenging. it would be challenging for anybody, and we are about, really, now, to hearfrom the prime minister. we are all devastated by the news that we _ we are all devastated by the news that we have just heard from balmoral. the death of her majesty, the queen, — balmoral. the death of her majesty, the queen, is a huge shock to the nation _ the queen, is a huge shock to the nation and — the queen, is a huge shock to the nation and the world. queen elizabeth ii was the rock on which modern _ elizabeth ii was the rock on which modern britain was built. 0ur modern britain was built. our country— modern britain was built. our country has grown and flourished under_ country has grown and flourished under her— country has grown and flourished under her reign. britain is the great — under her reign. britain is the great country it is today because of her. great country it is today because of her~ she _ great country it is today because of her. she ascended the throne just after— her. she ascended the throne just after the — her. she ascended the throne just after the second world war. she championed the development of the commonwealth from a small family of countries _ commonwealth from a small family of countries to _ commonwealth from a small family of countries to 56 nation spanning

every— countries to 56 nation spanning every continent of the world. we are now every continent of the world. we are how a _ every continent of the world. we are now a modern, thriving, dynamic hati0h~ _ now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation. through thick and thin, queen— nation. through thick and thin, queen elizabeth ii provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed. she was the very spirit of great _ we needed. she was the very spirit of great britain, and that spirit will endure. she has been our longest— will endure. she has been our longest ever reigning monarch. it is an extraordinary achievement to have presides— an extraordinary achievement to have presides with such dignity and grace for 70 _ presides with such dignity and grace for 70 years. her life of service stretched — for 70 years. her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories — stretched beyond most of our living memories. in return, she was loved and admired — memories. in return, she was loved and admired by the people in the united _ and admired by the people in the united kingdom and all around the world _ united kingdom and all around the world. she has been a personal inspiration _ world. she has been a personal inspiration to me in to many britons _ inspiration to me in to many britons. her devotion to duty as an example _ britons. her devotion to duty as an example to — britons. her devotion to duty as an example to us all. earlier this week, — example to us all. earlier this week, at— example to us all. earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry— week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out _ week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties, and she

appointed — to carry out her duties, and she appointed me as her 15th prime minister~ — appointed me as her 15th prime minister. throughout her life, she has visited — minister. throughout her life, she has visited more than 100 countries, and she _ has visited more than 100 countries, and she has— has visited more than 100 countries, and she has touched the lives of millions— and she has touched the lives of millions around the world. in the difficult — millions around the world. in the difficult days ahead, we will come together— difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends across the united _ together with our friends across the united kingdom, the commonwealth and the world _ united kingdom, the commonwealth and the world to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service. it is extraordinary lifetime of service. it is a _ extraordinary lifetime of service. it is a day— extraordinary lifetime of service. it is a day of great loss, but queen elizabeth— it is a day of great loss, but queen elizabeth h — it is a day of great loss, but queen elizabeth ii leaves a great legacy. today. _ elizabeth ii leaves a great legacy. today, the crown passes, as it has done _ today, the crown passes, as it has done for— today, the crown passes, as it has done for more than 1000 years, to our pneumonic, the new head of state. _ our pneumonic, the new head of state. his — our pneumonic, the new head of state, his majesty, king charles the third _ state, his majesty, king charles the third with— state, his majesty, king charles the third. with the king's family, we mourn— third. with the king's family, we mourn the — third. with the king's family, we mourn the loss of his mother, and as we move _ mourn the loss of his mother, and as we move on. — mourn the loss of his mother, and as we move on, we must come together as a peopie _ we move on, we must come together as a peopie to — we move on, we must come together as a people to support him. to help him bear the _ a people to support him. to help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now—

bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all. we offer him our— he now carries for us all. we offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his _ him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother devoted so much to so many— as his mother devoted so much to so many for— as his mother devoted so much to so many for so — as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long. and with the passing — many for so long. and with the passing of— many for so long. and with the passing of the second elizabethan a-e, passing of the second elizabethan age. we _ passing of the second elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent— age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country. — magnificent history of our great country, exactly as her majesty would _ country, exactly as her majesty would have wished, by saying the words. _ would have wished, by saying the words. " — would have wished, by saying the words, " god save the king". the — words, " god save the king". the prime _ words, " god save the king". the prime minister, liz truss, who was installed at downing streetjust a couple of days ago, having met the queen in that audience. really, presenting her own tribute with some personal elements in that, but also revealing something which we were hoping to hear, eitherfrom the prime minister orfrom hoping to hear, eitherfrom the prime minister or from the charles will be known as king

charles will be known as king charles iii. that is at least confirming the titles that he has adopted. confirming the titles that he has ado ted. . confirming the titles that he has adoted. ., ., , , ., , ., adopted. that answers that question. for charles. — adopted. that answers that question. for charles, conflicting _ adopted. that answers that question. for charles, conflicting emotions, - for charles, conflicting emotions, there is a great sadness that he refers to in his statement to the loss of his mother. at the same time, this is a moment when he finally achieves his destiny. he is the oldest and longest serving heir apparent in british history, the oldest person to become king in british history, previously the oldest was william iv, who became king in 1830, aged 64 and charles is 73. and he will know that this is a challenge for anybody to step into the position so successfully occupied for so many years by elizabeth ii. and he has had a long time to think about this, he has

never spoken about this publicly because that really would not be appropriate. the only clue he has given is that he fully understands that the role of monarch is different to that of prince of wales so he has assured people he will not meddle, which is the one great concern people have had about him, the one area, the one area among many that the queen, elizabeth, was so successful, she understood the limits, what a monarch needed to do, how far a monarch could go and charles, one can be confident, must understand that, so he will reign in his own way, but within the constraints of the constitutional monarchy so he understands that although he might attempt to be a little bit more proactive than the queen has been throughout or the queen has been throughout or the queen was to write her tempted, he will attempt to use the convening powers, but that is really all for

the future. i think he will travel around the country and he will want to establish himself and lead the nation is mourning for his mother now that the long reign of elizabeth ii has ended. i now that the long reign of elizabeth h has ended-— ii has ended. i want to share again the statement _ ii has ended. i want to share again the statement made _ ii has ended. i want to share again the statement made by _ ii has ended. i want to share again the statement made by the - ii has ended. i want to share again the statement made by the new. ii has ended. i want to share again i the statement made by the new king. this is a statement by charles iii, and he says that death of my beloved mother, the queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. and charles goes on, we mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and much—loved mother and i know that her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country and the realms and the commonwealth. and by countless people around the world. and during this period of mourning and change, my family and i will be

comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the queen was so widely held. the statement by the former prince of wales, now king charles iii, because the prime minister has confirmed that the queen, now having died at the age of 96, has been exceeded by charles and will be known by king charles iii. and the queen consort, of course, camilla. let's go to downing street, with the prime minister, liz truss, delivered a tribute and we can join chris mason, our political editor. minister certainly wanted to pay tribute to the queen's long record of service, but also wanted to, i suppose, introduce a little bit of a

personal element in the sense that she said the queen, for her, had been very much someone who had inspired her over the years. that is ri . ht, inspired her over the years. that is riaht, and inspired her over the years. that is right. and the _ inspired her over the years. that is right, and the prime _ inspired her over the years. that is right, and the prime minister, - inspired her over the years. that is right, and the prime minister, just| right, and the prime minister, just 48 hours in office, tasked with finding the words for such a profound moment in our country's history. just picking out a few sentences that struck me in the statement from liz truss... the rock on which modern britain was built, she reflected about her majesty the queen, britain is a great country today because of her. and because of her stability and strength, that she encapsulated and personified, the prime minister said, the spirit of great britain. as you just mentioned in conversation, the news from the prime minister that the king will be known as his majesty, king charles iii. and then, the profound solemnity and gravity of this final

words from liz truss, god save the king. words from liz truss, god save the kinu. ~ words from liz truss, god save the kin. _ . words from liz truss, god save the kinu. ~ ., . ., king. when we look at the change that is now _ king. when we look at the change that is now happening _ king. when we look at the change that is now happening because - that is now happening because clearly there are big implications for downing street and government, given the very strong access that exists between the office of the monarch and the executive and parliament in this constitutional monarchy that we have, what will be happening, do you think, in terms of the administration in downing street? what are the things that they will need to come to terms with, given that we now have a new monarch? it with, given that we now have a new monarch? . with, given that we now have a new monarch? , ., , ., ., monarch? it will be a profound chance, monarch? it will be a profound change. a _ monarch? it will be a profound change, a significant _ monarch? it will be a profound change, a significant change i monarch? it will be a profound j change, a significant change at monarch? it will be a profound l change, a significant change at a time, politically, of considerable flux. it is a new team that have moved into downing street, notjust the prime minister but so many senior advisers in the last 48 hours or so, themselves trying to work out

how the very heart of british government and the state operates. within that, and beyond that and the broader governmental machine, our procedures and protocols in terms of the conversations that take place between downing street as an institution and buckingham palace, the monarchy as an institution, but obviously it is such a profound historical moment, things will change. a prime minister whojust had a single audience with the queen, that first audience also being her last one. and in future, those audiences, gatherings that take place in surrey, where the prime minister heads to see the monarch and has a period of time privately in her company, knowing any political world, being the one opportunity or you can talk very candidly to someone with at the prospect of it being licked, that

will be very different from the one she might have anticipated from the one that so many of her predecessors, 14 predecessors, have enjoyed, that conversation they had with the queen and more recently taking place remotely, traditionally taking place remotely, traditionally taking place remotely, traditionally taking place physically at buckingham palace, where the prime minister after prime minister, 15 in total, including liz truss, were able to spend the time with the queen and tap into that well of knowledge and wisdom about world affairs that was unprecedented. as stateswoman of longevity greater than any other on earth. and with that, prime ministers would often reflect in interviews and in their memoirs, just how valuable that relationship was. firstly, because it was grounded in that sense of solemnity and privacy but secondly, because of the wisdom and experience that the queen was able to bring.

for now, many thanks. chris mason, our political editor. as you can imagine, lots of political leaders are wanting to pay their tribute. from scotland, and it's understood —— underlined the fact that the queen passed away in balmoral in aberdeenshire, so the first minister nicola sturgeon has been sharing her response to what has happened today and she said it was a profoundly sad moment for the uk, the commonwealth and the world. and then, the first minister says... the queen's life was one of extraordinary dedication and service. and she said, on behalf of the people of scotland, i convey my deepest condolences to the king and to the royal family. the first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon, with that statement that she issued just a few moments ago. the time is 20 past seven and you

are watching this extended coverage from bbc news on this very, very sad day because we are reporting the death of queen elizabeth the second, buckingham palace has announced the death of queen elizabeth, the longest serving monarch in the history of the uk. in the commanding presence in british public life over a span of eight decades. she died at balmoral in aberdeenshire today at the age of 96. the queen's eldest son, charles, at the age of 73, has become king charles iii. within the past few minutes, ingam palace released the formal statement. it said this...

that is a brief statement stating the events of the last hour or so, and the fact of the queen's death at the age of 96, after the longest reign in the history of the united kingdom. nicholas witchell, our royal correspondent, is with us. by now, of course, this news will be around the world. that is why we are seeing, of course, responses from countries as far afield as japan and the united states and european countries, the european union, those tributes are coming in. but for the people of the uk, we mentioned that we were thinking about the impact on the royal family. let's dwell on the impact on the people of the united kingdom, for whom the queen has been the symbol notjust of authority but

a symbol of real solidity and of consistency over the years. taking that symbol away, albeit with a new monarch, king charles iii, a very familiarfigure, but taking monarch, king charles iii, a very familiar figure, but taking that symbol away, it will have an effect on people's lives, even those who are not dedicated monarchists? it is are not dedicated monarchists? it is a hue are not dedicated monarchists? it is a huge loss — are not dedicated monarchists? it 3 a huge loss and many people will find it disorientating, the feeling that this person who has been such a constant presence in the background of their lives, that this person is no longer there. it is hard to take it in, speak of her in the past tense, to fully appreciate that this reign, the longest in british history, is finally over and so many people over the years have said we wish you could reign forever, that she could go on forever and clearly thatis

she could go on forever and clearly that is not possible but that reign ended this afternoon. at balmoral. we have both a new head of state and a new head of government in the prime minister. who could have imagined that, within the space of 48 hours? we await details of a state funeral, which will take probably in about ten days, the first full state funeral in the uk since that of winston churchill, backin since that of winston churchill, back in 1965. and britain will morning, and many people around the world will mourn the passing of elizabeth ii. that presence was there, the constant and reassuring presence whilst so much around her change. every aspect of life, not just in this nation but every other nation around the world, has altered, but she was the one constant, dependable factor in so many of our lives, always there. if

you think about the way in which culturally this nation has changed, it was monocultural when she came to the throne, it is now multicultural and it was very much empire orientated, in 1952, when she came to the throne. there is the commonwealth, the uk has dallied with europe and has moved away from it, and when she came to the throne, a majority of people believed that she was chosen by god. there was still a much greater sense of deference, we are seeing some images from the earlier stages of her life. there she is, presenting the world cup to bobby moore in 1956, and meeting so many american presidents with george bush and then pursuing her great passion of horse racing. injust so many her great passion of horse racing. in just so many facets of national life, the queen was there. this

dutiful, this figure driven by faith, propelled by duty, with the sense of humility that we were talking about earlier, she was down to earth and straightforward. and as i said, she never let it go to her head, she realised that she was an accident of birth and that she needed to win the trust and respect of her people and that perhaps something that not every member of herfamily is fully. something that not every member of her family is fully. what she did, in the same way as her father did under the same way that charles has also appreciated that, because he has worked so hard, prince charles, there have been a few controversies and difficulties for him but he has set out during his time as prince of wales to win the respect of people and show that he is worthy of the office at the position to which he has now succeeded, there he is with his mother. he is now mourning the

loss of that mother and the loss of the queen. as he becomes king. we must assume that the prime minister, liz truss, has notjumped the gun in naming him as king charles iii. it has not been confirmed by buckingham palace but we must assume that is correct. is palace but we must assume that is correct. , , . , ., . correct. is impeccable. clarence house in the — correct. is impeccable. clarence house in the last _ correct. is impeccable. clarence house in the last couple - correct. is impeccable. clarence house in the last couple of- correct. is impeccable. clarence. house in the last couple of seconds has confirmed that it is king charles iii. so well done on prompting that. very good. king charles, that is official. i will dropped for a second because boris johnson, prime ministerfrom just dropped for a second because boris johnson, prime minister from just a few days ago, has issued this statement. it is fairly lengthy but i willjust read through it because it is, well, you will understand why... this is our country? saddest day, says borisjohnson. in the hearts of every one of us, there is

a king at the passing of our queen, a king at the passing of our queen, a deep and personal sense of loss, for more intense, perhaps, than we ever expected. in these first grim moments, i know that millions and millions of people have been pausing whatever they have been doing to think about queen elizabeth and about the bright and shining light that has finally gone out. these are the words of borisjohnson. she has seemed so timeless and wonderful that i am afraid we have come to believe, like children, that she would just go on and on. and mr johnson says, wave after wave of grief is running across the world, from balmoral, where our thoughts are with the royal family, and breaking beyond this country and throughout the great commonwealth of nations, that she so cherished, and which cherished her in return. as is so natural with human beings, it is only when we face the reality of our

loss that we truly understand what has gone. it is only really now that we grasp how much she meant for us, how much she did for us and how much she loved us. borisjohnson continues... as we think of the void that she leaves, we understand the vital role that she played, selflessly and calmly, for the continuity and unity of our country. we think of her deep vision, her wisdom and historic understanding, her seemingly inexhaustible but understated sense of duty. relentless, though her diary must have felt, she never once let it show. and to tens of thousands of events, her great and small, she brought a smile and warmth and her gentle humourfor an brought a smile and warmth and her gentle humour for an unrivalled 70 years, she spread that magic throughout her kingdom. and then borisjohnson ends his tribute like this... this is our country's

saddest day because she had a unique and simple power to make us happy, and simple power to make us happy, and that is why we loved her, that is why we grieve for elizabeth the great, the longest serving and in many ways the finest monarch in our history. it was one of her best achievements that she not only modernise the constitutional monarchy but produced an heir to the throne who will amply do justice to her legacy and his own sense of duty is in the best traditions of his mother and his country. though our voices may still be choked with sadness, we can say with confidence the words not heard in this country for more than seven decades. god save the king.

people are reacting. people are pouring down and paying their respects. king charles spoke about the election the british people have for his mother and you can feel that in the crowd. this was a very personal relationship with a

woman who embodied something special about her country. she was the keystone in the nation's architecture which defined the nation's image of itself. that is why when that keystone is removed, this is a very difficult and dangerous moment for the united kingdom. we have talked about constancy and consistency and solidity she brought this country. i think one should not think constancy is the same as inactivity. this was a queen like a fish swimming, keeping still in a fast flowing stream. she remained solid and still while everything was working around her. she put enormous thought into

how she could ease the process of change for her people. people are arriving here at buckingham palace. some have brought flowers. what is interesting about this crowd, it says something important about queen elizabeth. this is a crowd of every generation and background. it is a very mixed crowd. she was a queen who was able to be a figurehead for people from whatever background in britain. we have tens of thousands of people here already. i think this will become the focal point for that national grief over the next few days. we will remember the

extraordinary scenes after the death of diana. i think we will see something not dissimilar with the loss of queen elizabeth. this is a huge moment for the country. i think it will be difficult for people to adjust. as well as sadness, people are feeling unsettled. there was quite a lot of foreboding of the winter to come and this will be a moment for britain and it's time for people to pull together. mark easton with some thoughts on what this event, what this loss means for the uk and indeed beyond. as we look at these images, there are lots of very heartfelt and eloquent tributes being paid here in the uk and around the world. sir john major calling the queen selfless and wise, with a wonderful

generosity of spirit. the former prime minister tony blair, we have lost not only our monarch but the matriarch of our nation, the figure who brought our country together. and kept us in touch with our better nature and personified everything which makes us proud to be british. he goes on, "she was not only the respected monarch, but respected because of the qualities of duty and decency and integrity and fidelity. and loved because of the affection she bestowed on us. we will mourn her and miss her." tony blair speaking. lots of other tributes. president macron, "she embodied continuity for over 70 years. i

remember her as a friend of france. a kind—hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century." president zelensky of ukraine with this message, "we extend sincere condolences to the royal family, the uk and commonwealth over this loss. 0ur commonwealth over this loss. our thoughts and prayers are with you." and the german president saying, "queen elizabeth was a woman who shaped a century. she enjoyed the highest respect in the whole world." a concise statement of conveying the fundamental truth of the life and times. from the united states, from

president, —— from former president trump. and this from president biden, from the white house, as we look at these images, from her coronation in 1953. president biden says, "in a world of constant change and she was a steadying presence and and she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations, including many who have never known their country without her." such a powerful theme today. enduring admiration uniting people. in an age of unprecedented human advancement. she was the first british monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate bond. we see

the crowds gathering at buckingham palace and they will be aware of these tributes being paid as they gather, now the formal announcement has been fixed to the main railings in front of buckingham palace. she was the first british monarch, says president biden, for whom people around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection. supported by her beloved prince philip, the queen lead always with grace. an unwavering commitment to duty and the incomparable power of her example. he goes on to say, "she endured the dangers and deprivations of a world war alongside the british people. and in a global pandemic looked to better days. queen

elizabeth ii was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock alliance between the united kingdom and united states. she make our relationship special. and he says, "in the years ahead, we in the united states look forward to continuing a close friendship with king and the queen consort. today the thoughts and prayers of people across the united states are with the people of the united kingdom and the people of the united kingdom and the commonwealth in their grief. we send our deepest condolences to the royal family who were not only mourning their queen, but their dear mother, grandmotherand mother, grandmother and great—grandmother. and mother, grandmotherand great—grandmother. and her legacy will loom large in the pages british history and in the story of the world." moving tributes. i haven't

been able to come across a few of them yet because they are waiting, from president trump, other leaders, they are moving and eloquent. they underlined the fact the appreciation of what the queen achieved and what she represented is a truly global. we tend to talk about the commonwealth. it is beyond that. commonwealth. it is be ond that. ~ , , commonwealth. itisbe ondthat. a it is beyond that. as boris johnson said, it is beyond that. as boris johnson said. when — it is beyond that. as boris johnson said. when you — it is beyond that. as boris johnson said, when you lose _ it is beyond that. as boris johnson said, when you lose someone - it is beyond that. as boris johnson said, when you lose someone you | said, when you lose someone you really appreciate just who they were and how much you value them. the same words are in so many tributes. grace and duty, dignity, constancy. someone who personified simple qualities like decency and tolerance. who encouraged politicians to be the best they

could be. who encouraged all of us to be the best of ourselves. because she did embody those old—fashioned concepts and she did that the decade —— for decade after decade. she was that most important thing for a monarch, someone who unified people. she brought people together. and the challenge for charles now will be to continue to seek to do the same, particularly at this moment when there are pressures within the united kingdom against unity. i think charles will be aware of the challenges he faces. prince harry is, we understand arriving at balmoraljust about now.

here we are, the entrance to the balmoral estate. the duke of sussex is travelling alone, we believe because his wife megan is not accompanying him. he did not come with the main royal party earlier, the duke of cambridge, his brother, prince andrew, prince edward and the countess of wessex. he was not with that group. they had been in balmoral and joined the princess royal and prince of wales who were already at the queen's side. prince harry's arrival is considerably later than that. it is quite a while after the official announcement of the green's death at the age of 96. we understand —— the queen's death.

we understand —— the queen's death. we understand —— the queen's death. we understand prince harry willjoin the other members of the royal family and as we have already heard, king charles iii and the queen consort, they will be staying at balmoral tonight, they will not return to london tonight. they will return to london tonight. they will return to london later. liz truss paid her tribute to the queen thanking herfor a lifetime of service and reflected the great sense of national sadness at the news that came today. although the queen was 96 and had health problems, these images will tell you everything about recent years where she has done her best to carry on despite advancing years and health problems. she and prince philip who left us two years ago, were full of the joys during thosejubilee

celebrations. and now we have some of the tributes already arriving, and they will be arriving at balmoral, at buckingham palace, at windsor. local people used to the royal presence and seeing the royal family around in the summer months, they know how fond the queen was of balmoral as a home and as a base. they were locals who tended to leave the royal family alone because they are used to seeing them around and the queen certainly felt very much at home there, having spent so many years there with her family and with her parents, when she was growing up. so, some time, along this road, we are expecting prince harry to arrive. it is going to be probably

one in one of those vehicles we saw earlier, maybe the range rover or something of that kind, but they are still expecting his arrival there. and he will, of course, join the rest of the family and they will no doubt be reflecting on the loss they have suffered, they will be sharing the sense of grief. and they will be thinking about what the future holds, with the new king, king charles iii, as clarence house has confirmed he wishes to be known. king charles iii, he will be raining with his queen consort, camilla, and thoughts already will turn respectfully, sensibly but respectfully, sensibly but respectfully, towards the events of the next few days, leading to the state funeral for queen elizabeth, which will take place in probably ten days' time, but we need to have

that confirmed. the plans have been there for a long time, they always are, they have been revised over the years because that is how these things work. but they will need to be finalised, given the circumstances, because the queen has passed away at balmoral, in scotland, and not at windsor or buckingham palace, so the arrangements will inevitably be adjusted in the next few days, in the lead up to the state funeral itself. so there will be some talk about that. and it is fine for us to talk a little bit about that, but what we are really doing today is reflecting on the sense of loss four people and what has happened today, and the fact that british life is changed, the fact that the course of our history has changed. and that is symbolised by buckingham palace. that empty balcony tonight, where the queen has appeared in so many occasions, on so many happy

occasions, on so many happy occasions, indeed, during the jubilees and the end of the second world war, with her beloved father and mother and sister, margaret, so it has been the scene of so many great national events, when the crowds congregate around that palace to declare their support for the royal family, or, indeed to express sympathy in bad times. the crowds are building up. the news, which came a short while ago, clearly filtering through, and lots of people wanting to just stand at the palace, look at the palace, want to be seen at the palace to express their sense of loss. and to express their sense of loss. and to express their sense of sympathy with the royal family. with king charles, and the loss of his mother. and, of course, with the duke of york and the earl of wessex and the princess

royal, we have also lost a mother and the duke of cambridge, who has lost his grandmother, as has the duke of sussex, who is on his way to balmoral. a grandmother and great—grandmother too, so there are generations of the royal family affected by the news today, that is before you start thinking of friends of the royal family and about generations of people in the uk who have known nothing else. you would have known nothing else. you would have to be in your 80s, basically, to be in any position to say that you could perhaps remember a time when the queen wasn't sovereign, was not the monarch. and here we have dusk in london and the queen victoria memorial, glinting in the evening light. with the crowds gathering around that memorial and congregating at the gates and the railings of buckingham palace. the palace, of course, the symbol of the royal family in central london, but it is not the usual residence of the

royal family, that is windsor castle, which is usually a short ride away in a helicopter or indeed by car, and the queen is to be very familiar with that journey, by car, and the queen is to be very familiar with thatjourney, being ferried back and forth from windsor to buckingham palace for the business of the day. and then, of course, buckingham palace, the great backdrop for so many of the huge ceremonial and estate events we are familiar with, and they include the queen's birthday parade, which will become the king's birthday parade on that next happens, that famous processional route along the mall, all along the way to horse guards parade, untilthe all along the way to horse guards parade, until the mid—1980s, all along the way to horse guards parade, untilthe mid—1980s, it all along the way to horse guards parade, until the mid—1980s, it was on horseback. she loved the horses, of course, notjust writing but also for horse racing, on that processional route for so many birthday parades. and indeed, she was in a position to enjoy the end

of the parade in 2022 for the platinumjubilee. so many happy memories, and the crowds gathering are aware of them. but on a day when they are reflecting on a huge loss in our national life, the death of queen elizabeth ii, who has died at the age of 96. i am in a position to tell you what the leader of the opposition has been saying, sir keir 0pposition has been saying, sir keir starmer, the labour leader, who has issued his own statement in the past half an hour or so. we mourn the passing of remarkable sovereign, says a circular, it is a deep loss for the royal family and all of our thoughts are with them at this time in the nation shares in their grief. we will always treasure queen elizabeth ii's life of service and devotion and the commonwealth. 0ur longest serving and our greatest

monarch, says sir keir starmer. above the clashes of politics, she stood for not what the nation fought over, but what it agreed upon, and as britain changed rapidly around her, this dedication became the still point of overturning world. so as our great elizabethan era comes to an end, we will honour the late queen's memory by keeping alive the values of public service she embodied. for70 values of public service she embodied. for 70 years, values of public service she embodied. for70 years, sir values of public service she embodied. for 70 years, sir keir starmer says, embodied. for 70 years, sir keir starmersays, queen embodied. for 70 years, sir keir starmer says, queen elizabeth ii stood as the head of our country. but in spirit, she stood amongst us. yet another moving tribute from our leaders, there was one from boris johnson earlier and liz truss and this one from sir keir starmer, the labour leader and there are others from president biden, president 0bama, former president trump,

president macron, all these tributes coming in, all of them worth reading, they will no doubt be on the bbc news website for you to see, to just keep up with the tributes being paid because they are moving and eloquent and they are thoughtful. and it is well worth having a look, if you have a moment to do that. you are watching bbc news. this extended coverage continues this evening. 0n the 8th of september, 2022, because buckingham palace has announced the death of queen elizabeth ii, the longest serving monarch in the history of the united kingdom. the commanding presence in british public life for a span of eight decades. the flags have been lowered at buckingham palace. queen died at balmoral castle in aberdeenshire at the age of 96, and the queen's eldest son, charles, at the age of

73, has formally become king charles iii. and within the past few minutes, buckingham palace released this formal statement... 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. and charles, the new king, said this... 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. 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 on the commonwealth, and by countless people around the world. during this period of mourning and change, my family and i will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the queen was so widely held. it is coming up

to eight o'clock in the evening. the lights are on in central london, the flags have been lowered, the crowds are gathering around the memorial by buckingham palace. nicholas witchell, royal correspondent, is still with me. and at balmoral, we are in a position to say that prince harry, the duke of sussex, is either about to arrive or has just arrived. he is within minutes of arriving at balmoral castle itself. some of the vehicles are pulling up. the advanced vehicles. that is the vehicle, the cavalcade moving into balmoral castle itself, and we believe that is prince harry, the duke of sussex. and you are watching this with me, and that means that harry has joined this with me, and that means that harry hasjoined his brother and his father and other members of the family? this

father and other members of the famil ? �* . . father and other members of the famil? ,. , father and other members of the famil? ,. , family? as autumn descends on this bleak september _ family? as autumn descends on this bleak september day, _ family? as autumn descends on this bleak september day, at _ family? as autumn descends on this bleak september day, at balmoral l family? as autumn descends on this i bleak september day, at balmoral and also at buckingham palace, how striking are those images outside the palace? people feeling the need to come together at this moment in the nation's history. the day on which the queen of the last 70 years has passed awake. people need, i think, the comfort of being with other people. the nation will begin mourning, the bells will be rung and the guns will be sounded and church services will come together. i remember the words that were used by a previous archbishop of canterbury, who talked about the service, untiringly done, duty faithfully fulfilled. everyone will have their words about the reign and the duty of elizabeth ii. as we alljust pay our tributes now to a life of duty,

of humility, of decency, as a process, the transition of this new reign gets under way. and i expect we will hearfrom reign gets under way. and i expect we will hear from the new king tomorrow. there will also be a consul, when the privy council comes together, not the full privy council because there is not room these days, but they will come together and they will confirm the succession and they will confirm the succession and they will confirm the succession and they will, i imagine, at some point hearfrom the and they will, i imagine, at some point hear from the new king. and those statements by him will be important to set the tone for his reign, paying tribute to his mother on behalf of his family and the nation, but also setting out his aspirations, his wish, his ambition to be a force for unity and continuity and stability at a time when stability, perhaps, is in rather shorter supply that has been at many other times. it is

unsettling, as mark easton said, it is dori —— disorientating and many will feel that they will need to be reassured at this moment. thanks aaain. reassured at this moment. thanks again. nicholas _ reassured at this moment. thanks again. nicholas witchell, - reassured at this moment. thanks again. nicholas witchell, albert i again. nicholas witchell, albert royal correspondent with some thoughts on the significance of today and the loss that people have suffered today and the country has suffered today and the country has suffered and the fact that we no longer have a queen. we have a king, king charles iii. who has acceded to the throne immediately. the moment that his mother passed away. lots of tributes which we can still share with you from political leaders, religious leaders, for example... the former prime minister, theresa may, who saw the queen so many times during her period as prime minister. she simply said this... i want to place on record, says theresa may,

that her majesty devoted herself unreservedly to a life of service. and that really does echo what so many others have been saying. it is interesting as well that the duke of cambridge, the new title to duke of cambridge, the new title to duke of cambridge, the new title to duke of cambridge, the duchess of cambridge, william and kate are being referred to as the duke and duchess of cornwall, and cambridge. so we will see lots of these adjustments as the evening goes on. and here on bbc news, we will, of course, be bringing you more tributes from around the world, and reflecting on what people in communities across the united kingdom are saying tonight. after the death of the queen. we will pause for now, we will be back for an extended edition of bbc news at ten but we are going

tojoe mccauley, clive myrie, now for more special coverage following the death of her majesty, the queen. good for now. —— goodbye for now.

monarch in british history queen elizabeth ii has died at the age of 96. i declare before you all my whole life shatt— i declare before you all my whole life shall be — i declare before you all my whole life shall be devoted _ i declare before you all my whole life shall be devoted to _ i declare before you all my whole life shall be devoted to your- life shall be devoted to your service _ life shall be devoted to your service and _ life shall be devoted to your service and to _ life shall be devoted to your service and to the _ life shall be devoted to your service and to the service i life shall be devoted to your service and to the service of life shall be devoted to your. service and to the service of our great _ service and to the service of our great imperiai— service and to the service of our great imperial family— service and to the service of our great imperial family to - service and to the service of our great imperial family to which i service and to the service of our. great imperial family to which we all treiong — great imperial family to which we all treiong god _ great imperial family to which we all belong. god help _ great imperial family to which we all belong. god help me - great imperial family to which we all belong. god help me to - great imperial family to which we all belong. god help me to make| great imperial family to which we - all belong. god help me to make good my vows _ my vows. 0ver - my vows. over the i my vows. - over the course of my vows. — over the course of eight momentous decades she witnessed social and economic change on a global scale.

as princess elizabeth of york she came to the throne at the age of 25 following the sudden death of her father king george vi. during her lifelong rain, she dealt with no fewer than 15 prime ministers, the first, so winston churchill, through to margaret thatcher and tony blair and boris johnson. as head of the commonwealth she became the most travelled monarch in history, head of state of 15 countries at the end of her reign. the queen's death comes over a year after the passing of her husband the duke of edinburgh, her consort for more than 70 years. over the decades the queen was greeted by millions of people

worldwide and let her subjects on thousands of engagements. 0n thousands of engagements. on tuesday she asked liz truss to become prime minister at balmoral. as the crown passes to a new king, the queen's death will be deeply felt by her family, by people across the united kingdom and millions around the world. good evening. the reign of the longest serving monarch in the history of the uk has come to an end with the death of queen elizabeth ii. buckingham palace made the announcementjust after 6:30pm. the announcement just after 6:30pm. the queen announcementjust after 6:30pm. the queen who was 96 passed away at balmoral castle. members of the royalfamily had made balmoral castle. members of the royal family had made the journey there on the news she was gravely ill. the queen had been a commanding presence in british public life for more than eight decades and her

eldest son charles of 73 eldest son charles at the age of 73 has now become king charles iii. buckingham palace had issued this statement. in the last hour his majesty king charles iii released this statement.

joining me now is nicholas witchell our royal correspondent. i am 58 years of age. i have known no other monarch. there are millions of people around the country, thousands outside buckingham palace and balmoral as well, they have known no other monarch either. this is a moment of profound change and profound sadness. it is a massive moment for the country and i think people are just absorbing it. iwould imagine many millions are emotional about this. the tears will flow in many households tonight as they take in the news that this figure who has been there throughout most of our

lives, i am been there throughout most of our lives, iam nearly been there throughout most of our lives, i am nearly 70 and i have only known elizabeth ii on the throne. but the transition will take place. we have a new king, the crown passes imperceptibly, invisibly, immediately. he does not need to be sworn in, there does not need to be any ceremony to ensure he is the new monarch, as soon as one monarch dies, the crown passes. there will be challenges for him, there is no doubt. anyone succeeding to such a huge figure who has occupied the throne for so long will face a challenging time to take up the threads of the constitutional monarchy in this country. but this nation is at its heart feels very comfortable with the monarchy, not everyone does. there are many who don't but the overwhelming majority do. and i think charles will rely on

those instincts and the efforts he will make in the coming days to reassure people that he will rein in the style of his mother. there will be some differences because each monarch has an element of their own personality. he will be slightly more proactive i think than she was but that is all for the future really. tonight, millions of people in this country and around the world will be reflecting and feeling a deep and profound sadness, appreciating what it is that has been lost to the united kingdom, a monarch who has been so dutiful, who has embodied all the best qualities of tolerance and decency, who has stood for unity and constancy and continuity. that has ended. and it is a moment of great sadness and solemnity for the united kingdom.

for the united kingdom and indeed her own family. let us go to our scotland editor who is at balmoral for us now. james, what can we say, really, members of the family are there. and by her majesty's bedside when she passed away, we assume. all the immediate members of the family now with you? yes, senior royals have all arrived here. within the past half—an—hour, the sun set here on the balmoral estate, setting on the end of an era for the united kingdom and for the world. and minutes after it did so, a car swept through the gates, several cars, one we believe

containing prince harry, tojoin his brother prince william and his father the king in mourning for queen elizabeth. a monarch who has a special place in the heart of this nation, but who, in return, had in her own words, a deep and abiding affection for scotland. a moment of course here behind these gates for a family first and foremost to mourn, but a moment for a nation to reflect on an extraordinary rain, and on the end, the severing of links with the second world war, the existential threat to this country which this nation survived, and also, to the british empire which in many ways the queen embodied for some of her reign. she also i think it is fair to say embodied the union of the crowns between scotland and england,

that union dating back to 1603. james, thank you, our scotland editor, at balmoral. we can go now to mark easton outside buckingham palace. we were seen earlier some of the pictures of the crowds gathered where you are. many of them having been there in the rain throughout much of the day with the news of the queen was gravely ill. and now many more people have turned up with the news she has now passed away. yes, absolutely. people are seeking some way of connecting with this extraordinary moment in british history. despite the rain which is really quite heavy now, there are tens of thousands of people outside buckingham palace. the crowd has been growing over the last few hours, people streaming down the mall. we have a line of black taxi

cabs. the cabbies wanting to pay their tribute. cabs. the cabbies wanting to pay theirtribute. it cabs. the cabbies wanting to pay their tribute. it is a very respectful and sombre scene. you will see quite a few camera lights. i have also heard applause and cheering, we don't know whether those were moments where the crowd wanted to show their appreciation for the queen that they had lost, or whether they were perhaps greeting their new king, king charles iii. but whichever, it is a crowd which wants to be part of this moment. it is a huge moment i think for this country because the queen was this solid, immovable piece of the nation's architecture, the keystone. and without that, there will be a sense of unease, uncertainty, and a moment where people will want to

come together, to be with others, to share this moment and to see it through. thank you, mark easton at buckingham palace this evening where crowds have gathered and have been gathering throughout the day. if you are justjoining gathering throughout the day. if you arejustjoining us, buckingham are just joining us, buckingham palace arejustjoining us, buckingham palace has announced the death of queen elizabeth ii, the longest serving monarch in the history of the united kingdom, and a commanding presence in british public life over eight decades. her majesty died at balmoral castle in aberdeenshire, aged 96. her eldest son charles at the age of 73 has now become king. 0ur royal correspondent now looks back on today's events. tuesday the 6th of september, the last photographs of the queen. 96 years old and still at work. meeting

the new prime minister at balmoral, a duty she had been keen to fulfil and one we now know was her final duty, after seven decades of public service. this afternoon a number of the queen's family arrived at aberdeen airport, the duke of cambridge was first to emerge with the countess of wessex. then her youngest sons edward, the earl of wessex, and andrew, the duke of york. prince william drove the family group to balmoral to join his father the prince of wales, camilla, duchess of normal, and princess anne. —— duchess of cornwall. then came news from buckingham palace. as is tradition the announcement of the queen's death was attached to the palace gates, as tributes began.

queen elizabeth ii, our country has grown _ queen elizabeth ii, our country has grown and — queen elizabeth ii, our country has grown and flourished under her reign. she was the very spirit of great _ reign. she was the very spirit of great britain and that spirit will endure — great britain and that spirit will endure. she has been our longest ever reigning monarch. it is an extraordinary achievement to have resided _ extraordinary achievement to have resided with such dignity and grace for 70 _ resided with such dignity and grace for 70 years, and with the passing of the _ for 70 years, and with the passing of the second elizabethan age, we usher— of the second elizabethan age, we usher in _ of the second elizabethan age, we usher in a — of the second elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great countrv — magnificent history of our great country. exactly as her majesty would _ country. exactly as her majesty would have wished. by saying the words. _ would have wished. by saying the words, god save the king. and — words, god save the king. and also— words, god save the king. and also from the leader of the opposition. forthe and also from the leader of the opposition. for the vast majority of 0pposition. for the vast majority of us, the late queen has been simply the queen. the only queen. above all else, our queen. as we mourn her

loss, we should also treasure her life, our longest serving and greatest ever monarch, above the clashes of politics she stood not for what the nation for over but what it agreed upon. throughout the day there had been growing unease about the queen's health. in the house of commons as keir starmer stood up, opposite him the prime minister was being told of the prime minister was being told of the queen's condition. information passed to angela rayner who left her seat to discuss the development before the speaker of the house addressed i know i speak on the entire house when i say we send our best wishes to her majesty the queen and that she and the royal family are within our thoughts and prayers at this moment. . , our thoughts and prayers at this moment. ,, ., ., ., 4' , our thoughts and prayers at this moment. _ ., , ., ., moment. cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's — moment. cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's last _ moment. cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's last royal _ moment. cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's last royal engagements i the queen's last royal engagements was injuly the queen's last royal engagements was in july with the queen's last royal engagements was injuly with her daughter princess and, opening a new state—of—the—art hospice in

berkshire. but these kind of visits have become rare over the past year, as a queen relied on her walking stick, her mobility compromise. the royal household try to adapt, to keep active and visible, a golf buggy at the chelsea flower show health quick —— keep the queen comfortable. but she had become noticeably thinner and more frail, something that severely limited her involvement in her own platinum jubilee celebrations. with her family are increasingly representing her. at the weekend, her son stood in at the highland games, always a favourite event for the queen, that she reluctantly missed. like so many of her life, the decline in her health was played out in public. duty may have got harder to manage physically, but mentally, even emotionally, the queen remained engaged and working to the very end.

daniela relph with that sum above the events of the day. we are joined ljy the events of the day. we are joined by the former conservative prime minister, sirjohn major. it is very good if you to join us minister, sirjohn major. it is very good if you tojoin us here on bbc news. at this moment in time. fear is, of course, had been mounting throughout the day on the news from the queen's medical team. at balmoral. what are your thoughts now and the passing of her majesty? it is heartbreaking news. it is news that one day we knew we would have, but we always hoped it would be delayed and would be some way away. it is very hard to take a dim, that radiant smile that lights up a room and a country, will not be there for us any more. very hard to imagine, most of the people in this country can remember nothing other than the queen as monarch and many of those who are elderly remember faintly the former king. but this is an enormous

change for this country, a very big moment in history. a key, pivotal moment. and i think there will be many tears shed tonight and over the next few days for her majesty the queen. i next few days for her ma'esty the queen. ., , ., queen. iwonder, given your interactions _ queen. iwonder, given your interactions with _ queen. iwonder, given your interactions with the - queen. iwonder, given your interactions with the queen | queen. i wonder, given your. interactions with the queen as queen. i wonder, given your- interactions with the queen as prime minister, what your personal recollections are of meeting her? there are so many recollections. and in many ways, so different from what people might imagine. the private meetings of the prime minister has with the queen, which are perhaps scheduled for 45 minutes, and in my experience never lasted remotely under one hour and often some way beyond. they were not entirely serious matters, just discussing the matter is of the nation. there was a great deal of amusement in them, a great deal of amusement in them, a great deal of humour and a deal of gossip and apart from that, the serious matters that were discussed, i think people would have been

extraordinarily surprised if they realise the depth of information the queen had about the lives of people in every conceivable part of the united kingdom. she was always extraordinarily well briefed and in foreign affairs, of course, she would often say, if there was a difficulty of a foreign leader, that i met in many years ago or even, i knew his father. always a wise word to be had. in those meetings with the queen one of the better parts of any prime minister's week. that stability and _ any prime minister's week. that stability and continuity that she wrote, not just stability and continuity that she wrote, notjust to the monarchy but to all of our lives, one being on the throne over such a long period... what are your thoughts on that now that she has passed? the continui that now that she has passed? tye continuity was very that now that she has passed? ttj: continuity was very important but i think there were other things as well. the example, the duty, the selflessness, the way in which other people were put first. the way in which she handled crisis with great

stoicism and they occurred, as it occurred a number of times during her reign. they were all examples to people about how to behave in their own lives and examples for our country. and what you find going around the world is that the queen was the face of the united kingdom. when people around the world spoke of the queen, the actually meant our queen. that was the status she had in every part of the world. tt queen. that was the status she had in every part of the world.— in every part of the world. it was truly remarkable. _ in every part of the world. it was truly remarkable. you _ in every part of the world. it was truly remarkable. you talked i in every part of the world. it was i truly remarkable. you talked about the stoicism she showed in times of crisis and we think back to 1992, and her speech, the fire at windsor castle as well, her fortitude in dealing with those issues and those problems was something that the british people came to admire greatly in her, along with that sense of duty. t greatly in her, along with that sense of duty.— greatly in her, along with that sense of duty. i think they were riaht to sense of duty. i think they were right to admire _ sense of duty. i think they were right to admire it. _ sense of duty. i think they were right to admire it. i _ sense of duty. i think they were right to admire it. i sat - sense of duty. i think they were right to admire it. i sat along i sense of duty. i think they were i right to admire it. i sat along from her when she made that speech in

1982, a great deal had gone wrong and there was a dreadful fire in windsor castle, which many people did not receive with the simply —— the sympathy they perhaps should have put the queen understood that and she put her head down and quietly, silently got on with her job and there were very few people who could have handled that with the aplomb that she did. that was in part because of her experience and in part because of her nature, she knew what one had to do to be a monarch and she knew when to keep out of controversy and went to advise in private. she was almost faultless in the way in which she conducted the monarchy, and she believes behind a monarchy in very good shape and her son, who has been brought up to follow in precisely the same footsteps, is king charles iii. i the same footsteps, is king charles iii. ., ., ,., the same footsteps, is king charles iii. ., ., g . ., iii. i wonder about the affection with which _ iii. i wonder about the affection with which she _ iii. i wonder about the affection with which she was _ iii. i wonder about the affection with which she was held i iii. i wonder about the affection with which she was held right i iii. i wonder about the affection i with which she was held right around the world? particularly within the

commonwealth, and you travelled and we have seen the great affection she had, and there will be millions around the globe who will be particularly sad today. t around the globe who will be particularly sad today.- around the globe who will be particularly sad today. i have seen that affection _ particularly sad today. i have seen that affection at _ particularly sad today. i have seen that affection at close _ particularly sad today. i have seen that affection at close quarters. i that affection at close quarters. some ten or 12 years ago, i was invited by the queen to set up and chair the queen elizabeth diamond jubilee trust, a charity to commemorate her 60 years on the throne. and we raised money from across the commonwealth and i asked the queen what she wished us to do with the money that we had raised in her name. and she gave us two tasks. the first was to secure to cure avoidable blindness across the commonwealth and the second was to seek out commonwealth leaders in every nation of the commonwealth, 54 at the time, until prepare them for leadership roles in later life. it was entirely selfless request on her behalf and entirely typical of her. remarkable. sirjohn major, thank

you very much indeed for giving us your reflections on queen elizabeth ii, who passed away today. thank you so much. we are going to go to buckingham palace. these are live pictures. the lights lighting up the front and the crowds of people, a little bit difficult to make out, but you can see the order umbrella in the reign still coming down, the flashlights from people taking pictures and of course, the press are gathered and we are thinking around about a few hundred people, possibly even more. on the news that the queen has died. and that notice from buckingham palace, announcing the news, posted around about 6:45pm today, the official announcement coming from buckingham palace that the queen had died, it camejust after 6:30pm. and it was after an

raf plane arrived on the tarmac in aberdeenshire airport to take members of the royal family to the queen's bedside at balmoral castle. and these are still the scenes and we have more light. you can see how many people have gathered. quite a few. even when it is pouring down. many people wanting to pay their respects and many fearing the worst after that rather alarming bulletin from the queen's medical team, coming out of balmoral in scotland, just after 12:30pm today. saying that there was concern over the queen's health but she was comfortable while she was in the castle. and, of course, a good few hours later, we got the news that

the queen had passed away. the very latest scenes outside buckingham palace. the queen spent much of the past few years at windsor castle. living and working there throughout the coronavirus pandemic. 0ur correspondent adina campbell is there for us. we have just seen the pictures outside buckingham palace, hundreds of people, possibly thousands, gathering. what is a seem like where you are? gathering. what is a seem like where ou are? . gathering. what is a seem like where ou are? , ., , .,, ., you are? hundreds of people have cathered you are? hundreds of people have gathered here _ you are? hundreds of people have gathered here in _ you are? hundreds of people have gathered here in windsor - you are? hundreds of people have gathered here in windsor tonight, | gathered here in windsor tonight, nearby, close to the high street, others near the historic long walk. people of all ages, families have come out with young children, local residents, tourists have all come together to mark this day and they have been paying their respects, plenty have been leaving flowers,

you may be able to see some of those floral tributes behind me. 0thers floral tributes behind me. others have lit candles. there was a poignant moment shortly after the announcement was made when a rainbow came out in the sky, and that is when people stood still, there was silence, they were reflective and the news really sunk in. that happened shortly after the flag had been lowered, not quite at half—mast, but it had been lowered. this is a community that has had a deep, close connection with the queen for many years. this was her main residence and she spent a great deal of time here, particularly over the last 12 months, since she started experiencing those episodic ability problems. and then she spent ability problems. and then she spent a long time here with the duke of edinburgh before he died in april last year. they had been isolating here. people here are experiencing a sense of loss tonight at windsor. we have seen some emotional people, people who have been unable to hold

back the tears, consoling and hugging each other. and, of course, we know that this is a time that rich royal routes, recently the duke and duchess of cambridge moved here and the duke of cambridge is in balmoral today, the duchess of cambridge is looking after their three young children because they started their first full day at school. this is a community in shock, they are sad, and it is a community in mourning.- community in mourning. adina campbell. _ community in mourning. adina campbell. i— community in mourning. adina campbell, i said _ community in mourning. adina campbell, i said windsor i community in mourning. adina i campbell, i said windsor castle. perhaps the queen's favourite residence, her main residence. and the scenes out there, of course, with scores of people paying their respects outside the building. 0r, respects outside the building. or, as we have been hearing, our new prime minister, liz truss, has led tributes to queen elizabeth, saying she was loved and admired by people around the world. and describing her as the rock on which modern britain

was built. 0ur political editor chris mason is in downing street now. we know that there was a discussion in parliament today over the appalling cost of living crisis. that debate overshadowed by the situation concerning the queen, and i wondered now, situation concerning the queen, and iwondered now, given situation concerning the queen, and i wondered now, given the stability of the queen not only brought to the rest of british society but also the political life of this country, that has now sadly gone. tt political life of this country, that has now sadly gone.— political life of this country, that has now sadly gone. it has. what we witnessed at — has now sadly gone. it has. what we witnessed at lunchtime, _ has now sadly gone. it has. what we witnessed at lunchtime, caught i has now sadly gone. it has. what we witnessed at lunchtime, caught in i has now sadly gone. it has. what we witnessed at lunchtime, caught in a | witnessed at lunchtime, caught in a moment the very nature of the british constitution. the way that we are governed. because there, in the house of commons, was a debate ongoing with the house of commons does what it is famous for, it is a fulcrum of our democracy, the fulcrum of our democracy, the fulcrum and apex of angry arguments to determine how we are governed,

and there was a passionate argument going on about this huge and profound issue of energy bills, the government setting out its programme, the opposition criticising it. and then the passage of messages along the line, along the two frontbenchers from a government minister, to the deputy leader of the labour party, sir keir starmer was on his feet at the time, and also to the prime minister, and uchitel, watching the chamber, uchitel, watching the chamber, uchitel the gravity of the news that was being passed on. some eight or nine hours ago at lunchtime. senior politicians learned of the deteriorating health of the queen. we have seen and heard in the conversation you just had with sir john major, the reflections of senior politicians on the value that they attached to their conversations with the queen, the nature of that constitutional settlement i was talking about. the queen is, if you like, plugged into democracy, but

stands above it. and through that mechanism of the weekly audiences, prime ministers, 15 in total, liz truss only having that one audience, that moment 48 hours ago when she became prime minister, and having the chance, every week, to go and see the queen in private and tap into what david cameron, one of her prime ministers, or 12 prime minister, said this evening was the world's greatest public servant and the most experienced diplomat. tapping into that wisdom and counsel, knowing whatever advice was offered, would be done so privately. oui’ our political editor live at downing street. we were talking to sirjohn major earlier. one of 15 prime ministers that the queen interacted

with. liz truss, the latest, whom she asked to be prime minister earlier this week. if you are buckingham palace has announced the death of queen elizabeth ii. her majesty died at balmoral castle in aberdeenshire at the age of 96. the greens eldest son charles at the age of 73 has now become king. —— the queen's eldest son charles. following the death of his his majesty king charles iii released this statement.

we have got live pictures for you coming in at buckingham palace. again, that is the scene where, it is a little difficult to make out, but there are many, many members of the public their respects, they have been gathering throughout the day, on the news a little after lunchtime of lunchtime of concerns of the queen'shealth made by her medical team at balmoral. 0f queen'shealth made by her medical team at balmoral. of course, the

kissing of the hands, the ceremony in which the prospective prime minister assumes the position, had to take place at balmoral because the queen was unable to travel down to london. that was with liz truss earlier this week. and one assumes the reasoning behind her not being able to travel to london was part of the drama of events earlier on today. but those pictures the very latest outside buckingham palace where, around 6:40pm, that notice was posted on the railings from buckingham palace, making it very clear that the queen had died peacefully. well, the queen was the longest serving monarch in the history of

the united kingdom and held a commanding presence in public life across the uk over eight decades. tonight people have been reacting to the news of her sudden passing. lucy manning has more. she was long to life and for most hear all of theirs. through the streets of london they streamed to pay tribute to our queen. what is your reaction to the news? i am so sad because she was a wonderful lady, she dedicated her whole life to the nation and we can just thank her for it. we feel for her family today. it is a very sad day. t her family today. it is a very sad day. her family today. itisave sadda. ., it is a very sad day. i am so sad because she — it is a very sad day. i am so sad because she was _ it is a very sad day. i am so sad because she was a _ it is a very sad day. i am so sad because she was a lovely, i it is a very sad day. i am so sad i because she was a lovely, beautiful lady. _ because she was a lovely, beautiful lady. a _ because she was a lovely, beautiful lady, a beautiful mother, beautiful grandmother. she _ grandmother. she was very much—loved. grandmother. she was ve much-loved. ., , she was very much-loved. there was a real sense that — she was very much-loved. there was a

real sense that this _ she was very much-loved. there was a real sense that this queen _ she was very much-loved. there was a real sense that this queen was - she was very much-loved. there was a real sense that this queen was a i real sense that this queen was a history maker. it is devastating, she will be missed _ it is devastating, she will be missed by— it is devastating, she will be missed by so— it is devastating, she will be missed by so many- it is devastating, she will be missed by so many people, i it is devastating, she will be i missed by so many people, she affected so— missed by so many people, she affected so many lives- missed by so many people, she affected so many lives and i missed by so many people, she affected so many lives and wasl missed by so many people, she i affected so many lives and was an amazing _ affected so many lives and was an amazing monarch _ amazing monarch. what _ amazing monarch. what did - amazing monarch. what did she i amazing monarch. i what did she mean to amazing monarch. - what did she mean to you? amazing monarch. _ what did she mean to you? as a amazing monarch. — what did she mean to you? as a woman it is amazing _ what did she mean to you? as a woman it is amazing to— what did she mean to you? as a woman it is amazing to see _ what did she mean to you? as a woman it is amazing to see a _ what did she mean to you? as a woman it is amazing to see a female _ what did she mean to you? as a woman it is amazing to see a female at - what did she mean to you? as a woman it is amazing to see a female at the i it is amazing to see a female at the helm _ it is amazing to see a female at the helm of— it is amazing to see a female at the helm of our— it is amazing to see a female at the helm of our country. _ it is amazing to see a female at the helm of our country. and _ it is amazing to see a female at the helm of our country. and i- it is amazing to see a female at the helm of our country. and i might. it is amazing to see a female at the. helm of our country. and i might not ever get— helm of our country. and i might not ever get the — helm of our country. and i might not ever get the chance _ helm of our country. and i might not ever get the chance to _ helm of our country. and i might not ever get the chance to see _ helm of our country. and i might not ever get the chance to see another i ever get the chance to see another woman _ woman. i it meant woman. — it meant everything to me, my family — it meant everything to me, my family a— it meant everything to me, my family. a sense of community, loyalty. — family. a sense of community, loyalty, giving back to communities, serving _ loyalty, giving back to communities, serving the — loyalty, giving back to communities, serving the community as a whole. she meant— serving the community as a whole. she meant a lot to everyone here today _ she meant a lot to everyone here today the — she meant a lot to everyone here today. the biggest thing i will remember is her sense of charity, giving _ remember is her sense of charity, giving back — giving back. the - giving back. the grounds —— the card is used to gather here to see the green on the balcony. as soon as her death was announced they came back. there is a harsh here as the one constant in the country's life is no more. in the place where she died,

balmoral, locals were enormously proud of their regal visitor who join them each year. just very sad. a monarch for over 70 years, it is history and we wanted to be here to share our condolences and just be part of it. it is really sad news to hear. that is the reason we came. we were hoping _ is the reason we came. we were hoping to— is the reason we came. we were hoping to pass on our regards and to be here _ be here. a- be here. a sad day? absolutely, be here. — a sad day? absolutely, for everybody, i think the whole nation will come together. _ will come together. you _ will come together. you never - will come together. you never knew- will come together. you never knew her will come together. i you never knew her but her significance was just incredible. it doesn't really hit home until you hear something like this. and what she meant to us and the country, an incredible legacy. at buckingham palace no one here truthfully is sure what to do but they know they want to be here to stand, to mark the moment, to bring

flowers, to remember. her kingdom is united in sorrow but also admiration in the sense that we have been fortunate to live in her era. through change and turmoil there has always been the queen. lucy manning, bbc news. flowers marking the moment at buckingham palace, these are live pictures at windsor castle, and more floral tributes. pictures at windsor castle, and more floraltributes. lit pictures at windsor castle, and more floral tributes. lit by a candle at the front there. as people remember. for many are the only monarch they have ever known. i began this broadcast pointing out that i have known no other queen.

little children there. they are now going to be grown up in a world where it is charles iii who will be their sovereign. where it is charles iii who will be theirsovereign. people where it is charles iii who will be their sovereign. people turning up continually throughout the evening as the light has dimmed. the flashlights in the corner, some of the press who have recorded this moment as well. and flowers being put down as people remember. we palace, let us show you the live pictures there. in the darkness, hundreds of people, i suspect possibly even thousands, have gathered there now. there they are. the rain still coming down, it has been raining throughout the day and despite that people have been willing to deal with the elements.

the umbrellas bobbing about. as many reflect on the life of extraordinary selflessness, through some of the trials and tribulations of her own family it has to be said. you can get a clearer sense of the rain pouring down there. 0utside buckingham palace, in the heart of central london. it was in scotland passed away. political leaders there have been paying tribute to the monarch. nicola sturgeon described the queen's death is a profoundly sad moment, describing her life as one of extraordinary dedication and service. let us go to sarah smith at holyrood in edinburgh. what else have you been hearing from the political establishment in scotland?

political establishment in scotland ? already political establishment in scotland? already people here are turning up at holyrood palace, the queen's official residence, to pay their respects. we have been hearing of their sorrow and sadness at the passing of queen elizabeth. political leaders are joining in with that sentiment. partly because the queen had a very obvious affection for scotland, one that was reciprocated by many people here. just last year at the opening of the scottish parliament when politicians were gathered that she talked of her deep and abiding affection for this wonderful country she called it and she spoke of the many happy memories she spoke of the many happy memories she shared in scotland. she came here frequently as a child before she was queen and her first official visit as the monarch took place just three weeks after the coronation when she and her husband came to edinburgh. he was of course the duke

of edinburgh. in the decades since she was a frequent visitor. every summer she would spend a week at holyrood palace before going up to balmoral, taking part in official engagements including hosting a garden invited. it is because of these connections the politicians here are saying they feel profoundly sad, like nicola sturgeon. for more than 70 years queen elizabeth has been the great constant in our national life. she has inspired as, on occasion comforted us, and always personified values we hold dear. throughout her reign as she performed her duties with exceptional wisdom, dedication and fidelity. scotland loved, respected and admired her. and by all accounts her majesty was really

—— rarely happier than when she was in scotland at her beloved balmoral which i have observed personally. i hope it will be a source of comfort to her family that she spent her much. nicola sturgeon talking about the respect and admiration she felt for the queen partly because of her affection for scotland but also because of her sense of service and duty. politicians from all sides of the political spectrum agreed they owe a great debt to the work who said the country for so many years. throughout the years of debate about scottish independence, the snp stressed the queen would remain the head of state if scotland were to become independent because they feared it would be a vote loser if

they cut ties with the royal family, a measure of the affection and respect for the queen in scotland. the queen had more scottish monarchs in her as a street than english ones. an interesting thought to ponder. we are going to more floral tributes are being placed outside windsor, this is the few candles have been lit. windsor perhaps the queen's favourite residents and her main residence. we spoke tojohn major about her fortitude and strength during that awful fire that engulfed the castle, and how she coped with that and simply got on with things. it is

that sense of duty and strength that has come to be admired by so many people throughout her long reign. and now will be sorely missed by many people, notjust in this country but quite frankly right around the world. and more people there this evening, 8:45pm, coming out. the rain has held off. it is very rainy down at buckingham palace. there, people still marking their respects to our departed queen. and this is the scene outside buckingham palace tonight. as we have been seeing throughout the evening, many more people turning out there, some people perhaps hearing the news for the first time

and deciding that perhaps they need to do something that is important to them in perhaps laying flowers outside one of the official royal residences. despite the rain teaming down for match of the day, but still so many people have been wanting to get out there and mark this incredible moment in british history. in northern ireland leaders have been paying tributes to the queen, pressing her efforts to advance peace and reconciliation. chris page is live at stormont for us right now. chris, sum up what you have been hearing from those people, marking the death of the queen with their own messages. yes. marking the death of the queen with their own messages.— marking the death of the queen with their own messages. yes, clive. here at stormont. — their own messages. yes, clive. here at stormont, the _ their own messages. yes, clive. here at stormont, the home _ their own messages. yes, clive. here at stormont, the home of— their own messages. yes, clive. here at stormont, the home of the - at stormont, the home of the northern ireland assembly, two flags are flying at half—mast on top of

the building and senior politicians have been expressing their condolences to the royal family and paying their tributes. sirjeffrey donaldson, the leader of the democratic unionist party, has said queen elizabeth ii was a steadfast and unshakeable head of state. at the other end of the political spectrum, so to speak, the leader of the irish nationalist party, sinn fein, rachelle 0'neal, says she learned of the passing of the queen with deep regret. for about 30 of the queen's 70 years on the throne, northern ireland was perhaps the most troubled part of her realm in the conflict, known as the troubles, touch the queen most personally and painfully perhaps in 1979 when her cousin, lord mountbatten, was murdered by the ira. later, the queen made some defining contributions to the peace process, most notably in 2011, when she became the first british monarch to carry out a state visit to the republic of ireland, and a year

later there was another highly symbolic and powerful gesture when she drew kahn's the former ira commander, the late martin mcguinness, sinn fein politicians —— sinn fein politician, so i think it is those moments in particular the people in northern ireland will be reflecting on as they consider her majesty's legacy on this sad day and over the coming days and for many decades to come.— decades to come. chris, thank you for that. chris _ decades to come. chris, thank you for that. chris page, _ decades to come. chris, thank you for that. chris page, our— decades to come. chris, thank you for that. chris page, our ireland i for that. chris page, our ireland correspondent outside stormont stop this is an at buckingham palace. in the place were at around 6:40pm that notice was posted by the palace, announcing the death of her majesty, the queen. a few hundred miles further north, in scotland, of course, at balmoral castle. and more and more people, it seems, over the last hour or so have been turning up

with umbrellas in hand, in the middle of all of that, to pay tributes to the only monarch that for many they have ever known. and now, we have a new king. and that is charles iii. he was the prince of wales. and the tributes there have come from the first minister, mark drakeford and we can bring in hywel griffith, our correspondent, to talk to us. just sum up, please, some of the thoughts of the leaders for you are and the thoughts of the people of wales, not only on the passing of her majesty, but also, of course, the now charles iii. t her majesty, but also, of course, the now charles iii.— the now charles iii. i am here at the now charles iii. i am here at the senate _ the now charles iii. i am here at the senate and _ the now charles iii. i am here at the senate and people _ the now charles iii. i am here at the senate and people have i the now charles iii. i am here at| the senate and people have been coming here to lay flowers, the

flags have been lowered. and this is where the queen made herfinal visit to wales back in october last year and opening the senedd for the six time, she was a repeat visitor here and opened what was a first national assembly back in 1999, lending it a sense of legitimacy, to this growing institution, and the tributes to her, unsurprisingly, have been led by the first minister, mark drakeford, who spoke about an hour orso drakeford, who spoke about an hour or so ago. it drakeford, who spoke about an hour or so auo. , ., drakeford, who spoke about an hour orsoauo. , ., ,, or so ago. it is with great sadness that we learned _ or so ago. it is with great sadness that we learned today _ or so ago. it is with great sadness that we learned today of - or so ago. it is with great sadness that we learned today of the - or so ago. it is with great sadness| that we learned today of the death of her_ that we learned today of the death of her majesty, queen elizabeth ii. she has_ of her majesty, queen elizabeth ii. she has been the only monarch that most _ she has been the only monarch that most of— she has been the only monarch that most of us — she has been the only monarch that most of us will remember. and today, the country— most of us will remember. and today, the country feels an immense loss. throughout— the country feels an immense loss. throughout her long and exceptional

life, throughout her long and exceptional life. as _ throughout her long and exceptional life. as our— throughout her long and exceptional life, as our longest reigning monarch. _ life, as our longest reigning monarch, her majesty firmly upheld the values _ monarch, her majesty firmly upheld the values and traditions of the british— the values and traditions of the british monarchy. on behalf of the welsh _ british monarchy. on behalf of the welsh government and people in all parts of— welsh government and people in all parts of wales, i offer our deepest condolences to all of her majesty's childreh_ condolences to all of her majesty's children and their families on this sad occasion. children and their families on this sad occasion-— children and their families on this sad occasion. lots of people i have soken to sad occasion. lots of people i have spoken to are _ sad occasion. lots of people i have spoken to are talking _ sad occasion. lots of people i have spoken to are talking about - sad occasion. lots of people i have spoken to are talking about how i sad occasion. lots of people i have l spoken to are talking about how she oversaw a huge period of change of national life in wales, notjust the new senedd but people say she give a sense of welcome to people of all nations and faiths as she reigned for such a long time.— nations and faiths as she reigned for such a long time. thank you for that. for such a long time. thank you for that hywel— for such a long time. thank you for that. hywel griffith _ for such a long time. thank you for that. hywel griffith outside - for such a long time. thank you for that. hywel griffith outside the - that. hywel griffith outside the seneddin that. hywel griffith outside the senedd in cardiff. as we know, the queen was not only the monarch for the uk but she was also the head of state across a0 other commonwealth countries. how has news been received right the world? james

landale has been international response to the passing of the queen. from the moment the queen's reign began in kenya in 1952, she played a constant and significant role on the international stage, and this afternoon there was sorrow and regret expressed around the world, including at the white house. fiur including at the white house. our hearts and including at the white house. oi" hearts and thoughts go to the family members of the queen, goes to the people of the united kingdom. our relationship with the people of the united kingdom, and this is something that the president has said himself, has grown stronger and stronger. the said himself, has grown stronger and stronuer. , , ., ., . stronger. the president of france, emmanuel — stronger. the president of france, emmanuel macron, _ stronger. the president of france, emmanuel macron, said _ stronger. the president of france, emmanuel macron, said her- stronger. the president of france, . emmanuel macron, said her majesty, queen elizabeth, embodied the continuity and unity of the british nation for over 70 years. i keep the

memory of a friend of france, the queen of hearts, who marked her country under century forever. the indian prime minister said her majesty queen elizabeth will be remembered as a stalwart of our times. she provided inspiring leadership to hurt nation and people. and the president of ukraine, volodymyr zelensky, said is with deep sadness that we learnt of the death of her majesty, queen elizabeth, on behalf of ukrainian people we extend sincere condolences to the royal family, the entire united kingdom and the commonwealth over this irreparable loss. asa as a 12th canadian prime minister, i am having trouble believing that my last sit down with her was my last. i was so miss those chats. she was thoughtful, wise, curious, helpful,

funny and so much more. she thoughtful, wise, curious, helpful, funny and so much more.- funny and so much more. she was dubbed by — funny and so much more. she was dubbed by one _ funny and so much more. she was dubbed by one of— funny and so much more. she was dubbed by one of her— funny and so much more. she was dubbed by one of her biographers| funny and so much more. she was i dubbed by one of her biographers as queen of the world, visiting hundreds of countries throughout her reign. she was monarch of 15 separate realms. the head of the commonwealth of some of the six nations. so, it was little surprise that news of the queen's death made headlines around the world. the queen has _ headlines around the world. tue: queen has passed headlines around the world. tte: queen has passed away. headlines around the world. "tt9 queen has passed away. she headlines around the world. tt9: queen has passed away. she died peacefully in the royal family says it happened at balmoral this afternoon. it happened at balmoral this afternoon-— it happened at balmoral this afternoon. :, :, afternoon. throughout her reign, the queen was the _ afternoon. throughout her reign, the queen was the living _ afternoon. throughout her reign, the queen was the living embodiment. afternoon. throughout her reign, the queen was the living embodiment of| queen was the living embodiment of the trans atlantic religion, beating york fewer than 12 us presidents. in a statement, president biden described her as a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy. bracco brahma said she reigned with grace, elegance and the tireless work ethic. she listens deeply, she said, but strategically and was responsible for considerable dramatic achievements. views echoed

on the streets of washington. t on the streets of washington. 1 admire her greatly. i on the streets of washington. 1 admire her greatly. lam so on the streets of washington. t admire her greatly. i am so sorry that she has passed. she is an icon here and everywhere. t that she has passed. she is an icon here and everywhere.— here and everywhere. i have been readin: here and everywhere. i have been reading about _ here and everywhere. i have been reading about her _ here and everywhere. i have been reading about her my _ here and everywhere. i have been reading about her my whole - here and everywhere. i have been reading about her my whole life, | here and everywhere. i have been i reading about her my whole life, she means _ reading about her my whole life, she means the _ reading about her my whole life, she means the same to the people in the uk as— means the same to the people in the uk as the _ means the same to the people in the uk as the us. it is means the same to the people in the uk as the us-— uk as the us. it is so sad. the queen nurtured _ uk as the us. it is so sad. the queen nurtured and _ uk as the us. it is so sad. the queen nurtured and shaped i uk as the us. it is so sad. the queen nurtured and shaped a| uk as the us. it is so sad. the i queen nurtured and shaped a unique international organisation, pointing together to .5 billion people. and it was to a meeting of commonwealth leaders that the queen made her last overseas tour in 2015, visiting malta, an island she had once called home. the book end of a life of duty and diplomacy on the international stage. james landale, bbc news. the global significance of the passing of the queen. joining me is the author and broadcaster gyles brandreth, a personalfriend of prince philip and someone who has known the queen for 15 years. always

a pleasure to see you, but on this sad day, yes... ab. a pleasure to see you, but on this sad day. yes- - -— sad day, yes... a significant day. the reason _ sad day, yes... a significant day. the reason so _ sad day, yes... a significant day. the reason so many _ sad day, yes... a significant day. the reason so many people i sad day, yes... a significant day. the reason so many people are l the reason so many people are turning out at buckingham palace is because people feel the loss. for most people, this is the only suffering they have known, and it is extraordinary to think that on this tuesday, this woman who was sustained by faith and driven by judy, was again doing her duty, saying goodbye to her 1ath prime minister and welcoming her 15th prime minister, doing what she has been doing and thinking of a new prime minister. i think liz truss was born in 1975 and herfirst prime minister, winston churchill, the only prime minister she ever called winston, she called the other more formally, but winston was born in something like 1876, so that gives you a feel of the span of her extraordinary life. i think the reason that she is being mourned across the world, even by people who don't rate the monarchy or think it

is important in the modern age, is because of her quality as a person. she was undoubtedly our longest reigning sovereign, our most popular and certainly our most respected. why? because she had qualities that made her unique. some kings and queens we rememberfor made her unique. some kings and queens we remember for the dramatic things that happened during their reign. not so much the screen. the type of person she was, her dedication to service was so exemplary, her courtesy and kindness and good humour, and they never wavered. she was the same person out i was lucky enough to meet when i was still a teenager, but she was certainly the same person consistently throughout her life. what made her so special, i do not know. but she would say she had a blessed life and herfaith is know. but she would say she had a blessed life and her faith is what kept you going. that blessed life and her faith is what kept you going-— kept you going. that is an interesting _ kept you going. that is an interesting and _ kept you going. that is an interesting and important| kept you going. that is an i interesting and important point. kept you going. that is an _ interesting and important point. but those personal qualities that she

had regardless of the crown on her head and the fine jewels and so on, she was someone you saw in a line, greeting people at some opening, of some building or whatever. there was a relatable touch that she said. and that quality seem to imbue everything that she did admit are so accessible to millions of people. notjust here but in the commonwealth as well. she notjust here but in the commonwealth as well. ,, :, :: , commonwealth as well. she accepted her destiny- — commonwealth as well. she accepted her destiny. she _ commonwealth as well. she accepted her destiny. she said _ commonwealth as well. she accepted her destiny. she said of— commonwealth as well. she accepted her destiny. she said of the _ her destiny. she said of the coronation of a prince, which she wrote an account and at first the carriage was quite jolting but eventually we got used to it, and i think that is how she found he monarch, she got used to it. she was not self—conscious about being the queen, shejust not self—conscious about being the queen, she just accepted that. not self—conscious about being the queen, shejust accepted that. she was always herself. i think the one aspect of her that maybe the public did not see as much of as others who matter more privately was a sense of

humour. she was a very amusing person. one of the things that she and prince philip had in common, they made each other laugh. she had a great sense of humour. and we got a great sense of humour. and we got a bit of a flavour of that in recent years, but wonderful sketch with james bond, and most recently, her brilliant acting with paddington bear! and she loved that. she loved doing that. she was unique. she was extraordinary. and to be valued and cherished and remembered, and when we think about what is the magic of monarchy? what is the mystery? why is this phenomenon that mixes for retail and history, why does it work and go on working? during the last 70 years, it is accommodation, the reason people made that series, the crime, the retail and drama and heritage, but the queen gave it her own personality, a unique personality, driven by duty,

sustained by faith and kept happy by her passion for horses and dogs, thatis her passion for horses and dogs, that is what you loved most. but naturalness as a person and your ability to put people at ease, and there is a lovely story of her at lunch one day with somebody who had been a soldier. he was suffering at had been in afghanistan and were suffering from post—traumatic stress. she had been asking about that and he clearly was suffering. she said, hold on... and she knelt down and she got some dog biscuits and so, let's feed the dogs. i find that helps! that sort of person. she knew how to make people feel comfortable with themselves. i think she was comfortable in herself. co mforta ble comfortable in her own skin as leader of the royal family and constitutional head of this country, and sirjohn major pointed out her

humour as well in private moments with her. and we saw some of that come out in recent years, and interestingly, towards the end of the worst part of covid, when she had to do those zoom meetings, accepting new ambassadors and so on and so forth, and we saw the glint in her eye on the smile on her lips from time to time. she in her eye on the smile on her lips from time to time.— in her eye on the smile on her lips from time to time. she was quite a shy person — from time to time. she was quite a shy person when — from time to time. she was quite a shy person when she _ from time to time. she was quite a shy person when she was - from time to time. she was quite a shy person when she was young, i from time to time. she was quite a l shy person when she was young, and she was only 26 when she became queen, and she was following in the footsteps of her father, winston churchill, the grand old man of politics, was herfirst prime minister. she was naturally conservative with a small c, and i think she wouldn't have done james bond or paddington bear

done james bond or paddington hear if her mother had still been alive. she became a free person after her mother died, she became more relaxed, and she was a more relaxed person in recent years. she had a sense of humour. she never said anything unkind or unpleasant about anyone, but she could raise an eyebrow. i remember going with her and prince philip wants to the royal variety show, and prince philip made his views very clear, but the queen applauded each act for exactly the same length of time, she didn't want to make anyone feel she hadn't liked them all equally.— them all equally. tactful to the end. them all equally. tactful to the end- gyles. — them all equally. tactful to the end. gyles, thank _ them all equally. tactful to the end. gyles, thank you - them all equally. tactful to the end. gyles, thank you very i them all equally. tactful to the i end. gyles, thank you very much. a personal friend end. gyles, thank you very much. a personalfriend of end. gyles, thank you very much. a personal friend of prince end. gyles, thank you very much. a personalfriend of prince philip and someone who has known the queen for many years the. the time is just after nine o'clock here in the united kingdom. you are watching a special programme and coverage of

the death of queen elizabeth ii, the longest reigning monarch in british history who has died at the age of 96. t history who has died at the age of 96. : ., history who has died at the age of 96. : :, , :, history who has died at the age of 96. .. ,., ., ., history who has died at the age of 96. ,., ., ., , 96. i declare before you all that my whole life, — 96. i declare before you all that my whole life, whether _ 96. i declare before you all that my whole life, whether it _ 96. i declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be _ 96. i declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long i 96. i declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or. whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperialfamily to service and to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong. god help me to make good my vow. all belong. god help me to make good m vow. _, , :, my vow. over the course of eight momentous _ my vow. over the course of eight momentous decades _ my vow. over the course of eight momentous decades she - my vow. over the course of eight i momentous decades she witnessed a social and economic change on a global scale. as princess elizabeth of york she came to the throne at the age of just 25 following the sudden death of her father, just 25 following the sudden death of herfather, king george vi. during her lifelong rain, the queen dealt with no fewer than 15 prime ministers. the first, sir winston

churchill, three margaret thatcher, of course, tony blair, borisjohnson too. as head of the commonwealth, she became the most travelled monarch in history, head of state are 15 countries. the queen's death comes just over a year after the passing of her husband, the duke of edinburgh, her consort for more than 70 years. over the decades, the queen was greeted by millions of people, and met her subject on thousands of engagements, in the uk and well beyond. she was last pictured here at balmoral on tuesday, inviting liz truss to become prime minister. and as the crown passes to a new king, charles iii, her death will be felt by her

family, people across the united kingdom and to millions around the world. good evening. the reign of the longest serving monarch in the history of the united kingdom has come to an end with the death of queen elizabeth ii. buckingham palace made the statementjust after 6:30pm. the queen, who was 96, passed away at balmoral castle in aberdeenshire. members of the royal family made thejourney aberdeenshire. members of the royal family made the journey there on the news that she was gravely ill. the queen had been commanding presence in royal life. her son has now become king charles iii. buckingham palace had issued this statement today. following the death of his mother,

his majesty king charles ii! released this statement. and the sign of that deep affection on show this evening, this live pictures of buckingham palace, where thousands of people have gathered in the pouring rain to mark their respects and to mark the passing of her majesty the queen. flowers laid

outside the gates where a little after 6:30pm, the official announcement was posted on the railings that the queen had died at balmoral. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell now has this account of the queen's long life. i hear present unto you queen elizabeth, your queen. is your majesty willing to take the oath? is your ma'esty willing to take the oath? ,, :, , , is your ma'esty willing to take the oath? ,, ., , , :, :, “ oath? she was 27 when she took the coronation oath. _ oath? she was 27 when she took the coronation oath. she _ oath? she was 27 when she took the coronation oath. she was _ oath? she was 27 when she took the coronation oath. she was anointed, | coronation oath. she was anointed, blessed and consecrated.

she took possession of a 1200 year old throne. she knew it was a role from which only death could release her, and yet when she was born, no one had thought that it would be her destiny. elizabeth alexandra mary windsor was born on the 21st of april 1926. she was the first child of the then king's second son, the duke of york. this was the young princess elizabeth at the age of four, visiting a photographic studio in london. her life then was comparatively carefree. it was the abdication in 1936 of her uncle, king edward viii, that unexpectedly placed elizabeth in direct line to the throne. herfather placed elizabeth in direct line to the throne. her father became placed elizabeth in direct line to the throne. herfather became king.

his coronation gave the then 11—year—old elizabeth a foretaste of what lay in store for her. the family unit was strong. her father, george vi, was devoted to her, and she to him. throughout her life, he was to be her inspiration. during the second world war, as german bombs fell on britain, the royal family symbolised the country's fight against tyranny. elizabeth briefly joined fight against tyranny. elizabeth brieflyjoined up. she was taught how to drive and have to service an army lorry. on the night britain celebrated victory in europe, the crowds gathered outside buckingham palace, and elizabethjoin her family on the palace balcony. by now she was a young woman, and she had fallen in love. her engagement to lieutenant philip mountbatten was announced injuly19a7. four months later, they were married in westminster abbey.-

later, they were married in westminster abbey. later, they were married in westminsterabbe . : :, :, ., ., westminster abbey. again and again, the --eole westminster abbey. again and again, the people called _ westminster abbey. again and again, the people called for— westminster abbey. again and again, the people called for elizabeth - westminster abbey. again and again, the people called for elizabeth and i the people called for elizabeth and philip, and again and again they joyfully responded. by, philip, and again and again they joyfully responded.— philip, and again and again they joyfully responded. a year later, their first child, _ joyfully responded. a year later, their first child, charles, - joyfully responded. a year later, their first child, charles, was i theirfirst child, charles, was born. two years after that, a daughter, anne. when elizabeth left for east africa in 1922, it would be the last time she would see him. at the last time she would see him. at the moment of her father's death from a heart attack, elizabeth was on a game park in kenya. the news that she was now queen was given to her by her husband. it was a relatively relaxed time for elizabeth and her husband. they lived for a while in malta, a naval officer and his wife.

but the king was suffering from cancer. when elizabeth left for a trip to east africa in 1952, it was to be the last time she would see him. archive: this is london. it was announced from sandringham at 10:a5 today that the king passed peacefully away in his sleep earlier this morning. at the moment of her father's death, elizabeth was in a game park in kenya. the news that she was now queen was given to her by her husband. archive: hertour of- the commonwealth cancelled, the princess we knew as a girl, and watched in the even growth of her stature, comes back to meet her ministers as queen. in a way, i didn't have an apprenticeship, my father died much too young, and so it was all a very sudden kind of taking—on, and making the bestjob you can. britain was stunned at the loss of its wartime king. his coffin was brought by train from sandringham. elizabeth was there to receive it with her mother and sister. george vi was laid to rest after a state funeral. elizabeth's succession was proclaimed. as elizabeth was crowned, she accepted what was to her sacred duty.

god save the queen. elizabeth the sovereiun god save the queen. elizabeth the sovereign and _ god save the queen. elizabeth the sovereign and head _ god save the queen. elizabeth the sovereign and head of— god save the queen. elizabeth the sovereign and head of state, i god save the queen. elizabeth the sovereign and head of state, not i sovereign and head of state, not just of the united kingdom, but of britain's realms and territories in every continent. in late1953, she set off on the first of many overseas tours, with a six month trip to australia, new zealand and the pacific. t trip to australia, new zealand and the pacific. :, :, , :, ., the pacific. i want to tell you all how happy _ the pacific. i want to tell you all how happy i _ the pacific. i want to tell you all how happy i am _ the pacific. i want to tell you all how happy i am to _ the pacific. i want to tell you all how happy i am to be _ the pacific. i want to tell you all how happy i am to be amongst| the pacific. i want to tell you all. how happy i am to be amongst you the pacific. i want to tell you all- how happy i am to be amongst you and how happy i am to be amongst you and how much i look forward to my journey to australia. the young queen was _ journey to australia. the young queen was a — journey to australia. the young queen was a star _ journey to australia. the young queen was a star on _ journey to australia. the young queen was a star on the i journey to australia. the young queen was a star on the world | journey to australia. the young i queen was a star on the world stage, and her popularity was never greater. it was estimated that in australia, three quarters of the country's entire population turned out to see her in person. but as the 19505 out to see her in person. but as the 1950s gave way to the swinging 60s

and the beatles, attitude started to change. the old certainties were questioned. the monarchy was seen by some to be stuffy and out of touch. by some to be stuffy and out of touch. by the late 60s, the palace realised that it needed to take the initiative. the result was a ground—breaking television documentary. the film showed the monarchy as it had never been seen before. elizabeth was shown performing the daily business of the sovereign. d0 performing the daily business of the sovereirn. ,, ~' performing the daily business of the sovereirn. ,, ~ i. _, sovereign. do you think you could brina u- sovereign. do you think you could bring op those — sovereign. do you think you could bring up those papers _ sovereign. do you think you could bring up those papers that - sovereign. do you think you could bring up those papers that i i sovereign. do you think you could bring up those papers that i was l bring up those papers that i was looking at yesterday? abshd bring up those papers that i was looking at yesterday? and visiting di . nitaries. looking at yesterday? and visiting dignitaries. but _ looking at yesterday? and visiting dignitaries. but the _ looking at yesterday? and visiting dignitaries. but the film _ looking at yesterday? and visiting dignitaries. but the film also i dignitaries. but the film also showed something of the private elizabeth relaxing with her family on a picnic at balmoral. the salmon is read . on a picnic at balmoral. the salmon is ready- her— on a picnic at balmoral. the salmon is ready. her silver— on a picnic at balmoral. the salmon is ready. her silverjubilee - on a picnic at balmoral. the salmon is ready. her silverjubilee was i is ready. her silverjubilee was celebrated _ is ready. her silverjubilee was celebrated with _ is ready. her silverjubilee was celebrated with street - is ready. her silverjubilee was celebrated with street parties i is ready. her silverjubilee was i celebrated with street parties and pageants in 1977.— celebrated with street parties and pageants in 1977. you've had a very lona da .

pageants in 1977. you've had a very long day- by _ pageants in 1977. you've had a very long day- by the — pageants in 1977. you've had a very long day. by the 1980s, _ pageants in 1977. you've had a very long day. by the 1980s, britain i pageants in 1977. you've had a very long day. by the 1980s, britain had its first woman _ long day. by the 1980s, britain had its first woman prime _ long day. by the 1980s, britain had its first woman prime minister, i its first woman prime minister, margaret thatcher. relations between a female head of state and female head of government for sometimes said to have been strained. lttlul’ith said to have been strained. with this rinr i said to have been strained. with this ring i thee _ said to have been strained. with this ring i thee wed. _ said to have been strained. with this ring i thee wed. for - said to have been strained. with this ring i thee wed. for the i said to have been strained. with i this ring i thee wed. for the queen and her family. _ this ring i thee wed. for the queen and her family, the _ this ring i thee wed. for the queen and her family, the 1980s - this ring i thee wed. for the queen and her family, the 1980s had i this ring i thee wed. for the queen i and her family, the 1980s had begun and herfamily, the 1980s had begun with a moment of great promise. prince charles's wedding in 1981 to the young lady diana spencer seems to be a moment of hope for the future. when the marriage began to fail, its decline was a very public one. the couple's separation was announced in 1992. it followed the collapse of the marriages of princess anne and prince andrew. to compound the misery that year, the queen had seen part of her favourite home, windsor castle, destroyed by fire. she was devastated. the fire seemed to symbolise the reversal of

the royal family's fortunes. little wonder that in a speech, the queen described 1992 as her annus horribilis, a horrible year. but worse was to follow. the death of diana in 1997 was to provoke what was for the queen a shocking backlash against the monarchy. she had remained at balmoral with princes william and harry after diana had died. her priority had been to care for her grandsons, but to the grieving crowds outside buckingham palace and elsewhere it seemed as though the royal family simply didn't care. the queen returned to buckingham palace and in an unprecedented live broadcast, she tried to heal the breach that had opened between the palace and the people. opened between the palace and the --eole. ~ :, opened between the palace and the neale, . ., opened between the palace and the --eole.~ :, :, :, opened between the palace and the n-eole.: ., :, :, people. what i say to you now as our people. what i say to you now as your queen _ people. what i say to you now as your queen and _ people. what i say to you now as your queen and as _ people. what i say to you now as your queen and as a _ people. what i say to you now as i your queen and as a grandmother, i say from my heart. the your queen and as a grandmother, i say from my heart.— say from my heart. the queen promised _ say from my heart. the queen promised to — say from my heart. the queen promised to learned _ say from my heart. the queen promised to learned the i say from my heart. the queen i promised to learned the lessons say from my heart. the queen - promised to learned the lessons from diana's life and the reaction to her

death. the whole episode had shaken her. forthe death. the whole episode had shaken her. for the first time, she had appeared to be out of tune with the feelings of her people. with charles persaud managed to commit up portables, the royal family could turn the paint on the domestic anguish of previous tickets. it was time to move on but — previous tickets. it was time to move on but for— previous tickets. it was time to move on but for the _ previous tickets. it was time to move on but for the queen, i previous tickets. it was time to move on but for the queen, a l previous tickets. it was time to - move on but for the queen, a moment of relief under the years that followed, with scarcely any lessening of her workload, she appeared to enjoy her role with renewed enthusiasm. in 2011, she was at westminster abbey for the wedding of her grandson, prince william, to catherine middleton. it was a moment when the public�*s appreciation of the monarchy seemed to be reconfirmed. a few weeks later, at the age of 85, the queen made one of

the age of 85, the queen made one of the most important foreign visits of her reign when she became the first british monarch to visit the republic of ireland. she laid a wreath in memory of those irish nationalists who had risen up against the crown and at a state dinner in dublin castle, she spoke with regret about britain's treatment of ireland... with the benefit of historical _ treatment of ireland... with the benefit of historical hindsight... j benefit of historical hindsight... we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently. or not at all. the wish had been done differently. or not at all. :, :, , :, not at all. the following year, in belfast, not at all. the following year, in belfast. she _ not at all. the following year, in belfast, she met _ not at all. the following year, in belfast, she met and _ not at all. the following year, in belfast, she met and shook i not at all. the following year, in l belfast, she met and shook hands with martin mcguinness, a former leader of the ira who by then was deputy first minister of northern ireland. it was another significant gesture of reconciliation. her diamond jubilee in 2012 confirmed the nation's regard for a monarch who had reigned for 60 years. mr bond... it was also the year when

the queen showed that she also could spring a surprise. goad the queen showed that she also could spring a surprise-— spring a surprise. good evening, mr bond. spring a surprise. good evening, mr bond- good — spring a surprise. good evening, mr bond. good evening, _ spring a surprise. good evening, mr bond. good evening, your- spring a surprise. good evening, mr bond. good evening, your majesty. | bond. good evening, your ma'esty. sovereian bond. good evening, your ma'esty. sovereign and i bond. good evening, your ma'esty. sovereign and secret �* bond. good evening, your ma'esty. sovereign and secret agent, _ bond. good evening, your majesty. sovereign and secret agent, one . bond. good evening, your majesty. sovereign and secret agent, one of| sovereign and secret agent, one of the highlights of the opening night of the london olympics. by by the time of her 90th birthday in april 2016, she had become the united kingdom prospect longest reigning monarch, its oldest, and few would disagree, one of its most deeply respected. she continued with public duties well into her 905. there was further family turmoil, though. prince andrew was forced to withdraw from public life amid claims he had sexually assaulted a 17—year—old. claims he denied. and then harry and meghan decided that they wanted to step back from royal

life. they moved to california and give a television interview in which meghan made damning criticisms of the royal family. they were unsettling moments presided over by a monarch who showed that her sense of commitment was undiminished. together we are tackling this disease. , ., ., , disease. during the coronavirus emergency _ disease. during the coronavirus emergency of _ disease. during the coronavirus emergency of 2020, _ disease. during the coronavirus emergency of 2020, she - disease. during the coronavirus . emergency of 2020, she broadcast disease. during the coronavirus - emergency of 2020, she broadcast a reassuring message to the nation. we reassuring message to the nation. , should take comfort that while we may have more steel to endure, better days will return. we will be with our friends again. we will be with our friends again. we will be with our friends again. we will be with ourfamilies again. we with our friends again. we will be with our families again.— with our families again. we will meet again- — with our families again. we will meet again. her— with our families again. we will meet again. her words - with our families again. we will meet again. her words seem i with our families again. we willi meet again. her words seem to encapsulated her role as monica, drawing on her own long experience to help settle the nation at a moment of difficulty. her resilience was evident again in april 2021, when her beloved husband philip died two months short of his 100th

birthday. they have been married for 73 years. at his funeral at st george's chapel within windsor castle, she seemed a solitary figure, pausing at one point to turn and look back. ifigure who had been two paces behind herfor so many years was now absent. elizabeth had lost the husband who meant so much to her. but despite the great sadness of her loss, there was never any question of her withdrawing from the path of duty. she marked the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, a record no other monarch had achieved, in february 2022. by then it was apparent that she was rather more frail physically than before, although mentally as sharp as ever. her doctors had advised her to take things a little easier. light duties was the expression used by the palace. but every day there were red boxes full

of official papers to deal with. in a message to mark her 70 years on the throne, she said she was humbled by the loyalty and affection she had received throughout her reign. and she signed the statement, your servant, elizabeth. byjune 2022, amid the public celebration of the platinumjubilee, her declining platinum jubilee, her declining health platinumjubilee, her declining health limited the events she could attend. there was, however, a delightful surprise. a pre—recorded appearance, somewhat chaotic tea party, with paddington bear. perhaps ou would party, with paddington bear. perhaps you would like _ party, with paddington bear. perhaps you would like a _ party, with paddington bear. perhaps you would like a marmalade - party, with paddington bear. perhaps. you would like a marmalade sandwich? i always keep one for emergencies. so do i! i i always keep one for emergencies. so do i! ~ , so do i! i keep mine in here... han so do i! i keep mine in here... happyjubilee- _ so do i! i keep mine in here... happy jubilee. and _ so do i! i keep mine in here... happy jubilee. and thank - so do i! i keep mine in here... happy jubilee. and thank you. i so do i! i keep mine in here... - happy jubilee. and thank you. for happyjubilee. and thank you. for everything. that's very kind.

this was a monarch at peace and enjoying herself. when the final day of thejubilee enjoying herself. when the final day of the jubilee celebrations, there was a final appearance of thejubilee celebrations, there was a final appearance on the balcony of buckingham palace. the national anthem was sung. a much—loved monarch acknowledged the many thousands who had waited to greet her. the crowds cheered and cheered. but finally, it was time to go. the queen turned to depart from the balcony on which she had first been seen as a baby. there was an unspoken feeling that an era was drawing to a close. throughout her reign, elizabeth ii embodied the strengths of a constitutional monarch. a constant

and reassuring presence at the centre of our national life. for decade after decade, she represented a changing kingdom to itself in the world. above all, hers was a life guided by christian faith and driven by a profound sense of duty. and by the pledge she made to the world on her 21st birthday. i the pledge she made to the world on her 21st birthday.— her 21st birthday. i declare before ou all, her 21st birthday. i declare before you all. that _ her 21st birthday. i declare before you all. that my _ her 21st birthday. i declare before you all, that my whole _ her 21st birthday. i declare before you all, that my whole life, - her 21st birthday. i declare before i you all, that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperial family, to which we all belong. god help me to make good my void. and god bless all of you for willing to share in it.

national anthem is sung. # god save the queen...

a few moments from the remarkable life of service and duty, and many thousands of people tonight have been reflecting on those years that the queen has reigned at buckingham palace, with thousands of people gathering their underneath lead in the skies and pouring rain. our correspondent mark easton is there

for us right now. the rain is lashing down but people are still wanting to come out to pay their respects. wanting to come out to pay their resects. , , , ~' . respects. yes, because i think that alonu respects. yes, because i think that alon: with respects. yes, because i think that along with a _ respects. yes, because i think that along with a sense _ respects. yes, because i think that along with a sense of— respects. yes, because i think that along with a sense of loss - respects. yes, because i think that along with a sense of loss and - along with a sense of loss and sadness, there is also a sense of this being a very big moment for this being a very big moment for this country. and i think that has led to some unease and apprehension, people want to be together. they want to be able to share in this moment and try to understand it. because i think it is a huge moment for britain, that we have lost a figurehead, somebody who has been the keystone and all of our nation's architecture and has almost been the solid piece of the image that people have of this country and perhaps their own identity, anyway. you take that away and it is very difficult for people. she has, in a sense, spent your entire and very long

reign trying to help the country deal with change, and here we are, facing this extraordinary and enormous change. difficult to overplay the importance, and we have to do it without her. so i think thatis to do it without her. so i think that is actually quite an important reason why i think people want to come here. the crowd itself, i should say, is very diverse. from every generation and every background and every ethnic minority. they are all here and i think that also represents the fact that the queen was somebody who represented the whole social spectrum in britain. and it is something that she herself said, that she wanted her reign to be measured by the love and support that she got from the people, from all backgrounds in her kingdom. and, well, this, isuppose, this

all backgrounds in her kingdom. and, well, this, i suppose, this is powerful evidence that she achieved just that. powerful evidence that she achieved 'ust that. . ~ powerful evidence that she achieved 'ust that. ., ~ , ., ~ powerful evidence that she achieved 'ustthat. ., ~ ., just that. thank you. mark easton there at buckingham _ just that. thank you. mark easton there at buckingham palace. - just that. thank you. mark easton there at buckingham palace. to i there at buckingham palace. to another of the queen's royal residences... windsor, her main residence. and again, more crowds and floral tributes. more of an outpouring of sadness, grief, for many. but also, a sense ofjoy that the queen lived for so long and, for many people, ruled so well. adina campbell is there for us. i can see behind you some of the people who have gathered there. and flowers have gathered there. and flowers have been left throughout the day. windsor is a place, of course, used to the royals and in times gone by, it is used to members of the family,

senior members, simply popping to the local shops. so used to their presence with the locals. and windsor is perhaps her favourite royal residence.— windsor is perhaps her favourite royal residence. windsor is perhaps her favourite ro al residence. . ,., ., , royal residence. indeed. windsor was a lace royal residence. indeed. windsor was a place very — royal residence. indeed. windsor was a place very dear— royal residence. indeed. windsor was a place very dear to _ royal residence. indeed. windsor was a place very dear to the _ royal residence. indeed. windsor was a place very dear to the queen. - royal residence. indeed. windsor was a place very dear to the queen. thisl a place very dear to the queen. this was her main home. in the last few years. she had spent a great deal of time here. she had spent the last 12 months, in fact, time here. she had spent the last 12 months, infact, here, when time here. she had spent the last 12 months, in fact, here, when she started experiencing those episodic mobility problems. and people here say they have had a close relationship with the queen. they feel that she has been their neighbour, she has been a regular face within this community. and they say that she has always had that personal connection with them. there is a real sense of shock and sadness in this town tonight. people have been laying flowers, lighting candles, and coming together, wiping

away tears. we have seen some very emotional people here at windsor tonight and people have travelled far and wide to be here, including julie chisholm, from canada, who can speak to. you are on holiday at the moment. when did you hear the news? we heard this afternoon while we were _ we heard this afternoon while we were actually on a tour of windsor castle _ were actually on a tour of windsor castle that — were actually on a tour of windsor castle that the queen's health was under— castle that the queen's health was under medical supervision. and then we went— under medical supervision. and then we went home to our friend's come at windsor— we went home to our friend's come at windsor and _ we went home to our friend's come at windsor and put the bbc on right away— windsor and put the bbc on right away because we want to do not miss any news _ away because we want to do not miss any news at _ away because we want to do not miss any news at all, we were very concerned _ any news at all, we were very concerned and hoping that it was not anything _ concerned and hoping that it was not anything more thanjust an episode of poor— anything more thanjust an episode of poor health that would not mean anything _ of poor health that would not mean anything more than that. we were quite _ anything more than that. we were quite shocked this evening when we received _ quite shocked this evening when we received the news, and we were still on the _ received the news, and we were still on the bbc_ received the news, and we were still on the bbc and heard from the newsdesk that we had lost the queen. what did the queen mean to you? i am

from st john's. — what did the queen mean to you? i am from stjohn's, newfoundland, and the queen— from stjohn's, newfoundland, and the queen has always been important to us _ the queen has always been important to us we _ the queen has always been important to us. we have had royal visits over the years. — to us. we have had royal visits over the years, many royal visits. i think— the years, many royal visits. i think she _ the years, many royal visits. i think she has represented something that is— think she has represented something that is more thanjust her personal being. _ that is more thanjust her personal being. lrut— that is more thanjust her personal being, but the idea of what is possible _ being, but the idea of what is possible. when you think about her, her sense _ possible. when you think about her, her sense of— possible. when you think about her, her sense of duty was so unique in that it _ her sense of duty was so unique in that it was — her sense of duty was so unique in that it was lifelong, and the job she undertook, notjust lifelong but was such— she undertook, notjust lifelong but was such a — she undertook, notjust lifelong but was such a earnest endeavour for her~ _ was such a earnest endeavour for her~ she — was such a earnest endeavour for her. she never failed was such a earnest endeavour for her. she neverfailed in anything that she — her. she neverfailed in anything that she undertook, and i think for all of— that she undertook, and i think for all of us, _ that she undertook, and i think for all of us, we — that she undertook, and i think for all of us, we may not be in such significant — all of us, we may not be in such significant roles, but we all can play— significant roles, but we all can play a — significant roles, but we all can play a part, and when you watch are and what _ play a part, and when you watch are and what she has done, you think of everybody— and what she has done, you think of everybody in — and what she has done, you think of everybody in the community and what they can _ everybody in the community and what they can do _ everybody in the community and what they can do in their own small way, we can— they can do in their own small way, we can certainly form stronger bonds

with our— we can certainly form stronger bonds with our neighbours and our communities, and i think she represented so much.- communities, and i think she represented so much. duty, thank you so much. represented so much. duty, thank you so much- when _ represented so much. duty, thank you so much. when the _ represented so much. duty, thank you so much. when the announcement - represented so much. duty, thank you| so much. when the announcement was made a short time ago, there was a poignant moment here in windsor. rainbow appeared in the sky moments after we got the news that the queen had died, and people took a moment to soak up what had happened. they were still, they were silent, and it was a special moment, moments after the flag had been lowered, not quite to half mast, but it had been lowered, and people here said there was a deep loss, and there will be that morning for many days to come. thank you, adina campbell. that rainbow appearing above buckingham palace just before the announcement that the queen had died a few hundred miles north at balmoral. in

june, the nation celebrated her majesty's platinum jubilee, june, the nation celebrated her majesty's platinumjubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. it is a landmark that no other british monarch has ever reached. sarah campbell looks back at her life. the sun shone and crowds filled the mall. forfour days injune, the message could not have been clearer. a galaxy of rock royalty, and the british people in their thousands celebrating a reign etched so deeply in our memories. xyour celebrating a reign etched so deeply in our memories.— in our memories. your ma'esty. mummy. — mummy. cheering you have been there for us for these 70 years _ you have been there for us for these 70 years. these pictures on your house _ 70 years. these pictures on your house of— 70 years. these pictures on your house of the story of your life and

ours _ house of the story of your life and ours. �* , house of the story of your life and ours. ~ , ., .. ., ., ours. and listen to the reaction of this delighted _ ours. and listen to the reaction of this delighted crowd. _ ours. and listen to the reaction of this delighted crowd. the - ours. and listen to the reaction of this delighted crowd. the queens| this delighted crowd. the queens reactions were _ this delighted crowd. the queens reactions were unforgettable. - this delighted crowd. the queens| reactions were unforgettable. her delight at the sight and sound of so many people and the antics of her great grandson were obvious. that evening, her majesty lit great grandson were obvious. that evening, her majesty [it to the first of a giant chain of beacons, symbols of hope in 2500 towns and cities from shetland to australia and new zealand.— cities from shetland to australia and new zealand. what a wonderful sound of those _ and new zealand. what a wonderful sound of those bells, _ and new zealand. what a wonderful sound of those bells, they - and new zealand. what a wonderful sound of those bells, they can - and new zealand. what a wonderful sound of those bells, they can be i sound of those bells, they can be heard all over the city of london. to the next morning, the bells of saint pauls marks the national service of thanksgiving. the surrounding pavements packed with well—wishers. brute surrounding pavements packed with well-wishers-_ surrounding pavements packed with well-wishers. we will never see this a . ain in well-wishers. we will never see this again in our — well-wishers. we will never see this again in our lifetime, _ well-wishers. we will never see this again in our lifetime, so _ well-wishers. we will never see this again in our lifetime, so it _ well-wishers. we will never see this again in our lifetime, so it is - well-wishers. we will never see this again in our lifetime, so it is a - again in our lifetime, so it is a special— again in our lifetime, so it is a special day— again in our lifetime, so it is a special day for _ again in our lifetime, so it is a special day for us. _ again in our lifetime, so it is a special day for us.— special day for us. absolutely ma . ical special day for us. absolutely magical atmosphere, - special day for us. absolutely | magical atmosphere, enjoying special day for us. absolutely - magical atmosphere, enjoying every

second _ magical atmosphere, en'oying every second. , ., , second. this was the largest gathering — second. this was the largest gathering of _ second. this was the largest gathering of royals - second. this was the largest gathering of royals since - second. this was the largest. gathering of royals since before second. this was the largest - gathering of royals since before the pandemic. almost all the members of herfamily were there, pandemic. almost all the members of her family were there, but not the green. she was unable to attend in person, but watched the service from home. ., ~ i. ., person, but watched the service from home. ., ~ ., , ., , person, but watched the service from home. ., ., , ., , ., home. thank you for showing us how service and — home. thank you for showing us how service and faithfulness _ home. thank you for showing us how service and faithfulness matter. - service and faithfulness matter. this is _ service and faithfulness matter. this is english champagne, especially! _ this is english champagne, especially!_ this is english champagne, eseciall ! ., ~ , especially! the thank yous continued with tens of thousands _ especially! the thank yous continued with tens of thousands of _ especially! the thank yous continued with tens of thousands ofjubilee - with tens of thousands ofjubilee lunches, bringing communities together, something the queen had done throughout her reign. # we talk about love, love, love... at the platinum party at the palace, a line—up of legends. # sweet caroline... each with their own memory of britain's longest reign. i each with their own memory of britain's longest reign.- each with their own memory of britain's longest reign. i grew up with her. britain's longest reign. i grew up with her- i _ britain's longest reign. i grew up with her. i was _ britain's longest reign. i grew up with her. i was seven _ britain's longest reign. i grew up with her. i was seven when - britain's longest reign. i grew up with her. i was seven when she i britain's longest reign. i grew up - with her. i was seven when she came

to the throne, so she has always been part of my life.— been part of my life. around the ol mics been part of my life. around the olympics she — been part of my life. around the olympics she was _ been part of my life. around the olympics she was absolutely - olympics she was absolutely essential when some of the selection panel come to the city, she hosted them _ panel come to the city, she hosted them at _ panel come to the city, she hosted them at buckingham palace on friday night, _ them at buckingham palace on friday night, and _ them at buckingham palace on friday night, and appeared on the balcony and waved — night, and appeared on the balcony and waved goodbye, so it had no comparison. i and waved goodbye, so it had no comparison-— and waved goodbye, so it had no comarison. ., .,, i. ., comparison. i do hope you will have a lovely jubilee. _ comparison. i do hope you will have a lovely jubilee. to _ comparison. i do hope you will have a lovely jubilee. to those _ comparison. i do hope you will have| a lovely jubilee. to those memories, she added two _ a lovely jubilee. to those memories, she added two more, _ a lovely jubilee. to those memories, she added two more, stealing - a lovely jubilee. to those memories, she added two more, stealing the i she added two more, stealing the show with paddington. a wave from her majesty to acknowledge the wave of love that is surely coming across that balcony and sweeping its way through the palace. and sweeping its way through the alace. �* , , ., ., palace. and bringing events to a close on the _ palace. and bringing events to a close on the balcony _ palace. and bringing events to a close on the balcony of- palace. and bringing events to a . close on the balcony of buckingham palace, surrounded by herfamily, including her three heirs. are wonderfulfour including her three heirs. are wonderful four day including her three heirs. are wonderfulfour day party including her three heirs. are wonderful four day party was officially over. but what a platinum

jubilee it had been. sarah campbell reporting. joining me now is camilla tominey, associate editor at the daily telegraph, journalist and broadcaster. camilla, thank you for coming in. we saw there what those four days meant to many people in this country, the celebration of such a long and dutiful reign. this year of course now marks her passing, but both events were a cause for reflection on a remarkable woman, and a remarkable period in british history.

remarkable period in british histo . �* ., remarkable period in british histo . �* . . , history. and the platinum jubilee weekend was _ history. and the platinum jubilee weekend was such _ history. and the platinum jubilee weekend was such a _ history. and the platinum jubilee weekend was such a success, - history. and the platinum jubilee weekend was such a success, an| weekend was such a success, an opportunity for the public to celebrate the queen in life, and i think we know afterwards that she book ended that event because she knew that her presence needed to be seen. her mantra throughout life was, i need to be seen to be believed, and although she had those health problems that precluded her from taking part throughout the whole weekend, that was away for the nation, the commonwealth at the world to say thank you to her in life. ifeel gratefuland world to say thank you to her in life. i feel grateful and i'm world to say thank you to her in life. ifeel grateful and i'm sure people watching this will feel grateful that we had that moment to celebrate and that it was such a triumph. she clearly had delight and spoke to people in the palace afterwards to see those crowds visiting buckingham palace, and even after 70 years she never grew used to that site. and also thoroughly enjoyed the presence of her children, grandchildren and great—grandchildren being part of the event and also being embraced by the event and also being embraced by

the british public and beyond. i think she love the idea that it was very much a royal family affair that weekend. �* . ., , ., ., weekend. and the crowds out in front of buckingham _ weekend. and the crowds out in front of buckingham palace _ weekend. and the crowds out in front of buckingham palace for— weekend. and the crowds out in front of buckingham palace for that - weekend. and the crowds out in front. of buckingham palace for that moment had for those celebrations are there again tonight. despite the rain, despite the inclement weather. and i suppose our thoughts at some point quite soon now i'm going to turn to the future, and to king charles iii, and that sense that i would have thought the majority of this country would want, and indeed the commonwealth, that sense of continuity and service to continue. a5 continuity and service to continue. as the longest serving heir apparent in history, we can agree that king charles as he has now known, has learned from the master in his mother, but there is a destabilising effect to losing somebody who has been such a stalwart part of british

life, and the queen has represented for many years what it is to be british, and has always been a reassuring presence, notjust as head of state but frankly as mother and grandmother of the nation, and if you think about the effect she had on the nation at a time of great difficulty only recently during coronavirus, who else could have come out with the will meet again speech but a woman if her wisdom and experience, somebody who experienced the second world war first hand? so to lose that presence of somebody who is woven into the fabric of british life is going to be difficult, and it's going to be even more difficult because people are already facing pressures, and we are going through hard times right now. you said she represents what it means to be british. what you mean by that? i means to be british. what you mean b that? ., ., means to be british. what you mean b that? . ., , , ., means to be british. what you mean bthat? by that? i mean a sense of public service and _ by that? i mean a sense of public service and a _ by that? i mean a sense of public service and a life _ by that? i mean a sense of public service and a life devoted - by that? i mean a sense of public service and a life devoted to - service and a life devoted to others, a sense of trying to represent us with soft power across

the world as the world's most travelled diplomat, but a somebody who has always wanted to be with her people, at the centre of the world walkabout, extending a white gloved hand to those who want to meet her, and the most interesting thing about her reign is how many people got to see the queen in the flesh. many, many hundreds of thousands and millions of people got to do that, because she made herself that presence. so again to go full circle and think about the platinum jubilee, if young children out there got to catch a glimpse of the queen that weekend, then that is a wonderful thing, and i think we should reflect on now in times of sorrow that we had that lovely moment injune to really recognise her contribution. mr; moment in june to really recognise her contribution.— her contribution. my own mother, teacher in jamaica, _ her contribution. my own mother, teacher in jamaica, that _ her contribution. my own mother, teacher in jamaica, that first - teacher in jamaica, that first caribbean tour after she was crowned queen, let out a school party girls and boys, and saw the queen and the duke of edinburgh on a land rover i

think it was as it moved past, and my mother remembers that to this day. my mother remembers that to this da . �* , ., ~ my mother remembers that to this da. , ., day. and will still talk about it. and still talks _ day. and will still talk about it. and still talks about _ day. and will still talk about it. and still talks about it. - day. and will still talk about it. and still talks about it. and - day. and will still talk about it. | and still talks about it. and that is wh the and still talks about it. and that is why the queen _ and still talks about it. and that is why the queen always - and still talks about it. and that is why the queen always used i and still talks about it. and that| is why the queen always used to and still talks about it. and that - is why the queen always used to wear bright colours because she wanted people to point her out in a crowd, because they knew that although she is doing these jobs day today, for that one person seeing her for the only time in their lives, they would remember it and tell their children and grandchildren forever about that moment. i and grandchildren forever about that moment. ., , ., ~ and grandchildren forever about that moment. . , ., ~ ., moment. i was talking to her recently and _ moment. i was talking to her recently and she _ moment. i was talking to her recently and she said, - moment. i was talking to her recently and she said, she i moment. i was talking to her. recently and she said, she just looked so small and frail. but recently and she said, she 'ust looked so small and frail. but it is interesting. _ looked so small and frail. but it is interesting, when _ looked so small and frail. but it is interesting, when i _ looked so small and frail. but it is interesting, when i met _ looked so small and frail. but it is interesting, when i met her, - looked so small and frail. but it is interesting, when i met her, you | interesting, when i met her, you also get this impression of her from stamps and money that she is quite a serious, austere figure, and when i met herfrom buckingham palace, she was so smiley and sparkly. even that last image that was taken at balmoral after the prime ministerial handover of her standing in front of the fire, what an adorable image of her smiling and still doing her duty

to the very end. it is remarkable really if you think about her 96 years, working so far beyond her retirement years and carrying out a constitutional duty like that two days before she passes away. goad constitutional duty like that two days before she passes away. good to talk to you. — days before she passes away. good to talk to you, camilla _ days before she passes away. good to talk to you, camilla tominey. - talk to you, camilla tominey. the queen spent the majority of her later years at her official residence of windsor castle in berkshire, including throughout the height of the coronavirus pandemic. our correspondent fergal keane has been gathering reaction from the people there. the signal of an ending, and a place so close to her heart. and in whose heart she was beloved. we have just heard the news. what are you feeling? it heard the news. what are you feelin: ? ., , heard the news. what are you feelin: ? .,, , ~ feeling? it has 'ust hit me. i think it is auoin feeling? it has 'ust hit me. i think it is going to — feeling? it hasjust hit me. i think it is going to hit _ feeling? it hasjust hit me. i think it is going to hit everybody - feeling? it hasjust hit me. i think it is going to hit everybody in - feeling? it hasjust hit me. i think it is going to hit everybody in this | it is going to hit everybody in this town, but not only here, all over the world. she was a grandmother, among, she was part of my life, my

mums, my late father's life, everybody. $5 mums, my late father's life, everybody-— mums, my late father's life, eve bod . r , mums, my late father's life, eve bod . a , ., everybody. as the news filtered out across the town, _ everybody. as the news filtered out across the town, there _ everybody. as the news filtered out across the town, there was - everybody. as the news filtered out across the town, there was in - across the town, there was in gathering together to absorb, to reflect. it’s gathering together to absorb, to reflect. �* , , gathering together to absorb, to reflect. �*, , gathering together to absorb, to reflect. v , .. reflect. it's very sad. i think everyone — reflect. it's very sad. i think everyone has _ reflect. it's very sad. i think everyone hasjust _ reflect. it's very sad. i think everyone hasjust come - reflect. it's very sad. i think everyone hasjust come to l reflect. it's very sad. i think. everyone hasjust come to pay reflect. it's very sad. i think- everyone hasjust come to pay their respects— everyone hasjust come to pay their respects because she is such an amazing — respects because she is such an amazing woman. just a very sombre mood _ amazing woman. just a very sombre mood in— amazing woman. just a very sombre mood in windsor, really. what amazing woman. just a very sombre mood in windsor, really.— mood in windsor, really. what did she represent _ mood in windsor, really. what did she represent to _ mood in windsor, really. what did she represent to people _ mood in windsor, really. what did she represent to people of- mood in windsor, really. what did she represent to people of your i she represent to people of your generation? by, she represent to people of your generation?— she represent to people of your ieneration? �* ., ., ., generation? a guiding light, a moral code, how generation? a guiding light, a moral code. how to — generation? a guiding light, a moral code, how to conduct _ generation? a guiding light, a moral code, how to conduct yourself, - generation? a guiding light, a moral code, how to conduct yourself, how| code, how to conduct yourself, how to act, _ code, how to conduct yourself, how to act, what — code, how to conduct yourself, how to act, what is— code, how to conduct yourself, how to act, what is right _ code, how to conduct yourself, how to act, what is right and _ code, how to conduct yourself, how to act, what is right and wrong. - to act, what is right and wrong. here _ to act, what is right and wrong. here on — to act, what is right and wrong. here on the _ to act, what is right and wrong. here on the streets _ to act, what is right and wrong. here on the streets of - to act, what is right and wrong. here on the streets of royal- to act, what is right and wrong. i here on the streets of royal wins, the sense of a new park having passedis the sense of a new park having passed is palpable. there is a sense of morning, shared with the entire nation. but something else. these people have lost a neighbour, a queen who was part of their daily lives. amir was getting calls from relatives in pakistan who had heard

the news. iila relatives in pakistan who had heard the news. ., ., , ., relatives in pakistan who had heard thenews. ., ., , ., , ,, relatives in pakistan who had heard thenews. ., ., , ,, , the news. no words to express my emotions- — the news. no words to express my emotions- it _ the news. no words to express my emotions. it is _ the news. no words to express my emotions. it is really _ the news. no words to express my emotions. it is really sad. - the news. no words to express my emotions. it is really sad. what. the news. no words to express my| emotions. it is really sad. what did she mean to _ emotions. it is really sad. what did she mean to you? _ emotions. it is really sad. what did she mean to you? everybody - emotions. it is really sad. what did she mean to you? everybody feels| she mean to you? everybody feels ve sad, she mean to you? everybody feels very sad. very _ she mean to you? everybody feels very sad, very down. _ she mean to you? everybody feels very sad, very down. for - she mean to you? everybody feels very sad, very down. for us, - she mean to you? everybody feels very sad, very down. for us, she l she mean to you? everybody feels i very sad, very down. for us, she was a neighbour. iila very sad, very down. for us, she was a neighbour-— a neighbour. no matter how long anticipated. _ a neighbour. no matter how long anticipated, the _ a neighbour. no matter how long anticipated, the end _ a neighbour. no matter how long anticipated, the end has - anticipated, the end has crystallised loss. the passing of a monarch who symbolised to people the best of their nation, of themselves. fergal keane, bbc news, windsor. liz truss, the prime minister, was asked to become leader of the conservative party and prime minister earlier this week. and she has been leading tributes to the queen today. we has been leading tributes to the queen today-— has been leading tributes to the queen toda . ~ . . ., queen today. we are all devastated b the queen today. we are all devastated by the news — queen today. we are all devastated by the news that _ queen today. we are all devastated by the news that we _ queen today. we are all devastated by the news that we have _ queen today. we are all devastated by the news that we have just - queen today. we are all devastated i by the news that we have just heard from balmoral. the death of her

majesty the queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world. queen elizabeth ii was a rock on which modern britain was built. our country has grown and flourished under her reign. britain is a great country it is today because of her. she ascended the throne just after the second world war and she championed the development of the commonwealth, from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations, spanning every continent of the world. we are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation. through thick and thin, queen elizabeth ii provided us with the stability and strength that we needed. she was the very spirit of great britain. in that spirit will endure.- very spirit of great britain. in that spirit will endure. well, our -olitical that spirit will endure. well, our political editor _ that spirit will endure. well, our political editor chris _ that spirit will endure. well, our political editor chris mason - that spirit will endure. well, our political editor chris mason is i that spirit will endure. well, our political editor chris mason is at| political editor chris mason is at downing street for us now. chris,

the last 15 prime minister is this country has had have only known the queen is the person that they see pretty much every week for that audience with her. how do you think the situation may change, if at all, now that it is charles iii, king charles iii whom political leaders will be addressing? i charles iii whom political leaders will be addressing?— will be addressing? i think the strikini will be addressing? i think the striking thing _ will be addressing? i think the striking thing is _ will be addressing? i think the striking thing is that _ will be addressing? i think the striking thing is that for - will be addressing? i think the striking thing is that for the i striking thing is that for the current prime minister, he only had that one audience with the queen 48 hours ago, the first audience at her final audience, she will adjust, she adjusting to high office herself, as prime minister, so the audiences that will come in the weeks and months ahead with the king, and that will be an opportunity, as it has been for her predecessors, to have, in the sanctity and privacy of the

palace, a conversation between monarch and prime minister about affairs of state. but she won't be able to tap in to the longevity of experience are so many of her predecessors were able to in those conversations with the queen. david cameron, a former prime minister, reflecting in the last couple of hours that he was able to enjoy the wisdom of the world? most experienced diplomat, such was the longevity of her service and time on the global stage.— the global stage. chris, thank you. our political _ the global stage. chris, thank you. our political editor _ the global stage. chris, thank you. our political editor at _ the global stage. chris, thank you. our political editor at downing i our political editor at downing street. throughout her life, the queen was guided by her strong christian beliefs and was the former —— formal head of the church of england, a role where she desired to recognise the contribution of other faiths. annie maqbool is outside the home of the archbishop of canterbury. what have we been hearing from lambeth palace? yes.

hearing from lambeth palace? yes, justin welby. _ hearing from lambeth palace? yes, justin welby. the — hearing from lambeth palace? ye: justin welby, the archbishop of canterbury, has led the tributes, speaking of his profound sadness of the news but also we have been hearing from others, talking of the great privilege he had of meeting the queen on many occasions and talking as others have a better clarity of thinking, her capacity to listen carefully and also her humility, her humour, her kindness and culture of blessing to all of us. pope francis has also sent a telegraph to the king, offering what he called his heartfelt condolences to the king and the royal family, but also to all of us in the uk and in the commonwealth, and paid tribute to the queen's, in his words, unstinting service. we have heard from others. cardinal vincent nichols, head of the catholic church in england and wales, said the queen would remain a shining light in our

history, and also talked about the way in which she had inspired him personally through her wisdom, through her stability, but of course, as you rightly introduction, particularly in the later part of her reign, the queen talked a lot about how she felt anglicanism had a duty to protect the practice of other faiths, and thatis the practice of other faiths, and that is certainly reflected by the chief rabbi, who said that the queen embodied everything that was noble in british society. the head of the muslim council of britian said people of all faiths and none are joining together in paying tribute to the queen and in the last hour or so, the church of england has encouraged churches across the country, tomorrow at midday, to ring their bells for one hour and open their bells for one hour and open the doors for special powers in remembrance of the queen. that will be iuite a remembrance of the queen. that will be quite a moment. _ remembrance of the queen. that will be quite a moment. thank _ remembrance of the queen. that will

be quite a moment. thank you. i remembrance of the queen. that will be quite a moment. thank you. for. be quite a moment. thank you. for much of her in, the queen carried out dozens, often hundreds, of official visits each year around the uk. three decades ago she went to leeds and as danny savage reports, everyone who met her remembered the experience for the rest of their lives. the year is 1990, the city is leeds. the location is not a stately home or big business, it is the inner—city neighbourhood of chapeltown. home to a large caribbean community.- chapeltown. home to a large caribbean community. after lunch of moose and poached _ caribbean community. after lunch of moose and poached salmon - caribbean community. after lunch of| moose and poached salmon prepared caribbean community. after lunch of. moose and poached salmon prepared in the caribbean style... more moose and poached salmon prepared in the caribbean style. . ._ the caribbean style... more 30 years on, those the caribbean style... more 30 years on. those who _ the caribbean style... more 30 years on, those who would _ the caribbean style... more 30 years on, those who would dare _ the caribbean style... more 30 yearsi on, those who would dare remember the caribbean style... more 30 years i on, those who would dare remember it well. ,, ., on, those who would dare remember it well. ,, . ., , well. she asked them what they did here and so — well. she asked them what they did here and so on _ well. she asked them what they did here and so on and _ well. she asked them what they did here and so on and which _ well. she asked them what they did here and so on and which islands i here and so on and which islands they were from. they told her, they also said how happy they were when she attended the west indies. that is francine's _ she attended the west indies. that is francine's sister _ she attended the west indies. that

is francine's sister and heather's mother, who organised the visit but died a few months afterwards. she was was the one who invited the queen to chapeltown. she was was the one who invited the queen to chapeltown.— queen to chapeltown. she was terminally _ queen to chapeltown. she was terminally ill— queen to chapeltown. she was terminally ill at _ queen to chapeltown. she was terminally ill at the _ queen to chapeltown. she was terminally ill at the time - queen to chapeltown. she was terminally ill at the time but i queen to chapeltown. she was i terminally ill at the time but she set her mind to it, that was one of her goals that she wanted to achieve and in a short time frame. and it was achievable, she got a letter back and we still have copies of the letters and it was great to have the whole community involved in that. all the people from the west indies held the _ all the people from the west indies held the queen in high regard. she was their— held the queen in high regard. she was their queen. and to actually be able to— was their queen. and to actually be able to see — was their queen. and to actually be able to see her and meet her meant a lotto _ able to see her and meet her meant a lot to them _ able to see her and meet her meant a lot to them. she was their queen, and to— lot to them. she was their queen, and to actually see her in the flesh, — and to actually see her in the flesh, i— and to actually see her in the flesh, i think that was the most important — flesh, i think that was the most important thing, and to come to chapeltown. a important thing, and to come to chapeltown— important thing, and to come to chapeltown. a new home for the northern dance _ chapeltown. a new home for the northern dance company. - chapeltown. a new home for the | northern dance company. sharon watson choreographed the dance lesson that day. now, she is a chief executive of the northern school of

contemporary dance.— contemporary dance. based in chapeltown- — contemporary dance. based in chapeltown. i— contemporary dance. based in chapeltown. i think _ contemporary dance. based in chapeltown. i think the - contemporary dance. based in i chapeltown. i think the community should an interest. there was a real curiosity around the visit. and historically, adjustment that somebody actually has taken the time to notice us, and that is important. there is a lot of challenges nationally and internationally and for us to feel that she was in chapeltown, is a focus for the queen, was amazing. and those from the caribbean understood who she was and why there was a connection to the queen and the commonwealth and there is loyalty there, a real sense that she is a leader, she is the one that she is a leader, she is the one thatis that she is a leader, she is the one that is guarding the country, guarding the countries, so that respect has always been there. even with my parents, there is a real sense that the queen has paved the way for many, so you show her that respect. it way for many, so you show her that res-ect. ., , way for many, so you show her that res-ect. . , ., , respect. it might have been for 'ust a da , but respect. it might have been for 'ust a gay, but the fi respect. it might have been for 'ust a day, but the memories i respect. it might have been for 'ust a day, but the memories and i respect. it might have been forjust a day, but the memories and the i a day, but the memories and the effect of the queen has been visit to this corner of leeds has lasted a generation. joining me again as

royal correspondent, nicholas witchell. just sum up, if you can, and i know you have been talking a lot throughout the day on all of this, butjust sum up your reflections on what is a seismic moment in british history. it is absolutely _ moment in british history. it is absolutely massive. _ moment in british history. it is absolutely massive. i - moment in british history. it 3 absolutely massive. i think which edition or prime minister, whichever it was, they said it is hard to imagine britain with actor and i think that is nothing less than the truth. a5 liz truss said, she was the rock upon which modern britain was built. it is hard, really, to take it in, that her reign has ended, and i think people are going to need time to processes. it is going to be quite unsettling and disorientating for a number of people. i think we have already seen that people feel the need to meet, take comfort from each other. i suspect that in terms of the scale of what we are about to witness,

this is going to be, i suspect, comparable to the reaction to the death of diana. quite different in character because it was such an unexpected shock, and are all sorts of emotions work there. this is purely thanks and tribute and pure mourning, but i think so many people will feel the need to express their tributes in their own way, and probably with the laying of flowers and assigning of books. it is hard to distill the 70 years and what she has met, but she has really been this source of reassurance, she has been constant and steadfast. this reassuring figure in such changing times. a distillation of our national identity, a symbol of unity, she has been shrewd in the way that she has handled her prime ministers. a keen interest in

politics. whilst remaining steadfastly and completely above it. but a shrewd woman who enjoyed being queen. that, ithink, is something thatis queen. that, ithink, is something that is not generally appreciated. she enjoyed the role. lute that is not generally appreciated. she enjoyed the role.— that is not generally appreciated. she enjoyed the role. we have had a seamless transition _ she enjoyed the role. we have had a seamless transition of _ she enjoyed the role. we have had a seamless transition of prince - seamless transition of prince charles to charles iii. that continuity is there. what should we be expecting over the next two or three days?— be expecting over the next two or three da s? , ., three days? there will be a meeting ofthe three days? there will be a meeting of the accession _ three days? there will be a meeting of the accession council, _ three days? there will be a meeting of the accession council, a - three days? there will be a meeting of the accession council, a number. of the accession council, a number of the accession council, a number of members of the privy council, it used to be every privy councillor, used to be every privy councillor, used to be the time and every privy because it was called to the meeting and on this occasion it will be limited to a certain number because there is not room for all of them. that will then be the reading of proclamations and i would imagine the king will address the council and there will be any number of arrangements, culminating in a state funeral, the first state funeral we

will have seen since the state funeral of winston churchill in 1965. that, probably... these arrangements will unfold in the coming days, but we're probably about ten or so days from now. and in the intervening days, there will be so many trivets, so many people willjust be so many trivets, so many people will just feel that they want to mark the passing of somebody who i think we willjudge and history will havejudged to have been one think we willjudge and history will have judged to have been one of the most remarkable monarchs in the 1200 year history of the british monarchy. year history of the british monarchy-— year history of the british monarchy. year history of the british monarch . . , , ., _ monarchy. and briefly, her legacy, iloball ? monarchy. and briefly, her legacy, globally? not— monarchy. and briefly, her legacy, globally? notjust _ monarchy. and briefly, her legacy, globally? notjust here? _ monarchy. and briefly, her legacy, globally? notjust here? her- monarchy. and briefly, her legacy, | globally? notjust here? her legacy globally? not 'ust here? her legacy has been to— globally? notjust here? her legacy has been to keep _ globally? notjust here? her legacy has been to keep britain's - has been to keep britain's reputation strong internationally. if you think of the times when britain's reputation has been low, think of the 19505 when britain was the sick man of europe in the 19705, one of the outstanding things about

britain that was always respected was reputation of the queen. that was reputation of the queen. that was a reputation which earned respect throughout the 70 years of her reign. she has, i think, kept the monarchy strong at home, there have been ups and downs, bumps, of course there have, over the 70 years. bumps generally caused by other members of her family. as we have seen recently. but throughout it all, she has embodied the best of qualities. can —— duty, decency and tolerance, and she has brought out the best in politicians. she has over saturn aura, a force field almost around her, and that has encouraged politicians and others to behave in the best way that they could. and that is the best part of her legacy. could. and that is the best part of her legacy-— her legacy. many thanks for that. nicholas witchell, _ her legacy. many thanks for that. nicholas witchell, our _ her legacy. many thanks for that. nicholas witchell, our royal- nicholas witchell, our royal correspondent. in a moment, there will be continuing coverage with mcauley, huw edwards. i will leave

you with some images through the reign of queen elizabeth ii, who has died today at balmoral at the age of 96. i died today at balmoral at the age of 96. . ., , ., died today at balmoral at the age of 96. .., ,., ., died today at balmoral at the age of 96. ,., .,, , 96. i declare before you all but my whole life. — 96. i declare before you all but my whole life, whether _ 96. i declare before you all but my whole life, whether it _ 96. i declare before you all but my whole life, whether it be _ 96. i declare before you all but my whole life, whether it be long i 96. i declare before you all but my whole life, whether it be long or. whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service. god help me to make good my boy, and god bless all of you for willing to share in it. # god save our gracious queen # long live our noble queen # god save the queen # send her victorious # happy and glorious # long to reign over us

# god save the queen. # # thy choicest gifts in store # on her be pleased to pour # long may she reign # may she defend our laws # and ever give us cause # to sing with heart and voice # god save the queen. #

the longest—reigning monarch in british history, her majesty queen elizabeth ii, has died at the age of 96. i declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperialfamily,

to which we all belong. god help me to make good my vow. over the long course of nine momentous decades, she witnessed social and economic change on a global scale. music: zadok the priest by handel. a5 princess elizabeth of york, she'd come to the throne at the age of 25, following the sudden death of herfather, king george vi. during her lifelong reign, the queen dealt with no fewer than 15 prime ministers, including sir winston churchill, margaret thatcher, tony blair, and borisjohnson. a5 head of the commonwealth, she became the most—travelled monarch in history, as head of state of 15 countries. the queen's death comes just over a year after the loss of her husband, the duke

of edinburgh, her consort for over 70 years. over the decades, the queen was greeted by millions of people worldwide, and met her subjects on thousands of engagements in the uk and overseas. the queen was last seen by the public in this image taken at balmoral on tuesday, inviting liz truss to become prime minister. as the crown passes to king charles iii, the queen's death will be deeply felt by her family, by the people of the united kingdom, and by millions in the commonwealth and beyond. earlier this evening, buckingham palace announced the death of her majesty queen elizabeth ii, the longest—reigning monarch in the history of the united kingdom, and the commanding presence in british public life over a span of eight decades. she died at balmoral in aberdeenshire at the age of 96.

the queen's eldest son, charles, at the age of 73, has become king charles iii. it was at 6.30 this evening that buckingham palace released this formal statement. our royal correspondent nicholas with chili is with me and will be with chili is with me and will be with me throughout this extended edition of bbc news at ten —— nicholas witchell is with me. let's reflect first on the fact that this news, which came several hours ago, is already, and we feel it, causing ripples of dismay and shock and grief, notjust in the uk but around the world.

grief, not 'ust in the uk but around the world. ~ ., grief, not 'ust in the uk but around the world. . . ., ., the world. wave upon wave of grief, i think it was — the world. wave upon wave of grief, i think it was boris _ the world. wave upon wave of grief, i think it was boris johnson - the world. wave upon wave of grief, i think it was boris johnson who i i think it was borisjohnson who coined that phrase. it is a moment of profound importance and profound sadness, a moment so many people had hoped somehow would never happen, but of course, now, it has. yet it is hard still to take in the sad reality that this reign has ended. i think it is going to take time for the nation to process this. there will be, and there is, a tremendous sense of loss. many, i think, will be, and there is, a tremendous sense of loss. many, ithink, will find this quite unsettling and disorientating, and we are seeing people are needing to come together there outside buckingham palace on this bleak, rainy night in the early autumn. i think people feel the need to be together at this particular moment, seeking comfort from each other, because amid all the other uncertainties that we face as a

nation now, our head of state has died stop this person who has been in the background to our lives, as we've been saying this afternoon, for most of us throughout all of our lives. there are not many people who have known anything other than a nation with the queen as its head of state. she was indeed, as prime minister liz truss said, the rock on which modern britain was built. a source of reassurance and stability for so many decades. we saw that during the covid pandemic, we've seen it so many times. there was something timeless about her. it was borisjohnson who also said that. that, really, is monarchy. there is something timeless about monarchy, an institution that is above politics, that captures the imagination and the affection in a way that no politician can possibly do, representing something beyond

itself, and that's what she did for these seven decades, representing these seven decades, representing the best of qualities, of decency and humility and duty, constant in the ever—changing world that we live in. pretty much every aspect of our lives has changed since 1952, when she came to the throne, except her, until now. i think history will say that this was one of the most remarkable reigns, a reign that will be talked about, a queen that will be talked about, a queen that will be talked about in the centuries that come, but now the crown has passed. we have a king. igiigte’iiii passed. we have a king. we'll discuss lots _ passed. we have a king. we'll discuss lots of _ passed. we have a king. we'll discuss lots of those - passed. we have a king. we'll discuss lots of those aspects, | passed. we have a king. we'll discuss lots of those aspects, nick, in the next 90 minutes or so, the impact of the reign and of course the nature of transition as well and what that means, notjust the nature of transition as well and what that means, not just to the nature of transition as well and what that means, notjust to the royal family but to the entire

country, but for now, nicholas witchell, thank you. the death happened in balmoral, where the queen wanted to spend the summer as she always did despite the health problems and mobility problems but thatis problems and mobility problems but that is where she passed away earlier today. our scotland editor james cook is at bell moral tonight —— at balmoral tonight and am imagining the solemn sense they will echo what happens here in buckingham palace, as we sawjust a while ago. yes, that's right, huw. the sunset on the balmoral estate on royal deeside just over on the balmoral estate on royal deesidejust over a on the balmoral estate on royal deeside just over a couple of hours ago, shrouded in thick cloud, also setting on an era, on the elizabethan era, but before we even examine that period, here tonight there is a family in mourning, the king leading those mourners, his

family who have all gathered here, all the senior members of the royal family, gathered here this evening to pay their respects to a woman who was a grandmother and a mother as well as, of course, the monarch. it is, one might say, perhaps appropriate that the queen died here in the place that some say she loved more than anywhere else, the royal deeside balmoral estate, where things continue. the rain has teamed down all day, the river dee continues to rush under isambard kingdom brunel's bridgejust a short distance from here and there is continuity too in the shift from the queen to the king, to king charles. james, many thanks for now, james cook, our scotland editor at balmoral, where of course we saw some of the other members of the royal family gathering earlier today shortly after the queen was my death was announced, the new king, king

charles iii, released this statement. the words of the new king, king charles iii, a short while ago. tonight, in this extended edition of bbc news at ten, we will be paying tribute to her majesty, to all she achieved in a momentous reign, and we'll be considering the impact of her death on british public life. the queen had symbolised all

that was constant and reassuring, and for the vast majority of people in britain and the commonwealth, a treasured and highly—visible link with britain's past has now gone. our royal correspondent daniela relph reports on the events of the day. tuesday the 6th of september, the last photographs of the queen. 96 years old and still at work. meeting the new prime minister at balmoral, a duty she had been keen to fulfil, and one we now know was her final duty, after seven decades of public service. around 4pm this afternoon a number of the queen's family arrived at aberdeen airport. her grandson, the duke of cambridge, was first to emerge, followed by her daughter—in—law, sophie, the countess of wessex, and then had two

youngest sons, edward, the earl of wessex, and andrew, the duke of york. the duke of cambridge drove the family group to balmoral to join his father and other members of the family already there with the queen. harry, the duke of sussex, arrived separately later in the evening. here in the uk for a number of charity events, his wife, meghan, did not accompany him to scotland. at 6:30pm buckingham palace officially announced the death of queen elizabeth ii, following tradition the statement was attached to the palace gates by two footmen as tributes began.— as tributes began. queen elizabeth ii was the rock _ as tributes began. queen elizabeth ii was the rock on _ as tributes began. queen elizabeth ii was the rock on which _ as tributes began. queen elizabeth ii was the rock on which modern i ii was the rock on which modern britain was built. our country has grown and flourished under her reign. she was the very spirit of great britain and that spirit will endure. she has been our longest ever reigning monarch. it's an

extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years and with the passing of the second elizabethan age we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country. exactly as her majesty would have wished, by saying the words, god save the king. pond wished, by saying the words, god save the king-— save the king. and also from the leader of the _ save the king. and also from the leader of the opposition. - save the king. and also from the leader of the opposition. for i save the king. and also from the leader of the opposition. for the vast majority _ leader of the opposition. for the vast majority of _ leader of the opposition. for the vast majority of us _ leader of the opposition. for the vast majority of us the _ leader of the opposition. for the vast majority of us the late i leader of the opposition. for the | vast majority of us the late queen has been — vast majority of us the late queen has been simply the queen, the only queen, _ has been simply the queen, the only queen, above all else, our queen. as we niourn_ queen, above all else, our queen. as we mourn her— queen, above all else, our queen. as we mourn her loss we should also treasure _ we mourn her loss we should also treasure her life, our longest serving — treasure her life, our longest serving and greatest ever monarch, above _ serving and greatest ever monarch, above the _ serving and greatest ever monarch, above the clashes of politics she stood _ above the clashes of politics she stood not — above the clashes of politics she stood not for what the nation for over _ stood not for what the nation for over but — stood not for what the nation for over but what it agreed upon. throughout the day there had been growing unease about the queen's

health. in the commons, as keir starmer stood up to speak, opposite him the prime minister was being told of the queen's condition. information passed to angela rayner, labour's deputy leader, who left her seat for a while to discuss the development, before the speaker of the house addressed the chamber. i know i speak in behalf of the entire house when i say we send our best wishes to her majesty the queen and that she and the royal family are in our thoughts and prayers at this moment. , , our thoughts and prayers at this moment. ,, ., ., ., .. , our thoughts and prayers at this moment. _ ., , ., ., moment. cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's — moment. cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's last _ moment. cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's last royal _ moment. cheered by onlookers, one of the queen's last royal engagements i the queen's last royal engagements was injuly, with her daughter, princess anne, opening a new state—of—the—art hospice in berkshire, but these kind of visits had become rare over the past year as the queen relied on her walking stick, home mobility compromised. the royal household tried to adapt to keep her active and visible. a golf buggy at the chelsea flower show helped keep the queen comfortable. cheering.

but she had become noticeably thinner and frailer, something that severely limited her involvement in her own platinum jubilee celebrations, with herfamily celebrations, with her family increasingly celebrations, with herfamily increasingly representing her. cheering. at the weekend her son studied at the braemar highland games, always a favourite event for the queen, that she reluctantly missed. like so much of her life the decline in her health was played out in public. duty may have got harder to manage physically, but mentally, even emotionally, the queen remained engaged and working to the very end. some of the lovely images there, including the image of the queen inviting liz truss to form a government, and that was of course just a couple of days ago, the queen looking frail but smiling and clearly very focused on the important constitutional duty of

talking to the new prime minister. we saw crowds starting to gather outside buckingham palace as soon as the news emerged that there were concerns about the queen's health and then of course there was the formal demonstration of the news from buckingham palace, when they posted that notice on the railings there, the crowds are still there tonight and our home editor mark easton is at the palace and obviously, mark, you've seen the crowds milling around their throughout the evening. the question for you i really wanted to put was this, given your perspective on british public life and the queen's rolling that, what has changed today in the way that the people of the united kingdom possibly see themselves and the way that they have a reference point in the monarchy which has changed today? i think that is a very good question.

the queen had become something of a keystone in the nation's architecture, an immovable piece that defined the nation's image to itself. now that peace bear is no longer there. and i think this is a huge moment for britain. i think many of the people coming here tonight, despite torrential rain, on and off, thousands here at buckingham palace, are doing so because they need to come together. they need to deal with the reality of the queen no longer being there. the queen herself spoke of part of herjob being to ease the process of change, that a symbol of continuity. but, of course, this is going to be a massive change, and she won't be there. that, ithink, is what a massive change, and she won't be there. that, i think, is what makes this such a difficult moment for britain. people will want to search

for things that show the stability and strength of the uk right now, and strength of the uk right now, and perhaps that one figurehead is not there. so, the people that come here this evening, despite this bad weather, are doing so because, yes, they want to mourn their queen, to share in their loss, but i think, also, they want to mark an extraordinary life, a queen he was the elizabeth the great.— the elizabeth the great. indeed, many thanks — the elizabeth the great. indeed, many thanks for _ the elizabeth the great. indeed, many thanks for the _ the elizabeth the great. indeed, many thanks for the thoughts i the elizabeth the great. indeed, many thanks for the thoughts at buckingham palace. buckingham palace very much regarded as the office by the queen, the office of the firm of the queen, the office of the firm of the royal family. somewhere like balmoral was seen as a favourite summer escape. sandra —— sandringham, as well come in the north of england. at windsor was really the base. that is where the

queen spent so much time. it was home, in so many ways. she spent a lot of time in recent years because of the covid pandemic, the lockdown, and spent quite a bit of time at windsor with her late husband, prince philip. winds and the royal family were very tightly interlinked. —— windsor. our special correspondent fergal keane has been gathering reaction from people there. the signal of an ending. in the place so close to her heart... sobbing ..and in whose heart she was beloved. we've just heard the news. what are you feeling? well, it's just hit me. i think it's going to hit everybody in this town. not only here, all over the world. you know, she was a grandmother, she was a mum. she was part of my life, she was part of my mum's life, my late father's life. everybody. as the news filtered out across the town, there was comfort in gathering

together, to absorb, to reflect. it's very sad. i think everyone's just come to pay their respects, because she's such an woman. just very sombre mood in windsor, really. and what did she represent to people of your generation? a guiding light, a moral code, how to conduct yourself, how to act. you know, what's right and what's wrong. she was such a special lady, so cute and so warm. even my daughter, she said, i want her to live to 100, she's been saying that for the last few years. part of our life, really. especially living local as well. the sense of royal — especially living local as well. the sense of royal continuity is not broken by death. the queen's example of resilience in the face of adversity will be missed. she's had terrible moments _ adversity will be missed. she's had terrible moments through - adversity will be missed. she's had terrible moments through her- adversity will be missed. she's had| terrible moments through her reign of things that have happened that

she had to deal with. and she has just done a really... i think she's just done a really... i think she's just done a good job and she said it would be for her life, for the length of her life, and that is what it has been. here on the streets of royal windsor, the sense of an epoch having passed is palpable. there is the sense of mourning, shared with the entire nation. but something else. for these people have lost a neighbour. a queen who was part of their daily lives. amir bukhari was getting calls from relatives in pakistan who had heard the news. he runs a cafe beside windsor castle. no words, actually, to express my emotions. it's really sad. what did she mean to you? she was really important. it's not only me, around the world, everybody feels very sad, very down, very depressed. yes. and for us, she was a neighbour. and we feel more.

no matter how long anticipated, the end has crystallised loss. the passing of a monarch who symbolised to people the best of their nation, of themselves. long after sunset, they were still arriving. their queen gone, they're mourning just begun. fergal keane, bbc news, windsor. some lovely contributions from people in and around windsor. fergal chatting with lots of them, including people who touchingly called themselves neighbours, people with shops and businesses around windsor castle. that was during the day and the early part of this evening. our correspondent adina campbell is there tonight.

how would you describe the atmosphere in matt warman? there is atmosphere in matt warman? there is a dee- atmosphere in matt warman? there is a deep sense — atmosphere in matt warman? there is a deep sense of— atmosphere in matt warman? there is a deep sense of loss, _ atmosphere in matt warman? there is a deep sense of loss, people - atmosphere in matt warman? there is a deep sense of loss, people have i a deep sense of loss, people have been gathering to pay their respects and lay flowers, they have also been lighting candles and sharing stories, reflecting on some of those fondest memories of the queen. people have travelled far and wide, but, of course, it is close to local residents and we can speak to one family that got here at about 9.30 this evening. you are from slough, 15 minutes down the road. you were a big fan of the queen? i 15 minutes down the road. you were a big fan of the queen?— big fan of the queen? i was, and i was very sad _ big fan of the queen? i was, and i was very sad to — big fan of the queen? i was, and i was very sad to hear _ big fan of the queen? i was, and i was very sad to hear the - big fan of the queen? i was, and i was very sad to hear the news i big fan of the queen? i was, and i | was very sad to hear the news that she had _ was very sad to hear the news that she had passed away. you was very sad to hear the news that she had passed away.— was very sad to hear the news that she had passed away. you are here in ma durini she had passed away. you are here in may during the _ she had passed away. you are here in may during the platinum _ she had passed away. you are here in may during the platinum jubilee i may during the platinum jubilee celebrations?— may during the platinum jubilee celebrations? , ., , celebrations? yes, i was here during

the platinum — celebrations? yes, i was here during the platinum jubilee. _ celebrations? yes, i was here during the platinum jubilee. it _ celebrations? yes, i was here during the platinum jubilee. it was - celebrations? yes, i was here during the platinum jubilee. it was really i the platinum jubilee. it was really fun, but— the platinum jubilee. it was really fun, but it — the platinum jubilee. it was really fun, but it was also amazing to see and watch, — fun, but it was also amazing to see and watch, all of the people crowding. and watch, all of the people crowding-— and watch, all of the people crowdini. ., ,, crowding. you both met the queen in the east crowding. you both met the queen in the past and — crowding. you both met the queen in the past and were _ crowding. you both met the queen in the past and were in _ crowding. you both met the queen in the past and were in close _ the past and were in close proximity. what was that like? some ears a . o, proximity. what was that like? some years ago. in — proximity. what was that like? some years ago. in my _ proximity. what was that like? some years ago, in my case, _ proximity. what was that like? some years ago, in my case, i _ proximity. what was that like? some years ago, in my case, i am - proximity. what was that like? some years ago, in my case, i am proud i proximity. what was that like? some years ago, in my case, i am proud to be here _ years ago, in my case, i am proud to be here this — years ago, in my case, i am proud to be here this evening, _ years ago, in my case, i am proud to be here this evening, although - years ago, in my case, i am proud to be here this evening, although i'd i be here this evening, although i'd rather— be here this evening, although i'd rather not — be here this evening, although i'd rather not be _ be here this evening, although i'd rather not be. an— be here this evening, although i'd rather not be. an amazing - be here this evening, although i'd rather not be. an amazing lady, i be here this evening, although i'dl rather not be. an amazing lady, 70 years. _ rather not be. an amazing lady, 70 years. and — rather not be. an amazing lady, 70 years. and we— rather not be. an amazing lady, 70 years, and we have _ rather not be. an amazing lady, 70 years, and we have just— rather not be. an amazing lady, 70 years, and we have just celebratedi years, and we have just celebrated the jubilee — years, and we have just celebrated the jubilee an _ years, and we have just celebrated the jubilee. an incredible - years, and we have just celebrated the jubilee. an incredible week- years, and we have just celebrated the jubilee. an incredible week for| the jubilee. an incredible week for this nation— the jubilee. an incredible week for this nation that _ the jubilee. an incredible week for this nation that will _ the jubilee. an incredible week for this nation that will go _ the jubilee. an incredible week for this nation that will go down - the jubilee. an incredible week for this nation that will go down in i this nation that will go down in history — this nation that will go down in history. change _ this nation that will go down in history. change of— this nation that will go down in history. change of prime - this nation that will go down in i history. change of prime minister, and now— history. change of prime minister, and now of— history. change of prime minister, and now of sovereign. _ history. change of prime minister, and now of sovereign. a _ history. change of prime minister, and now of sovereign. a very - history. change of prime minister, i and now of sovereign. a very proud indeed _ and now of sovereign. a very proud indeed to— and now of sovereign. a very proud indeed to have _ and now of sovereign. a very proud indeed to have had _ and now of sovereign. a very proud indeed to have had the _ and now of sovereign. a very proud indeed to have had the honour- and now of sovereign. a very proud indeed to have had the honour of. indeed to have had the honour of serving~ — indeed to have had the honour of servini. ~ , , ., serving. why did you feel the need to be here in _ serving. why did you feel the need to be here in the _ serving. why did you feel the need to be here in the windsor? - serving. why did you feel the need to be here in the windsor? she i serving. why did you feel the need to be here in the windsor? she is. to be here in the windsor? she is like the nation's _ to be here in the windsor? she is like the nation's grandmother. i like the nation's grandmother. everybody will be feeling like they lost a member of their family,

really. she's done incredible work for this country. and we will forever be grateful to her. there is nobody like her in the world. perm nobody like her in the world. what does it mean. _ nobody like her in the world. what does it mean, being _ nobody like her in the world. what does it mean, being outside her main home? we does it mean, being outside her main home? ~ ., , ., home? we were only here a few days aio, home? we were only here a few days ago. having — home? we were only here a few days ago. having a — home? we were only here a few days ago. having a nice — home? we were only here a few days ago, having a nice coffee _ home? we were only here a few days ago, having a nice coffee on - home? we were only here a few days ago, having a nice coffee on a - ago, having a nice coffee on a summer's day. i said to my husband, earlier, last time we were here, the queen was with us and alive, and today we are here, mourning her loss, really. so, yes, a really sad day. loss, really. so, yes, a really sad da . ~' loss, really. so, yes, a really sad da. , day. do you think you will be coming back here over— day. do you think you will be coming back here over the _ day. do you think you will be coming back here over the coming _ day. do you think you will be coming back here over the coming days? i day. do you think you will be coming i back here over the coming days? we en'o back here over the coming days? we enjoy windsor anyway as a town, but this castle. _ enjoy windsor anyway as a town, but this castle. her— enjoy windsor anyway as a town, but this castle, her majesty— enjoy windsor anyway as a town, but this castle, her majesty and - enjoy windsor anyway as a town, but this castle, her majesty and the i this castle, her majesty and the family— this castle, her majesty and the family are — this castle, her majesty and the family are very— this castle, her majesty and the family are very much _ this castle, her majesty and the family are very much part - this castle, her majesty and the family are very much part of- this castle, her majesty and the family are very much part of it. i family are very much part of it. there _ family are very much part of it. there is— family are very much part of it. there is a — family are very much part of it. there is a connection _ family are very much part of it. there is a connection with i family are very much part of it. there is a connection with the. there is a connection with the people — there is a connection with the pe0ple. very— there is a connection with the people. very often, _ there is a connection with the people. very often, in- there is a connection with the people. very often, in recentl there is a connection with the - people. very often, in recent times particularly, — people. very often, in recent times particularly, we _ people. very often, in recent times particularly, we have _ people. very often, in recent times particularly, we have seen- people. very often, in recent times particularly, we have seen the - people. very often, in recent timesl particularly, we have seen the royal standard _ particularly, we have seen the royal standard on — particularly, we have seen the royal standard on a — particularly, we have seen the royal standard on a frequent _ particularly, we have seen the royal standard on a frequent basis, - standard on a frequent basis, because — standard on a frequent basis, because windsor— standard on a frequent basis, because windsor was- standard on a frequent basis, because windsor was so - standard on a frequent basis, | because windsor was so much standard on a frequent basis, i because windsor was so much of standard on a frequent basis, - because windsor was so much of a home _ because windsor was so much of a home obviously— because windsor was so much of a home. obviously she _ because windsor was so much of a home. obviously she was - because windsor was so much of a home. obviously she was in- because windsor was so much of a i home. obviously she was in balmoral at the _ home. obviously she was in balmoral at the time _ home. obviously she was in balmoral at the time of— home. obviously she was in balmoral at the time of her— home. obviously she was in balmoral at the time of her passing, _ home. obviously she was in balmoral at the time of her passing, but - home. obviously she was in balmoral at the time of her passing, but i - at the time of her passing, but i think—

at the time of her passing, but i think we — at the time of her passing, but i think we have _ at the time of her passing, but i think we have a _ at the time of her passing, but i think we have a natural- at the time of her passing, but i think we have a natural affinityi think we have a natural affinity with— think we have a natural affinity with windsor, _ think we have a natural affinity with windsor, and _ think we have a natural affinity with windsor, and that - think we have a natural affinity with windsor, and that will - with windsor, and that will continue _ with windsor, and that will continue-— with windsor, and that will continue. , ~' , ., , . with windsor, and that will continue. , ~' , . ~ continue. thank you very much. well, when we heard _ continue. thank you very much. well, when we heard the _ continue. thank you very much. well, when we heard the news _ continue. thank you very much. well, when we heard the news a _ continue. thank you very much. well, when we heard the news a short - continue. thank you very much. well, when we heard the news a short time | when we heard the news a short time ago, windsor was still and silent, there was a poignant moment, a rainbow appeared, that brought a smile to some sad faces. many thanks, thanks to your guests as well. one of the first tributes paid as soon as the news was announced was in downing street, where the new prime minister, liz truss, presented her tribute to the queen with some thoughts on the queen's remarkable contribution over so many years on the throne. of course, reflecting on the fact that she had been installed as prime ministerjust a couple of days ago, thanks to that audience that she had been granted with the queen in balmoral. as the guest was saying in

windsor, it is turning out to be a momentous week, in which the prime minister has changed and now we are in a position where king charles iii is on the throne, it is no longer queen elizabeth ii. our political editor, chris mason, is in downing street. lots of tributes, including from borisjohnson and keir starmer. the first was the new prime minister, liz truss. what a burden, in some senses, for a new prime minister to be in a position where an event of this magnitude has happened within days of taking office? ads, this magnitude has happened within days of taking office?— days of taking office? a huge burden, days of taking office? a huge burden. just _ days of taking office? a huge burden, just 48 _ days of taking office? a huge burden, just 48 hours - days of taking office? a huge burden, just 48 hours into i days of taking office? a huge - burden, just 48 hours into office, just 48 hours from her own trip to balmoralfor herfirst, and it turns

out only audience with the queen as prime minister, within 48 hours, returning to high office as the head of government. trying to find those words to sum up on behalf of the uk the loss of the queen. we have learned in the hours since that statement that liz truss had been informed by the cabinet secretary at about 4.30 this afternoon of the queen's passing, and then shortly after she gave her statement here in downing street, at around seven o'clock this evening, she did have a telephone conversation with the king. this evening, the prime minister has been chairing meetings involving senior secretaries of state and staff from the royal household, to discuss events in the forthcoming days. and both tomorrow and on saturday there will be tributes to the queen, paid by mps in the house of commons. and, of

course, for the next period of time, the next ten days or so, politics will fall silent. the noise and turbulence often associated with this postcode will fall silent. i think there is a bigger question worth reflecting on as well tonight, how the passing of the queen shapes our national conversation from here on, because of her longevity, because of that constant in a world of change. and because of that dignity and privacy, and discretion around her own personal views, in contrast with the raging noise of politics at westminster, where does it leave us as a country in terms of how we see ourselves and how the world sees us? because for so many, the queen personified the uk, and now she is gone. and that could have significant consequences, i think, for the national conversation and, with it, our national politics in the months and years to come.

indeed, chris, something i am sure we will discuss again in the days ahead. many thanks for the moment. chris mason, our political editor. nicholas witchell, our royal correspondent, is here. really, just to reflect on that salient point that chris was making, that this change of monarch, elizabeth ii, to charles iii, is really about changing, in some senses, the way that people will see the monarchy, because they saw the monarchy in a certain way with elizabeth ii, and saw it in that way for many years. that changes, and may it brings with it changes in perception, where the monarchy is concerned? i perception, where the monarchy is concerned?— concerned? i think she has left a hue concerned? i think she has left a huge legacy _ concerned? i think she has left a huge legacy in — concerned? i think she has left a huge legacy in several— concerned? i think she has left a huge legacy in several areas. - concerned? i think she has left a huge legacy in several areas. i l huge legacy in several areas. i think she demonstrated this sometimes almost intangible strength and value of a constitutional monarchy. monarchy done right is a powerful focus for national feeling

and national unity. to pick up the point that chris was making, she did indeed project the image, unfailingly positively, abroad. it is sometimes referred to as soft power. she projected it, and if you think of the times over the last 70 years where the reputation of britain had been at a low ebb, internationally, in the 505, after suez, in the 19705 when britain was regarded as the sick man of europe, respect for her never wavered. she burnished the reputation of britain on the international stage. she encouraged political stability, she has been described as a kind of hidden backstop in the constitution, a force field around which good behaviour within the political establishment was encouraged. these things, you know, should not be

underestimated. finally, she kept the monarchy