The longest ruling monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 96. Officials confirm that the queen "died peacefully" Thursday at her estate in the Scottish Highlands, Balmoral Castle after 70 years on the throne.
Born in 1926 in London and privately homeschooled, Elizabeth was quickly in line to the throne after her uncle Edward VIII married an American, making her father future King George VI.
At the age of 21, Elizabeth married her third cousin Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark.
Five years later King Charles III died from cancer at the age of 56, and by the summer of 1953, Elizabeth was coronated, queen. The couple later had four children together.
Queen Elizabeth had witnessed 15 Prime Ministers along with 14 U.S. Presidents during her reign. She oversaw the independence and decolonization of more than 20 countries that were once under British rule. She had also witnessed World War II (WWII), the Korean War, the Cold War, and the Falkland Islands War and had survived multiple assassination attempts.
In April 2021 Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward mourned the death of their father, Prince Philip passing away at 99 years of age.
According to BBC, "The Queen's state funeral is expected to take place at Westminster Abbey in less than two weeks, the exact day will be confirmed by Buckingham Palace."
The abbey was not only where Queen Elizabeth was crowned but also where she married Prince Philip in 1947.
"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 and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world." her son, now King Charles III said in a statement.