(UPDATE) Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest reigning monarch and symbol of stability has died at age 96, Buckingham Palace said, marking the end of an era.
Elizabeth, a figure of constancy that saw Britain through an age of uncertainty, died "peacefully" according to the Royal Family following reports that doctors were "concerned" for her health.
Her passing comes just months after she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, the first British monarch to mark 70 years on the throne.
READ:Â Can the Monarchy Survive Without Queen Elizabeth?
Prince Charles, who assumes the monarchy after his mother's death, said Elizabeth's passing 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," he said.
"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," he added.
Throughout her reign, Elizabeth has become a figure that exuded a sense of permanence in Britain and around the world as humanity forged through global upheavals and the dawn of the information age, with many going through life with her as the only monarch they knew.
Prior to her death, Elizabeth had a bout of COVID-19 in February which she said left her "very tired and exhausted".
Her husband Prince Philip's death in April last year at age 99 saw the Queen largely reducing her public outings which were also attributed to her advanced age and mobility issues. Prince Philip, heir to the throne, has also largely taken over many of the Queen's activities.
In 2015, Elizabeth officially became Britain's longest reigning monarch and marked the occasion by simply downplaying her longevity.
"Inevitably, a long life can pass many milestones; my own is no exception," she said at the time.
