Britain wakes up on Friday to its first day in more than 70 years without Queen Elizabeth II at the helm, as people across the country and the world mourn the monarch’s death.
Tributes from around the world to Elizabeth, who died aged 96 after the longest reign in British history, a period during which she oversaw the last spasms of the British empire, weathered global unrest and domestic scandal, welcomed 15 prime ministers , and dramatically modernized the monarchy.
The Queen’s eldest son Charles has now become King Charles III. The coming hours and days will see an itinerary of events to honor his life and guide the transition ahead, but his death leaves a void for the UK at a time of great challenges, amid a shift in political leadership and an economic downturn. imminent.
Although the British rarely looked to the monarchy for political leadership, Elizabeth was a constant presence held in high esteem by many over the decades of significant change that saw Britain transform from a war-weary, declining imperial power into a modern multicultural state.
As news of the Queen’s death spread following an announcement by the royal family on Thursday night, crowds of mourners gathered outside Buckingham Palace in London, the Queen’s Residence, Castle from Balmoral, where she was at the time of her death, and from other royal residences, despite heavy rains in parts of the UK.
Many brought flowers and lit candles, some looking visibly shaken by the news. The silent chant of “God Save the Queen” erupted from the crowd in front of Buckingham Palace, where crowds had gathered even as night fell.
In keeping with royal tradition, a written statement announcing the queen’s death was displayed at the palace gates. In a remarkable moment shortly after the official announcement was made, the heavy rain that had been lashing London stopped and a large double rainbow appeared over the palace.
The royal family announced his death in a series of social media posts, with the first announcement coming from Buckingham Palace at 6:30pm UK time in a tweet.
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. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
It read simply: “The queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this night and return to London tomorrow.”
King Charles III is expected to deliver a speech this Friday, a royal spokesman told CNN .
World leaders from around the world have made statements honoring Elizabeth’s life, underscoring the global impact she made during her 70-year reign.
Elizabeth was head of state not just in the United Kingdom, but in 14 other Commonwealth realms, including Australia and Canada, and was head of the 54-member Commonwealth – the overwhelming majority of which are former colonial territories of the British Empire.
The outpouring of sympathy included a statement by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who called the queen “a reassuring presence through decades of radical change”, and another by US President Joe Biden and the Prime Minister. lady, Jill Biden, who said the queen “defined an era.”
In Asia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a tweet Friday morning that the Queen would be “remembered as a faithful of our times,” while Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Charles on Friday to express his concerns. “deep condolences,” Chinese state media said.
Regular meetings between the various agencies, from central and local government departments to military and religious officials and representatives from the other 14 countries where she was also head of state, have been going on for decades to plan and rehearse details of events after her passing.
In the 24 hours after the Queen’s death was announced, there will be gun salutes in London – one round for each year of Elizabeth’s life – and a broadcast of the new King will be shown. In the coming days, the bells of Westminster Abbey, St Pauls and Windsor Castle will toll.
As a monarch, Queen Elizabeth automatically receives a publicly funded state funeral, and details will be released in the coming days.
How did the queen die in the Balmoral Castleher home in Scotland, arrangements will be made in the coming days for her to be transported back to England.
Other formalities to come include a meeting of the Accession Council at an ancient ceremony at the 500-year-old St James’ Palace in London. A part of that meeting will include a formal announcement of the sovereign’s death and a formal proclamation of King Charles III as the new sovereign.
This is a closed meeting, but attended by hundreds of dignitaries and members of the Privy Council, which is a panel of royal advisers, and will be followed by the Garter King of Arms – the person charged with overseeing royal ceremonial duties – reading the Proclamation from the palace balcony and a barrage of gunfire throughout the capital.
David Wilkinson from CNN Susannah Cullinane, Peter Wilkinson, Laura Smith-Spark and Stephanie Busari contributed to this story
Source: CNN Brasil
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