‘A day of great loss.’ World reacts to death of Queen Elizabeth II

Scott Heppell/AP

The world is mourning Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest serving monarch, after her death on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She was 96 years old and “died peacefully,” Buckingham Palace said.

Following the queen’s death, her eldest son is now known as King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, is queen consort. Formerly, Charles was the prince of Wales and Camilla was the duchess of Cornwall.

“The death of Her Majesty is a great shock to our nation and to the world,” UK Prime Minister Liz Truss said in a statement. “Queen Elizabeth the II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the country it is today because of her.”

“It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth the II leaves a great legacy,” Truss continued.

Public figures, celebrities and politicians from across the world penned tributes to the late monarch.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden said in a statement that “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch... In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her.”

“She charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom,” the Biden’s said, recalling their trip in January 2021. “Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world.”

Condolences and kind words for the Queen also poured in on social media.

George W. Bush: Queen Elizabeth II was ‘a woman of great intellect, charm, and wit’

What happens after the Queen’s death? What to know about the line to the British throne

Who were the longest living British monarchs? What to know after Queen Elizabeth’s death

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