The death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, was confirmed by Buckingham Palace on Thursday. She was 96 years old.

"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon", according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.

"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow," the statement continued, signifying that her son, Prince Charles, is now the King of Britain.

Buckingham Palace announced earlier in the day that the queen was under medical monitoring due to doctors' health concerns. Following the announcement, the members of the royal family hurried to Scotland to be by her side.

"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," said King Charles in a statement.

"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," it added.

Queen Elizabeth II passed away two days after appointing Liz Truss as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom, following Boris Johnson.

In recent months, the king has made fewer public appearances because of mobility concerns after recovering from COVID-19 in February. During the four-day nationwide celebration commemorating her 70 years on the throne in early June, Queen made only two brief appearances on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Despite the rain, thousands of people gathered outside Buckingham Palace in London upon the announcement of the Queen's death. Local media said that Britain will launch an official 10-day mourning phase on Friday. Following the loss of the Queen, politicians, and governments have expressed their deepest condolences.

"Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service. It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy," Truss stated in a declaration.

"We mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II. she was a role model and inspiration for millions, also in Germany. Her commitment to German-British reconciliation after the horrors of World War II will remain unforgotten," Olaf Scholz, chancellor of Germany, tweeted.

"Queen Elizabeth II has just passed away. An Elizabethan era is coming to an end. The United Kingdom forever bears the seal of the one who embodied it for seventy years with unalterable strength and moral authority. France pays tribute to the woman who marked the history of her country, our continent and her century," The Elysee Palace of France issued a statement.

Elizabeth II was declared queen upon the death of her father, King George VI, on February 6, 1952. She was born on April 21, 1926. On June 2, 1953, she was formally crowned queen of the United Kingdom.

She was seen as "a beacon of hope" for the nation because her yearly Christmas talks, televised since 1957, rallied the country during times of hardship.

During her long reign, the Queen met 15 prime ministers, including Winston Churchill, her first, and Truss, her last.

In April 2021, her husband, Prince Philip, passed away at the age of 99.

In 1986, the Queen became the first British monarch in history to visit China.