Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II Dies Aged 96

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.

"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," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

Queen Elizabeth II, who was the world's oldest and longest-serving head of state, came to the throne following the death of her father King George VI in February 1952, when she was just 25. She was crowned in June the following year.

Her eldest son Charles, 73, automatically becomes king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Members of her family had earlier rushed to be by her side at her Scottish home Balmoral Castle after doctors expressed concern about her health. 

Queen Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, has been suffering from what Buckingham Palace termed "episodic mobility problems" since the end of last year which forced her to withdraw from nearly all her public engagements.

She is also survived by her other children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward, and their spouses. Prince William, next in line to the throne, and Prince Harry are among her eight grandchildren. She has a dozen great-grandchildren.