the queen's final speech

Queen Elizabeth's last speech and her thoughts on final partings

In her last year the monarch gave the nation a poignant official christmas message, celebrated her platinum jubilee, appeared with paddington bear and performed a final vital constitutional act.

09 September, 2022

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Princess Anne Was With the Queen For the Last ’24 Hours of Her Life’—Inside Her Final Moments

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Since her death, well wishers have wondered what Queen Elizabeth ‘s last words were and what her final moments with the British royal family were like before she passed.

Queen Elizabeth II is the first child of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She became Queen of the United Kingdom as well as the other Commonwealth countries in February 1952 after the death of her father. She was 25 years old at the time. She was married to Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, from November 1947 until Prince Philip’s death in April 2021. The two had four children together: Charles , Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

After more than 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022. She was 96 years old. In a 1957 Christmas Broadcast, the Queen promised the United Kingdom she would give her “heart” and “devotion” to the Commonwealth. “I cannot lead you into battle,” she said at the time. “I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else: I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”

'Elizabeth the Queen' by Sally Bedell Smith

The Queen’s death came three months after her Platinum Jubilee event in June 2022, which celebrated her 70 years on the throne. After her Platinum Jubilee, the Queen thanked royal well-wishers for supporting her family. “When it comes to how to mark seventy years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee,” the Queen said in a statement at the time. She continued, “While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.” She ended her message by telling her supporters about the “joy” she felt that weekend. “I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come. I thank you most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations,” she said at the time.

So what were Queen Elizabeth’s last words? Read on for what we know about Queen Elizabeth’s last words and her final moments with the British royal family before her death.

What were Queen Elizabeth’s last words?

What were Queen Elizabeth’s last words? Queen Elizabeth II’s exact last words aren’t known, however, her daughter, Princess Anne, revealed in a post on the British royal family’s official Instagram account in September 2022 that she was with the Queen in the last 24 hours of her life, which she called an “honor” and a “privilege.” “I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother’s life,” she wrote at the time. “It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys. Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting. We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss.” Princess Anne continued, “We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted. I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of The Monarch. To my mother, The Queen, thank you.”

The Queen’s death was announced at 6:41 p.m. London time on the British royal family’s official Twitter account. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace’s statement read. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” Newsweek’s Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston told True Royalty TV in September 2022 that Charles only learned of his mother’s health shortly before the public.

Royston also reported that TODAY host Jenna Bush Hager, told him earlier that week that she had a scheduled si-down interview with Camilla at Dumfries House when when they heard “footsteps” in the corridor. “Charles took a call, everything was silent, and they were asked to be silent. Then the next thing she knew, Charles and Camilla were in a helicopter,” Royston said. “And that was at 12:30, so that was around exactly the same time that we were told. So they didn’t wait, they didn’t give Charles an hour or two hours.” According to The Washington Post , however, the Queen’s death was rumored to occur at 3 p.m. London time, with Buckingham Palace notifying Prime Minister Liz Truss of the death at 4:30 p.m. London time.

While Queen Elizabeth’s last words aren’t known, 7News reported that the Queen’s final public statement after 70 years of service was a message of condolence she sent to the Canadian public after a stabbing rampage that left 10 people dead and 18 injured in the village of Weldor in Saskatchewan, Canada. “I would like to extend my condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the attacks that occurred this past weekend in Saskatchewan. My thoughts and prayers are with those recovering from injuries, and grieving such horrific losses. I mourn with all Canadians at this tragic time,” the Queen’s statement read. The Queen’s death comes less than two years after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, who died on April 9, 2021. According to Hello , Queen Elizabeth’s last words to Philip were written in a handwritten card edged in black that she placed with a wreath of white lilies, small white roses, white freesias, white wax flowers, white sweet peas and jasmine on the top of his coffin at his funeral. “In loving memory, Elizabeth,” the card read.

Queen Elizabeth II is also a successor of Queen Elizabeth I, also known as the Virgin Queen, who was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death in 1603. According to RMG , Queen Elizabeth I’s last words were, “All my possessions for one moment of time.”

How did Queen Elizabeth die?

How did Queen Elizabeth die? Queen Elizabeth II died “peacefully” at her home at Balmoral Castle in Scotland in the afternoon of September 8, 2022. She was 96. Buckingham Palace confirmed her death in a statement. She will be succeeded by her son, Charles, Prince of Wales, who will now become King Charles III. Charles’ wife, Camila, Duchess of Cornwall, will now become The Queen Sonsort. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace’s statement read. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” The Queen’s death came hours after after Buckingham Palace announced that she had been placed under “medical supervision” due to “concerns” from her doctors. “Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” the Buckingham Palace said at the time. “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.” The statement continued, “Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have traveled to Balmoral.”

After the Queen passed away, Charles—the heir apparent to the British royal throne and the Queen’s eldest son with her late husband, Prince Philip—honored his mother in a statement on the official Royal Family Twitter. “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,” the statement read. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign, and 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. 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 on which The Queen was so widely held.”

The Queen was surrounded by British royal family members at the time of her death. Along with Charles and Camila, the Queen’s second and third sons with Philip—Prince Andrew and Prince Edward—were seen arriving at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland shortly before her death. Prince Edward’s wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was also seen arriving at the airport, as well as the Queen’s eldest grandson, Prince William. The Queen’s second eldest grandson, Prince Harry, wasn’t seen at Balmoral Castle until hours after her death. He traveled from Germany, where he and his wife, Meghan Markle, were promoting the Invictus Games, to Scotland. Meghan, for her part, didn’t join Harry at Balmoral Castle and remained in Germany at the time of the Queen’s death. William’s wife, Kate Middleton, also wasn’t present at Balmoral Castle and stayed in Windsor, England, as September 8 was the first day of school for her and William’s children: Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4.

What was Queen Elizabeth’s cause of death?

What was Queen Elizabeth’s cause of death? Queen Elizabeth II’s cause of death hasn’t been confirmed. However, her death came hours after after Buckingham Palace announced that she had been placed under “medical supervision” due to “concerns” from her doctors. “Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” the Buckingham Palace said at the time. “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.” The statement continued, “Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have traveled to Balmoral.”  The statement also came a day after the Queen cancelled a scheduled Privy Council meeting so he could rest. “After a full day yesterday, Her Majesty has this afternoon accepted doctors’ advice to rest,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement on September 7, 2022. “This means that the Privy Council meeting that had been due to take place this evening will be rearranged.”

Before her death, the Queen had been seen regularly using a cane since October 2021. That month, she cancelled a scheduled trip to Northern Ireland under the advice of her doctors and spent a night in the hospital. “The Queen has reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time. “Her Majesty is in good spirits and is disappointed that she will no longer be able to visit Northern Ireland, where she had been due to undertake a series of engagements today and tomorrow.”

After her hospitalization, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement at the time that the Queen “remains in good spirits” following her overnight stay, where she underwent “preliminary investigations.” “Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the Queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for some preliminary investigations, returning to Windsor Castle at lunchtime today and remains in good spirits,” the statement read.

The Queen’s death also came a year after she tested positive for COVID-19 following close contact with Charles, who contracted the virus earlier that month. At the time, celebrity gossip website Hollywood Unlocked , falsely reported that the Queen had died at the age of 95 from COVID-19. The site falsely reported at the time that the Queen was “found dead” after she was set to attend a wedding. “It is with our deepest regret to inform you that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has died,” Hollywood Unlocked’s report read at the time. “Sources close to the Royal Kingdom notified us exclusively that Queen Elizabeth has passed away. She was scheduled to attend the wedding of British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, but was found dead.”

While the site didn’t credit any official royal  sources, Hollywood Unlocked CEO and founder Jason Lee took to his Twitter  at the time to back up the outlet’s report. “We don’t post lies and I always stand by my sources,” he wrote at the time. “Waiting for an official statement from the palace.” Lee later reiterated his stance on Instagram , writing, “I’ve never lied;” “I’ve never been wrong;” “I trust my sources;” and “I have yet to see an official statement from the palace saying otherwise,” in a numbered list. Despite Lee’s statement, however, the news of the Queen’s death at the time was false.

After the Queen tested positive for COVID-19 in February 2022, a source told Us Weekly at the time the monarch had been recovering “without any fuss” despite Hollywood Unlocked’s report of her death. “Of course, she has a team of doctors to lean on whenever needed and a support staff that’s second to none,” the insider told the magazine. “But thus far Her Majesty has been handling this without any fuss or need to involve too many others in her recovery.” After reports the Queen was still alive, Hollywood Unlocked issued a  statement on social media apologizing for the incorrect story and blaming the report on an “intern journalist” who “published the draft post by mistake.” The site added, “Our deepest apologies goes out to the #RoyalFamily and all involved in this embarrassing situation. It was an accident and we’re working hard to make sure that this mistake never happens again.”

For more about the British royal family, check out Sally Bedell Smith’s 2012 biography, Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch . The New York Times bestseller, which includes the “real story” behind several storylines featured in Netflix’s The Crown , follows Queen Elizabeth II’s life from her childhood as the “heiress presumptive” to her father, King George VI; to the moment he et her husband, Prince Philip, when she was 13 years old; to her ascension to the throne at 25 years old in 1952. Elizabeth the Queen, which also includes interviews with Buckingham Palace sources and never-before-revealed documents, provides a deep dive into the Queen’s legacy as one of the most famous monarchs in recent history.

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The Queen’s last public statement and pictures

The United Kingdom has entered a period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8.

Her Majesty’s death marks the end of a 70-year reign, and follows the death of her husband, Prince Philip, who died earlier this year.

The statement issued by Buckingham Palace reads: “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.”

Upon her death, her eldest son Charles immediately ascended to the throne. It is expected that Charles will be officially proclaimed King on Saturday.

Here are the last moments of the Queen ’s reign.

What was the Queen’s last public statement?

The Queen sent out her last public statement to Canada , following the tragedy that struck the nation, where 10 people were stabbed to death, and a further 19 were injured.

In response to the cruel news, the Queen issued a message saying: “I would like to extend my condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the attacks that occurred this past weekend in Saskatchewan .

“My thoughts and prayers are with those recovering from injuries, and grieving such horrific losses.

“I mourn with all Canadians at this tragic time.”

The statement was made on Wednesday, September 7, the day before the Queen passed away.

The Queen’s last pictures

The Queen was last pictured in the Drawing Room at Balmoral on Tuesday (September 6), where she met the new Prime Minister Liz Truss .

The Queen was seen sporting a longline cardigan and a Balmoral tartan skirt.

The tartan, designed by Prince Albert, can only be worn by members of the Royal Family, or those given permission by the Queen.

The 96-year-old monarch didn’t make any public appearances during August due to health concerns.

The public had glimpses of the Queen in June for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations and during the Ceremony of the Keys event in Edinburgh.

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Prime Minister's statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Prime Minister Liz Truss's statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Prime Minister Liz Truss’s statement on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

We are all devastated by the news we have just heard from Balmoral.

The death of Her Majesty The Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.

Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.

Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.

Britain is the great country it is today because of her.

She ascended the throne just after the Second World War.

She championed the development of the Commonwealth - from a small group of seven countries to a family of 56 nations spanning every continent of the world.

We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation.

Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed.

She was the very spirit of Great Britain – and that spirit will endure.

She has been our longest-ever reigning monarch.

It is an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.

Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.

In return, she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.

She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons. Her devotion to duty is an example to us all.

Earlier this week, at 96, she remained determined to carry out her duties as she appointed me as her 15th Prime Minister.

Throughout her life she has visited more than 100 countries and she has touched the lives of millions around the world.

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.

Today the Crown passes - as it is has done for more than a thousand years - to our new monarch, our new head of state:

His Majesty King Charles III.

With the King’s family, we mourn the loss of his mother.

And as we mourn, we must come together as a people to support him.

To help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all.

We offer him our loyalty and devotion just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long.

And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country,

– exactly as Her Majesty would have wished –

by saying the words…

God save the King.

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Queen Elizabeth II dead: Every word of Her Majesty's final Christmas speech

The Queen's broadcast to the nation was a Christmas tradition

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The country is mourning after Queen Elizabeth died aged 96.

Buckingham Palace released a statement yesterday afternoon to confirm Her Majesty had passed away. The Queen's eldest son, King Charles, has automatically ascended to the throne after her death.

The nation has since paid tribute to The Queen's legacy and what she achieved during her 70 year reign. The Queen is regarded as a uniting figure and became a fixture of Christmas as she delivered an annual broadcast to the nation.

READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96

Her Majesty delivered her final Christmas speech last year and she used it to issue a personal tribute to her husband, Prince Philip, who died on April, 9 2021.

She said: "Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones. This year, especially, I understand why.

"But for me, in the months since the death of my beloved Philip, I have drawn great comfort from the warmth and affection of the many tributes to his life and work – from around the country, the Commonwealth and the world. His sense of service, intellectual curiosity and capacity to squeeze fun out of any situation – were all irrepressible. That mischievous, enquiring twinkle was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.

"But life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings; and as much as I and my family miss him, I know he would want us to enjoy Christmas.

"We felt his presence as we, like millions around the world, readied ourselves for Christmas. While Covid again means we can’t celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy traditions. Be it the singing of carols (as long as the tune is well known); decorating the tree; giving and receiving presents; or watching a favourite film where we already know the ending, it’s no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines. We see our own children and their families embrace the roles, traditions and values that mean so much to us, as these are passed from one generation to the next, sometimes being updated for changing times. I see it in my own family and it is a source of great happiness

"Prince Philip was always mindful of this sense of passing the baton. That’s why he created The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which offers young people throughout the Commonwealth and beyond the chance of exploration and adventure. It remains an astonishing success, grounded in his faith in the future.

"He was also an early champion of taking seriously our stewardship of the environment; and I am proud beyond words that his pioneering work has been taken on and magnified by our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William - admirably supported by Camilla and Catherine - most recently at the COP climate change summit in Glasgow.

"Next summer, we look forward to the Commonwealth Games. The baton is currently travelling the length and breadth of the Commonwealth, heading towards Birmingham, a beacon of hope on its journey. It will be a chance to celebrate the achievements of athletes and the coming-together of like-minded nations.

"And February, just six weeks from now, will see the start of my Platinum Jubilee year, which I hope will be an opportunity for people everywhere to enjoy a sense of togetherness; a chance to give thanks for the enormous changes of the last seventy years - social, scientific and cultural - and also to look ahead with confidence.

"I am sure someone somewhere today will remark that Christmas is a time for children. It’s an engaging truth, but only half the story. Perhaps it’s truer to say that Christmas can speak to the child within us all. Adults, when weighed down with worries, sometimes fail to see the joy in simple things, where children do not.

"And for me and my family, even with one familiar laugh missing this year, there will be joy in Christmas, as we have the chance to reminisce, and see anew the wonder of the festive season through the eyes of our young children, of whom we were delighted to welcome four more this year.

"They teach us all a lesson - just as the Christmas story does - that in the birth of a child, there is a new dawn with endless potential. It is this simplicity of the Christmas story that makes it so universally appealing: simple happenings that formed the starting point of the life of Jesus — a man whose teachings have been handed down from generation to generation, and have been the bedrock of my faith. His birth marked a new beginning. As the carol says, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight”.

"I wish you all a very happy Christmas."

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What happens now the Queen has died - day by day plans and what Charles will do

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Live updates: King Charles addresses the nation as Britain goes into mourning

Two 96-round gun salutes honoring the queen — one round for each year of her life — fired in London today as the nation began a complex, multiday farewell to Queen Elizabeth II.

Here's what we're following:

Operation "London Bridge": The British government has an intricate protocol to mark Elizabeth's death.

The monarchy's uncertain future: Britain can expect to struggle without Queen Elizabeth at the helm, according to one expert.

The last time a British monarch died: See a young Queen Elizabeth at her father's funeral in 1952

3 takeaways from King Charles' speech

By Willem Marx

LONDON — King Charles III gave his first public speech, in an emotion-laden prerecorded broadcast that began at the same time as a service Friday evening to commemorate his late mother began at St. Paul's Cathedral.

It came just a day after Queen Elizabeth's death at her Balmoral estate in Scotland, and after Britain's new head of state had traveled south from there to London, arriving at Buckingham Palace alongside his wife Camilla, now the queen consort, and before waiting crowds of thousands.

He spoke from the same room Elizabeth had often used for her televised Christmas broadcasts, but his tone was mostly somber and serious as he paid tribute not only to her as a monarch, but as a mother.

Below are three of the major takeaways:

1. As king, he has to hand off charity work

For decades, Charles has focused much of his attention and intellect on programs and passions that have been of interest to him: underprivileged young people, climate, agriculture and even community development are subjects close to his heart and have inspired his efforts. But he acknowledged in his address that the charities and organizations he has supported or spearheaded must now be led by others, as he takes on the additional constitutional roles and responsibilities of kingship. "This important work will go on in the trusted hands of others," he said.

2. He promises continuity

The new king insisted that a primary part of his mission as monarch would be to provide a form of consistency in matters both temporal and spiritual, in the way he said his mother had done, despite huge social, political and cultural changes across Britain over the last seven decades. He said though the institutions of state had changed, and despite various challenges, he said the United Kingdom's values have remained constant and should continue to do so. As the new head of the Church of England, he said that his own faith had helped him to develop a sense of duty to others, and to respect Britain's system of parliamentary government.

3. The new queen consort has showed "loyal public service"

He focused on the important role two women had played already in his life, his mother and his wife, but also how the latter, Camilla, would continue to support him during this moment and the years to come. He said that her new position of queen consort was a recognition of her own "loyal public service." He appeared keen to play up her own ability to meet what he called the "demands" of this new role but also — in the most emotional words of his entire delivery — he thanked the woman he called his "darling Mama" for her love and devotion.

Canada mourns Elizabeth, who was its head of state too

By Crispin Thorold

“Canada is in mourning,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in an emotional tribute following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The United Kingdom isn’t the only country that just lost its long-reigning queen — Canada is one of more than a dozen members of the British Commonwealth that recognize the monarch as their head of state. And as of her death on Thursday, there is a new King of Canada and head of state: Charles III.

In Trudeau’s words, Elizabeth had an “abiding love for Canadians.” She carried out 22 official visits, including a marathon 45-day tour of all the Canadian provinces and territories in 1959. On her last visit to the country in 2010, she noted in a speech, in both English and French, that it was “very good to be home.”

The country is marking Elizabeth’s death as an official period of mourning. Canada has lowered flags on buildings across the country. Canadian politicians as well as the monarch’s own representatives here have made statements. A commemorative service will be held in the capital, Ottawa.

Yet the public reaction to her death is nuanced, partly because it comes at a time when Canadian society is reappraising its colonial history. The Canada of 1952, when Elizabeth ascended to the throne, has changed dramatically, especially in population centers where decades of immigration have changed demographics.

Many Canadians today have ties with countries that have no link with the monarchy or are former colonies with differing views of their onetime rulers. An Angus Reid survey in April found 51% of respondents were against continuing with a constitutional monarchy, while close to two-thirds (63%) viewed Elizabeth favorably.

“The queen was a global figure,” says Andrew McDougall, assistant professor of Canadian politics and public law at the University of Toronto. “To that extent this is an event that people will connect to on a cultural basis. The institutional side is more complicated.”

The monarchy is embedded within the Canadian Constitution, and while there is periodic discussion about whether it remains useful in modern Canada, there is not a significant movement in favor of becoming a republic.

“A lot of people would not be opposed to getting rid of the monarchy,” McDougall says, “but it would require the consent of the federal government and all the provinces. It would also likely need the input of Indigenous peoples who often see their relationship as being with the Crown rather than the government of Canada.”

There is also the challenge of what would replace the monarchy. During Elizabeth’s reign, Canadians generally viewed the debate around whether to become a republic as a distraction from pressing problems like inflation and the burdened public health system.

The immediate reaction following Elizabeth’s death suggests this will not change overnight. But according to the Angus Reid poll, there could be difficulties for the monarchy in Canada — with just one-third supportive of recognizing King Charles as head of state.

Remembering Elizabeth in the Kenyan town where she discovered she was queen

By Michael Kaloki

To some, Nyeri is an unassuming farm town in central Kenya. But to others, it has a special connection to the longest-serving British monarch.

Just a half-hour’s drive from the town is the Treetops Lodge. It is where a then 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth found out she had become queen.

Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip were at the lodge in February 1952, when King George VI died. Thus began the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Kenya was once a British colony that gained independence in 1963 — during Elizabeth’s reign.

In a solemn, quiet kind of way, that reign came to an end Thursday with the queen’s death at age 96. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a period of mourning around the nation in her honor.

NPR spoke to people in Kenya about their connection with the queen.

“She’s kind of an inspiration to me at this young age,” says William Thuo, a web developer in Nyeri. He says Elizabeth proved she could overcome major challenges.

A few miles down the road from Nyeri lies the village of Kamuyu, dotted with trees and dirt paths.

“My father was working at Treetops when the queen visited,” says Jane Mureithi, 43, while glancing at a photo of her father who passed away in 2021. “He thought she was a great person.”

Fiction imagined the truth of Queen Elizabeth II and her subjects

By Barbara Campbell

Plenty of biographies purport to tell the inside story of Queen Elizabeth II — but she was renowned for her reserve, and they may not have reflected her deepest feelings. What books to turn to, then, for an unguarded portrayal of the late queen? Fiction, usually comedy, has imagined the truth of Elizabeth and, by extension, of Great Britain.

What if the queen had to live in a council flat?

In The Queen and I , author Sue Townsend dumped the royal family out of their lives of economic security and gave them a taste of lower-quality housing, sitting in a National Health Service waiting room and no corgis.

She could have hidden out in the Caribbean

What if Elizabeth had dropped out of royal life of her own accord? Emma Tennant imagined her disappearing from Balmoral in The Autobiography of the Queen and reemerging solo in St. Lucia as Gloria Smith. Here again, she encounters the conditions that average people face.

Her transformation could have happened in her own home

As other authors pulled the queen out of royal life to imagine her inner truth, Alan Bennett kept her in the palace, but with the life-changing discovery of reading. In The Uncommon Reader , Her Majesty unexpectedly becomes a voracious reader of fiction and discovers other people's inner lives. That, of course, is the whole point of fiction, and of all these novels that try to break through the monarch's public image.

Tributes pour in from the Arab world, where royal families held close ties with Elizabeth

By Fatma Tanis

Across the Arab world, flags are flying at half-staff and days of mourning were announced as Arab leaders paid tribute to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

Royal families in the Middle East boasted close relations with the queen. And local media across the region are displaying images of her many visits during her 70-year reign.

Jordan's King Abdullah II called her a “dear family friend” as he announced seven days of mourning. The United Arab Emirates’ president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, said on Twitter the queen “was a close friend of the UAE and a beloved & respected leader.”

In a statement, Saudi Arabia's King Salman said the queen was "a model of leadership." His son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, called her an “example of wisdom, love and peace.”

In Egypt, the Al-Azhar Mosque’s grand imam, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb — considered by many to be the highest authority in Sunni Islam — tweeted his condolences to King Charles III and added that “her Majesty was such a unique, committed, and deeply respected Head of State. She dedicated her life to serving her nation and people.”

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi called the queen's death a great loss, and said he had "full confidence in the ability of King Charles to fill the space left by Queen Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth II became the monarch just as Egypt had formed its republic after overthrowing decades of British occupation in a revolution in 1952. Other Arab countries, including Jordan, Yemen and the UAE, were under the British protectorate and gained full independence in the 1960s and 1970s during Elizabeth’s reign.

Niagara Falls has been a welcome destination for generations of the royal family

By Mark Wozniak, WBFO

As WBFO's Mark Wozniak explains — generations of Queen Elizabeth's family have made their way to Niagara Falls: From her parents' pre-WWII visit to dedicate the site of what is now known as the Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge, to her grandchildren's visit with their mother Princess Diana to ride the Maid of the Mist.

The visits span decades and mark powerful moments in both Queen Elizabeth's reign and in our recent history. Head to WBFO to see the full timeline .

Biden plans to attend the queen's funeral

By NPR Washington Desk

President Biden told White House reporters on Friday that he plans to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Yes. I don’t know what the details are yet but I’ll be going,” Biden replied in answer to a question from reporters traveling with him on a trip to Ohio.

King Charles offers thanks to his mother and a promise to the country

By Tara Neill

King Charles III has just delivered his first address to the United Kingdom as monarch.

Speaking from Buckingham Palace, he paid tribute to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday.

In the special broadcast, which was recorded earlier today, the king spoke of his feeling of "profound sorrow." He talked of Queen Elizabeth's unfailing devotion to her country and family, of her "life well lived" and "sacrifices to duty." Looking ahead, he pledged to uphold the constitutional principles of the nation and serve the country with loyalty.

He also announced that his eldest son, Prince William, will now assume the title of Prince of Wales. He ended the broadcast with a simple "thank you" to his mother, the queen.

The speech was broadcast at the start of a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral in London, at the end of which the first official rendition of "God Save the King" will be sung.

Behind the scenes of the queen's last public portrait

By Rachel Treisman

Queen Elizabeth died just days after appointing Liz Truss the United Kingdom's newest prime minister, a time-honored formality that has taken on new meaning as the queen's final act of service and the setting of the last publicly-released photos taken of her.

The ceremony was held at Balmoral Castle in Scotland (as opposed to Buckingham Palace, as is customary) because of the queen's mobility issues and limited capacity to travel.

Photos from PA Media (formerly the Press Association) show the queen shaking hands with Truss and smiling in a moment by herself. She is wearing a cardigan and long plaid skirt, carrying a handbag and walking stick. Social media users took note of visible bruising on her outstretched hand.

Jane Barlow, the photographer behind those now-iconic images, told the PA that Queen Elizabeth was "frail" but "in good spirits" that day.

Barlow took some solo portraits of the queen in the ornate drawing room as they waited for Truss to arrive, and made small talk about the dreary weather. Still, Barlow recalled, "I got a lot of smiles from her." The queen greeted Truss "with a big smile" too — but Barlow's favorite photo is the one of her standing alone.

Barlow says it was an honor and a privilege to capture the queen's last public portrait, and that she's gotten many lovely comments about it in the days since.

"I was there to photograph her meeting the new prime minister but for me the best picture was the one of the queen on her own," she said. "And it has obviously become more significant now."

Watch: King Charles addresses the U.K. as the kingdom mourns Elizabeth

By Bill Chappell

King Charles III is making his first public remarks as a monarch Friday, delivering what is expected to be a brief speech at 1 p.m. ET.

Around the same time as the speech, 96-round gun salutes honoring the queen — one round for each year of her life — were to be fired in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London.

Earlier Friday, the king announced a period of royal mourning, to be observed until seven days after the queen's funeral — the exact date of which remains uncertain.

On Saturday morning, the Accession Council is expected to proclaim the new sovereign's accession to the throne .  Afterward, Charles will read and sign a centuries-old oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland and ensure continuity of government.

The U.K. is heartbroken over the queen’s death, U.S. ambassador says

By Olivia Hampton

The United Kingdom is a nation "heartbroken" over the death of its long-serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II, U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Jane Hartley told NPR’s Morning Edition on Friday.

"I can't imagine what it was like for her 70 years ago as a world leader and really being the only woman," said Hartley, who is only the second female U.S. ambassador to the country in half a century. "So I just I just have the deepest, deepest respect for her and for her legacy."

The envoy recalled how, even in ill health just two days before her death, the queen had asked Prime Minister Liz Truss to form a new government.

"She realized how important that was because as we know, there are difficult days in the U.K. right now with the economy, with the cost of living, with the war in Ukraine. So she felt right to the end that she had to lead," Hartley said, adding the move brought me to tears."

When a U.S. ambassador presents credentials to the British monarch, it is usually a lavish ceremony that involves traveling in a horse-drawn carriage to Buckingham Palace. But Hartley recalled how record temperatures had made it too hot for the horses on the day of her ceremony this July.

"So the queen insisted on sending me her car, which was just extremely kind," Hartley told co-host Rachel Martin. "And in my conversations with her, which were all about policy, because she was so informed and cared deeply, she cared about my own personal happiness, she asked me if London was treating me well."

The whole country is mourning her loss, with large crowds gathering at Buckingham Palace to pay their respects and bells tolling across the U.K.

"It really is an end of an era and everybody had tears in their eyes, and I think everybody knew it was coming, but somehow it still felt too soon," Hartley added.

Listen to their full conversation here .

What could happen to Queen Elizabeth's beloved corgis?

By Juliana Kim

Among the hallmarks of Queen Elizabeth II was her love for animals, and particularly dogs.

On Thursday, the Queen died in her Balmoral estate in Scotland at age 96. Over the course of her life, Elizabeth owned more than 30 pets — a majority of which were Pembroke Welsh Corgis .

She leaves behind at least four dogs  — two corgis, one cocker spaniel and one dorgi (a dachshund corgi hybrid that the queen is credited with originating). Their names are Muick, Sandy, Lissy  and Candy, respectively.

Elizabeth's affinity for dogs can be traced back to her 18th birthday , when she was first given a corgi named Susan, from whom all the corgis bred by the queen are descended.

Over the decades, the queen's canine companions were often seen close by their owner wherever she went. In 2014, they helped comfort Dr. David Nott, a surgeon who had just returned from Syria, during a PTSD attack .

In 2015, Elizabeth decided she would stop bringing new dogs under her care out of fear of leaving any puppies behind, Monty Roberts, a royal horse whisperer, told Vanity Fair . But after her husband Prince Philip's death in 2021, Elizabeth had a change of heart .

Without Elizabeth, the dogs may be separated and given to various family members, some experts speculate.

"Andrew has Cocker Spaniels so he might take back the one he gave her. William and Kate also love dogs so they could have them," Claudia Joseph, a journalist based in London, told the New York Post .

Others believe the pets may remain under the care of Elizabeth's trusted staff.

Penny Junor, who has written extensively about the queen's corgis, noted that both Elizabeth's dressmaker, Angela Kelly, and royal employee, Paul Whybrew, have experience caring for the queen's dogs, Newsweek reported.

The Sydney Opera House projects a massive photo to honor Queen Elizabeth II

The famous sails of the Sydney Opera House are lit in somber colors Friday, highlighting a photograph of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The queen visited the landmark several times -- including when she officially declared it open in 1973, Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron said in a statement .

“The human spirit must sometimes take wings or sails,” Elizabeth said , “and create something that is not just utilitarian or commonplace.”

By displaying the photo, Herron said, "We celebrate her contribution to Australian life and culture."

The Opera House is projecting the image until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

An unexpected sign of Queen Elizabeth's legacy on one D.C. street

By Martin Austermuhle, WAMU/DCist

Back in 1991, Queen Elizabeth visited Washington, D.C., taking time to stop by a housing development in the southwest part of the district. As WAMU/DCist's Martin Austermuhle explains :

On a warm spring day in 1991, D.C. resident Alice Frazier threw all norms out the window and embraced the United Kingdom’s then-monarch as the queen walked into Frazier’s home in Ward 7. The protocol-prohibited hug, memorialized in a picture showing Queen Elizabeth II smiling pleasantly but not returning Frazier’s surprise embrace, came in the midst of the monarch’s official 12-day visit to the U.S. more than three decades ago.

The queen’s trip included stops in Texas, Virginia, Maryland (where she attended a Baltimore Orioles game), as well as the White House. But the monarch also visited a new affordable housing development on Drake Place SE, where Frazier had recently moved.

To memorialize the visit, efforts were made to rename Drake Place “Queen’s Stroll Place,” a name that exists today.

Of course, not everyone was enthused with the idea. Keep reading at DCist.com .

Paddington Bear bids a simple farewell to Queen Elizabeth II

“Thank you Ma’am, for everything,” Paddington Bear said via the beloved children’s character's Twitter account, sharing good wishes after news emerged that Queen Elizabeth II’s long reign has ended.

The farewell comes just three months after Paddington famously helped the queen celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, joining her for a spot of tea and a marmalade sandwich at Buckingham Palace.

A video of their meeting helped kick off the palace’s party celebrating Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne.

Paddington's message is resonating online — as one commenter wrote, "Indeed. Thank you, ma'am, for everything."

Queen Elizabeth's lack of drama was the secret to her success, a royal historian says

Tracy Borman, royal historian and author of Crown and Sceptre , spoke to NPR's Morning Edition about the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth — starting with her very first days on the throne at age 25.

"She immediately faced whole-scale prejudice about the fact that she was a woman, and people just didn't think she was capable of fulfilling this role of queen," Borman says. "And yet she defied all expectations. And I think it was her constancy and sense of duty, from the beginning, that really set her on the right path."

Those aren't necessarily the most glamorous qualities for a monarch, Borman adds, but she believes "it's the very lack of drama that defined her reign and was the secret of her success."

She says Queen Elizabeth always understood and abided by her constitutional role, upholding tradition while keeping up with the times and embodying the adage that an ideal monarch needed to be "always changing, always the same."

To Borman, the queen's greatest legacy lies in "finally introducing equality into the succession," so that women have equal precedence with men when it comes to inheriting the throne.

Critics say that even if the queen was modern in some ways, she represented a part of British history that many people are not proud of — Borman acknowledges this but says the queen helped pave the way for a more modern monarchy, noting there is talk of King Charles being "defender of faiths" as opposed to the centuries-old title "defender of the faith."

And there's no denying that the royal family suffered a series of setbacks— from the traumatic death of Princess Diana to Prince Andrew's ties to Jeffrey Epstein to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back from royal duties — during her reign.

So how will the queen's legacy in those moments be remembered?

"I think there's a huge amount to learn from the queen's reactions to those moments," Borman says. "She always upheld the privacy of her position and I think she judged that absolutely correctly. 'Cause in this age that's obsessed with overnight celebrities and global communication, I think the queen upheld that dignity and was this constant, unswerving presence. Even when everything was falling apart around her, she was there, she was constant, a really steady hand."

Listen to the full conversation.

Here's what every living former U.S. president said about the queen

Queen Elizabeth had met with every sitting U.S. president , except Lyndon Johnson , since 1951 — 13 in total.

All of those who are still living paid tribute to her after her death, sharing statements of gratitude and some cherished personal memories. Here are some highlights:

Former President Donald Trump issued a statement on behalf of himself and former first lady Melania Trump, praising the queen's "generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor."

"What a grand and beautiful lady she was — there was nobody like her!” he added.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama released a lengthy statement honoring the queen, outlining the many ways in which she served the public as well as what she meant to them personally.

Like so many of you, Michelle and I are grateful to have witnessed Her Majesty’s dedicated leadership, and we are awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service. Our thoughts are with her family and the people of the United Kingdom at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/sbID222iSQ — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 8, 2022

Former President George W. Bush paid tribute to the queen's steady resolve, confidence in her people and vision of a brighter future.

"She was a woman of great intellect, charm, and wit," he wrote. "Spending time at Buckingham Palace, and having tea with Her Majesty – and her Corgis – is among our fondest memories of the presidency."

The Clintons

Former president Bill Clinton said he and former first lady Hillary Clinton were grateful for the queen's kindness over the years, especially during their two visits to Buckingham Palace, and "for all she did to deepen the Special Relationship."

My thoughts and prayers are with the Royal Family and all the people Her Majesty inspired throughout her lifetime of service. pic.twitter.com/r5pjncyCu8 — Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) September 8, 2022

The Carters

In a statement issued by the Carter Center, former president and first lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter extended their condolences too. It reads in part:

"Her dignity, graciousness, and sense of duty have been an inspiration, and we join the millions around the world in mourning a remarkable leader."

See how newspapers around the world handled Queen Elizabeth’s death

News of Queen Elizabeth II’s death quickly spread across the world on Thursday, after the long-reigning monarch died at 96. Journalists weighed her legacy, and what the future looks like for the U.K. under King Charles III.

Here’s a look at how different newspapers featured the news on their front pages:

The Financial Times and other outlets splashed color photos of the queen as a young woman across the full width of their front pages. Online, many cheered the paper for choosing a photo that showed Elizabeth not as a stodgy royal but as an excited and engaged leader.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times international edition Friday September 9 https://t.co/zBvV16DeRt pic.twitter.com/bRdv2ZQdjr — Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) September 8, 2022

The Guardian emphasized the majesty of the queen's role, in a photo that several other outlets also used.

The Guardian front page, Friday 9 September 2022; Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022 pic.twitter.com/5ROqSmVqE1 — The Guardian (@guardian) September 8, 2022

In Scotland, The Herald used an image of the queen wearing lush green ceremonial robes and the collar of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's order of knighthood, at her Balmoral estate.

Tomorrow's front page as we pay tribute to the Queen pic.twitter.com/9ct0IZH8ST — The Herald (@heraldscotland) September 8, 2022

Others used black and white images to show Elizabeth in her later years, such as The New York Times .

The front page of The New York Times for Sept. 9, 2022. https://t.co/LilnXcdIw1 pic.twitter.com/GjcIFMe91E — The New York Times (@nytimes) September 9, 2022

The Belfast Telegraph captioned an archival image of Elizabeth, “Thank you, Ma’am.”

Friday's @BelTel front page: Thank you, Ma'am #TomorrowsPapersToday #QueenElizabeth https://t.co/MSchPqaHYL pic.twitter.com/khRIwvNuKs — Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) September 8, 2022

In Nigeria — a former British colony — the headline declared, “ Bye Elizabeth II! ”

In Bermuda, The Royal Gazette published a color photo of the monarch with the dates of her life.

The Japan Times shared its original front page from 1953, when Elizabeth was crowned as a young queen (and the paper was called The Nippon Times ).

Prince Charles is far less popular than his mother

As Queen Elizabeth gradually retreated from public life in recent months, Prince Charles stepped in for a growing number of royal duties.

There was just one problem with that arrangement, as NPR's Frank Langfitt reported earlier this year: While the queen was hugely popular, her son was not. Langfitt cited polls that showed some 80% of Britons viewed the queen positively, while only about one-third wanted the 73-year-old to become king.

At least part of that unpopularity seems to stem from how Charles handled his marriage to the late Princess Diana, including maintaining an affair with his now-wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles. (Charles and Diana finalized their divorce in 1996, a year before she was killed in a car accident, and he remarried in 2005.)

Max Hastings, the former editor of Britain's The Daily Telegraph and the Evening Standard , says the late princess left behind an image of Charles as "a very selfish, quirky, weird man who couldn't understand for the life of him why he was expected to give up his long-term mistress just because he married a young girl."

There have been plenty of other criticisms in the decades since, targeting everything from Charles' character to his capability for the job (including his age).

And while he does have some defenders — who point to his long record of philanthropy and environmentalism — it appears that many Britons share the opinion that he should step aside. An April poll from the data analytics firm YouGov showed that just 34% of people want Charles to become king, while 37% would prefer his son Prince William take the throne.

Langfitt put it this way : "Prince William is more popular, and — at 39 — almost 3 1/2 decades younger than his father. But there is no sign that Charles plans to abdicate. After so many years in the wings, he's more than prepared to do the job, some believe."

Meghan and Harry's kids could get royal titles, at least in theory

The queen's death means that Archie and Lilibet, the two young children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — aka the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — are eligible to receive royal titles, though it's not clear whether that will actually happen.

Under rules established by King George V in 1917, only the monarch's children and the oldest son of the queen's firstborn (in this case, Prince William's son Prince George) receive royal titles . In 2012, however, Queen Elizabeth issued a "letters patent" so that Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge could give their three children HRH titles.

Archie and Lilbet, as great-grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth, were not known as prince and princess. That could change now that their grandfather, King Charles, is on the throne — unless he intervenes, which Meghan has said is likely.

Harry and Meghan, who married in 2018, stopped using their "Royal Highness" titles when they stepped down as working royals in 2020. A year later, in an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey , Meghan said that the palace informed her while she was pregnant with Archie (who is now 3) that they would not give her child the title of prince or princess, nor the protection that comes with it.

She said she received no clear reason why, but suggested the decision may have had to do with Archie's race and skin color (she mentioned discussions in which royal family members expressed concerns to Harry about how dark the baby's skin might be, but stopped short of revealing their identities).

She said in the interview that she was told “they want to change the convention for Archie," and suggested that would be an example of “the first member of color in this family not being titled in the same way that other grandchildren would be.”

The Guardian reports that to prevent Archie and Lilibet from becoming prince and princess, Charles would have to issue a letters patent amending those rights. The king has long made his preference for a "slimmed-down" monarchy known, royal experts say.

Queen Elizabeth is survived by 12 great-grandchildren . The line of succession starts with Charles' eldest son, Prince William, followed by his three kids in age order. Prince Harry, Archie and Lilibet are fifth, sixth and seventh in line, followed by Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice.

'Operation London Bridge' maps out the 10 days after Queen Elizabeth's death

Queen Elizabeth II is being mourned by her family, fans and admirers. In Britain, her death at age 96 has thrown a state apparatus into motion that has sat idle for 70 years — since Elizabeth's father, King George VI, died in 1952.

The British government dubbed the intricate protocol of handling Elizabeth's death "Operation London Bridge."

The London Bridge plans were leaked to Politico last fall. Some of the details may have changed since then — but using them as a guide, here's a brief look at what the documents say will happen in the first 10 days after the end of the queen's record-setting reign:

Day 1 Two 96-round gun salutes honoring the queen — one round for each year of her life — are fired at 1 p.m. local time Friday in London.

Week 1 Charles reads and signs a centuries-old oath to uphold the security of the Church in Scotland and ensure continuity of government. Elizabeth's body is brought from Scotland to Buckingham Palace in London.

Day 10 A state funeral service is held at Westminster Abbey. After a final service in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, the queen is buried on the castle grounds   next to her husband, Prince Philip.

You can read a more detailed list here .

See a young Queen Elizabeth at her father's funeral in 1952

Great Britain has observed many royal funerals in the seven decades since Queen Elizabeth took the throne, with a series of solemn-yet-lavish ceremonies for figures including Prince Philip (2021), Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (2002) and Diana, Princess of Wales (1997).

Queen Elizabeth inherited the crown at age 25 when her father, King George VI, died in February 1952. Here's what that period of mourning and transition looked like the last time around.

Will Britain's currency change following the death of Queen Elizabeth II?

By Ayana Archie

Elizabeth II was declared queen in 1952, and in 1960, she became the first monarch to have a picture on Britain's paper notes.

Her son Prince Charles III will now take over as king. So will the currency change?

The Bank of England said notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II will still be considered legal money that can be exchanged. It said it will make an additional announcement about the country's existing notes "once the period of mourning has been observed."

"As the first monarch to feature on Bank of England banknotes, the Queen's iconic portraits are synonymous with some of the most important work we do," it said in a statement.

Photos of the queen on paper money are also an anti-counterfeit method, as it is easier to detect changes among facial features than inanimate objects, according to the Bank of England.

As for the coins, since the reign of King Charles II, it has been a tradition to have new monarchs' photos face opposite directions of their predecessors. So King Charles III would be facing the left, as opposed to his mother Elizabeth's coins, whose pictures face the right.

There is public support in Britain for the monarchy, but uncertainty about its future

What can British public opinion tell us about the possible fate of the monarchy?

An Ipsos poll conducted in Nov. 2021 found that most people believe it will still exist in a decade, but have more doubts about the next 50-100 years.

It found that 60% of Britons, or 3 in 5 people, favored Britain remaining a monarchy — that number is down from 76% in 2016 and marks the lowest level of support for the monarchy since the question was first asked in 1993 (surpassing a previous record in 2005).

Here are some other key takeaways:

• The public is divided over whether Britain would be worse off (39%) or unchanged (41%) if the monarchy were to be abolished. Only around 11% think Britain would be better, a number that's been fairly constant over the last four decades.
• There is a similar split between people who think the monarchy should be modernized (42%) or remain largely unchanged (37%).
• Some 82%, or more than 4 in 5 people, think Britain will still have a monarchy a decade from now, but there's less certainty about the generations ahead. Some 43% think there will be a monarchy in 50 years, and 48% think it will be gone in 100 years (just 28% think it will still be in place by 2121.

A spring 2022 survey by the data analytics firm YouGov draws similar conclusions, finding that Britons of all ages have become less convinced that they will still have a monarchy a century from now.

Do they want it to? Six in 10 Britons think the monarchy should continue to exist in the future, while 22% think the country should have an elected head of state instead.

The poll also found that a majority of Britons — 56% — feel the institution of the monarchy is good for Britain, a significant drop over the last decade (it was 73% in 2012). Notably, that feeling is much less prevalent among younger people.

Even many critics of the monarchy considered themselves 'queenist'

There's no doubt that the British royal family — often called "The Firm" — has suffered a series of setbacks and scandals in recent years, harming its reputation and putting its future in doubt.

Even so, many Britons otherwise critical of the monarchy consider themselves fans of Queen Elizabeth.

NPR's Frank Langfitt spoke to several of them in June as she marked 70 years on the throne. They celebrated her as a unifying and stabilizing force for the country, most recently with her messages of encouragement and fortitude during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I just think the sacrifices that she made during what was the worst time that I've ever seen, her having to mourn her husband alone, that image will just — that'll never leave, the sacrifice that she made that day, when so many other people didn't," said Danielle Wallace, a pharmacist who traveled from Belfast for the celebrations. "It just shows the character that she has."

Royal analyst David McClure told Langfitt that part of the queen's allure was her mystique — people didn't really know what she was like, but they projected onto her "what they want to see, what you'd like the nation to be," he explained.

Whether it's nostalgia, mystery or any other number of reasons, support for the queen has consistently outranked that for the institution she represented.

"People who aren't necessarily monarchists say, 'I'm a queenist,' " McClure told NPR last December. "People have been not supporting the monarchy. They've been supporting the queen. And so when she dies, there'll be an enormous void."

A rainbow appeared above Buckingham Palace after the queen's death

Crowds gathered at London's Buckingham Palace on Thursday as concerns mounted about the queen's health. So did the rainbows, with photos of a colorful double arch flooding social media around the time that her death was announced.

By that point, according to local media, the crowd had bloomed from hundreds to thousands of people.

Netflix drama series 'The Crown' may be paused out of respect for Queen Elizabeth

By Dustin Jones

Production of the Emmy Award-winning drama series The Crown may be put on hold following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The show’s creator, Peter Morgan, told Deadline that the series is a “love letter” to the United Kingdom’s longest-living ruler, who died Thursday at 96, and that the the show will likely be paused.

“The Crown is a love letter to her and I’ve nothing to add for now, just silence and respect,” Morgan told Deadline . “I expect we will stop filming out of respect, too.”

Back in 2016, show director Stephen Daldrey similarly had said that the show would stop filming should anything happen to Elizabeth.

According to Netflix , Season 5 of the Crown is set to air sometime this fall, but an exact date has yet to be released. The show’s sixth and final season is expected to premiere sometime in 2023.

Britain will struggle and a change will come to the monarchy, one royal watcher says

By Manuela López Restrepo

The death of Queen Elizabeth marks the beginning of an uncertain future for the British monarchy, and Britain can expect to struggle without her at the helm, according to one expert.

Richard Fitzwilliams is a longtime royal watcher and commentator, and said her death could also have ripple effects beyond the U.K.

“There are 14 other realms which still have the British moniker as head of state. To what extent that will continue is perhaps a question mark, there will certainly be some that will have a referendum on being a republic,” Fitzwilliams said. He added that he didn’t think the monarchy was endangered, but an evolution to meet the times was almost certain.

“I do think [the monarchy] will change, and I do think that King Charles and Queen Camilla will be controversial in some respects, especially there are still those who remembered Diana, Princess of Wales, and an unhappy period over 25 years ago,” he said.

“Looking forward, I would expect as Britain struggles — which it is undoubtedly doing at the moment — you are going to have a series of crises. With the queen at the helm, I think people felt more secure. It remains entirely a question mark what they will feel in the coming months and years.”

What to know about Balmoral, where Queen Elizabeth II spent her final days

By Vanessa Romo

Queen Elizabeth II spent her final days and took her last breath at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

For much of her life, the grand estate served as a holiday getaway where, even as a child, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch indulged in simple country-life pleasures. (Think family picnics and lots of muddy walks accompanied by her corgis.) It was also a private refuge where the Queen and the royal family could escape during some of their more painful public moments, far from the prying eyes of the world.

Sir Malcolm Ross, former Comptroller of the Royal Household, told the BBC it was a place where “she can relax, with her dogs, just doing what she thought normal people did, and indeed what normal people do."

Still, little of the interior has been seen of the Queen’s sprawling property, though much of the world was able to get a few glimpses via Netflix’s The Crown . (The Season 4 episode “The Balmoral Test” is set there.)

Here are a few things you might not have known about the vacation sanctuary.

It’s not as old as you might think

Britain’s taxpayers aren’t on the hook for the property.

In contrast, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Place are royal residences owned by the Crown Estate, which means they are funded by taxpayers.

Balmoral has been a sanctuary for the Queen Elizabeth II

Once married to Prince Phillip, the two continued the tradition with their own growing family. And in the final years of his life, they remained at Balmoral together, including during the lockdown. In 2020, they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in at the castle.

The castle is also special for King Charles III

The new king also has special ties to the castle. Birkhall cottage – one of 150 on the estate – belongs to the new monarch and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla. The king inherited it in 2002 when his grandmother, the Queen Mother, died.

Here's what we know about Queen Elizabeth's final hours

• Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 on September 8.
• Hours before her death, Buckingham Palace recommended medical supervision for the Queen.
• Here's what we know about the last few hours of her 70-year reign.

Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 on September 8 — concluding her 70-year reign. 

The Queen had faced health challenges during the later chunk of her life — having experienced brief hospitalization in October of last year, continuous episodic " mobility issues ," and a case of the coronavirus in February.

But hours before her death last Thursday in the afternoon, Buckingham Palace released a statement: "Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision."

The palace added that she was "comfortable."

BBC soon stopped their regular programming. By 1:48 p.m. local time, the channel just read, "HM Queen Elizabeth's health," The Washington Post reported.

Parliament members and journalists had also changed into black ties  to reflect the "somber" news of her illness.

She remained under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, reportedly her favorite place to relax , when she died.

Her family members — including now-King Charles and Camilla, now-Queen Consort— traveled to the castle on Thursday. Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston told True Royalty TV's "The Royal Beat" that Charles learned of his mother's deteriorating health only shortly before the public, the Daily Mail reported on Friday.

Royston said American news personality, Jenna Bush Hager, revealed to him earlier this week that she was supposed to have a sitdown interview with Camilla at Dumfries House when they heard "footsteps" in the corridor.

"Charles took a call, everything was silent, and they were asked to be silent. Then the next thing she knew, Charles and Camilla were in a helicopter," Royston said, according to the Daily Mail.

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"And that was at 12:30, so that was around exactly the same time that we were told. So they didn't wait, they didn't give Charles an hour or two hours," Royston added, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Princess Anne, the Queen's only daughter, said she was with her late mother during the last 24 hours of her life. In a tribute shared with Insider, Princess Anne said it was an "honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys."

Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, headed to the castle.

Prince Harry also traveled to Balmoral and arrived after Queen Elizabeth died.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, did not travel to Scotland .

Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle were both surrounded by well-wishers supporting the royal family and mourning the Queen before and after her death. 

According to the Washington Post, the Queen's death was rumored and speculated online around 3 p.m. London time. The prime minister was notified about the Queen's death at 4:30 p.m. local time, but it wasn't officially announced until 6:41 p.m. local time by the Palace's Twitter page: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon." 

Since her death, the royal website has been taken down and replaced with a message that reads: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon."

"The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and return to London tomorrow," it added.

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REVEALED: The Queen’s ‘final speech’ in the event of a nuclear war

Documents that were previously classified includes a final speech which was prepared in 1983 for Her Majesty The Queen to read out in the event of nuclear war.

The ‘final speech’ starts off by saying: “When I spoke to you less than three months ago we were all enjoying the warmth and fellowship of a family Christmas.”

This speech was prepared in 1983, one of the most dangerous and tense years of the cold war. It was part of a secret Whitehall file, codenamed ‘WINTEX-CIMEX 83’, and was declassified in 2013.

Throughout World War II, The Queen’s father – King George VI – was seen as a symbol of national resistance and along with the rest of the Royal Family. The speech was prepared to be similar in tone to King George’s famous speech at the outbreak of WW2 (popularised by the film The King’s Speech).

In the outbreak of nuclear war, it was planned for Her Majesty to be taken on board the Royal Yacht Britannia where she would be kept safe. This was primarily because The Queen is the only person who can appoint the Prime Minister and if the Prime Minister had been killed in the action, she would need to appoint a new Prime Minister immediately.

The full text of the The Queen’s final speech

When I spoke to you less than three months ago we were all enjoying the warmth and fellowship of a family Christmas.

Our thoughts were concentrated on the strong links that bind each generation to the ones that came before and those that will follow.

The horrors of war could not have seemed more remote as my family and I shared our Christmas joy with the growing family of the Commonwealth.

Now this madness of war is once more spreading through the world and our brave country must again prepare itself to survive against great odds.

I have never forgotten the sorrow and the pride I felt as my sister and I huddled around the nursery wireless set listening to my father’s inspiring words on that fateful day in 1939.

Not for a single moment did I imagine that this solemn and awful duty would one day fall to me.

We all know that the dangers facing us today are greater by far than at any time in our long history.

The enemy is not the soldier with his rifle nor even the airman prowling the skies above our cities and towns but the deadly power of abused technology.

But whatever terrors lie in wait for us all the qualities that have helped to keep our freedom intact twice already during this sad century will once more be our strength.

My husband and I share with families up and down the land the fear we feel for sons and daughters, husbands and brothers who have left our side to serve their country.

My beloved son Andrew is at this moment in action with his unit and we pray continually for his safety and for the safety of all servicemen and women at home and overseas.

It is this close bond of family life that must be our greatest defence against the unknown.

If families remain united and resolute, giving shelter to those living alone and unprotected, our country’s will to survive cannot be broken.

My message to you therefore is simple. Help those who cannot help themselves, give comfort to the lonely and the homeless and let your family become the focus of hope and life to those who need it.

As we strive together to fight off the new evil let us pray for our country and men of goodwill wherever they may be.

God Bless you all.

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A Guide to the King’s Speech: Crown Jewels, Black Rod and a Mace

When King Charles unveils the U.K. government’s agenda in Parliament, he is surrounded by rituals that nod to hundreds of years of history.

By Megan Specia and Allison McCann

Reporting from London

A “hostage,” a search for explosives, heaps of royal jewels and a five-foot mace . Welcome to the reopening of Britain’s Parliament, replete with ancient traditions and elaborate rituals.

The restart of parliamentary business centers on a speech by King Charles III, a ceremonial duty in which he sets out the government’s agenda. Charles delivered his first King’s Speech last November , and he delivered the Queen’s Speech on behalf of his mother , Elizabeth II, in 2022, but Wednesday’s was the first heralding a new party’s time in power.

Despite the name, the speech is not written by the king, but by government officials. The monarch just reads it out.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, which won a landslide victory in a general election earlier this month , announced more than 35 proposed pieces of legislation on issues including energy, transport and the makeup of the House of Lords.

The opening was rife with ceremony and symbolism, all of it steeped in history — with some elements dating back to the Middle Ages. Here is a guide.

A Gaslit Hunt for Explosives

Some elements of Parliament’s reopening take place behind the scenes, including a ceremonial search of the cellars of government buildings for explosives.

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How Queen Elizabeth's Death Was Addressed in The Crown 's Final Episode

Netflix's historical drama ended with a foreshadowing of the Queen's death and funeral — even though its timeline wraps up nearly two decades earlier

After six seasons, The Crown came to an emotional conclusion . In the series finale, creator Peter Morgan's acclaimed historical Netflix drama about the royal family ended with a nod to Queen Elizabeth 's death and funeral — despite wrapping its timeline nearly two decades before the monarch's death.

Queen Elizabeth died at age 96 , after 70 years and 214 days on the throne.

During the series finale — "Sleep, Dearie Sleep," which was written by Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry, who helmed the pilot and other episodes — Queen Elizabeth (played by Imelda Staunton) is seen planning her own funeral proceedings throughout the year 2005 as she also contemplates stepping down amid decisions to approve the marriage of Prince Charles (Dominic West) and Camilla Parker Bowles (Olivia Williams) and news of Prince Harry 's (Luther Ford) costume scandal . 

The episode opens with the Queen attending an Operation London Bridge meeting, which was the codename for the planning operations for her death first created in the 1960s and revised several times throughout her life. There, she is seen getting emotional as she overlooks a model of The Mall with military figurines depicting what her funeral day will look like. 

"The talk of my funeral has stirred things up a bit," she later tells Prince Philip (Jonathan Pryce) before going to bed.

Justin Downing/Netflix

The next morning, the Queen calls upon her bagpiper, "Pipes," to ask if he has any suggestions for "the music," particularly "if there was a tune for the pipes [he] thought might work." Upon her request, he suggests the traditional tune, "Sleep, Dearie Sleep," which he then plays for her. She, as well as her staff, are then seen getting emotional as they reflect on the poignancy of the music. 

Later in the finale, the Queen appears in a project room, where she watches footage from throughout her life, including actual footage of King George's funeral and a photo of the Vigil of the Princes, which appears to show the iconic image of the three Queens of England — Queen Mary (the Queen Consort of King George V and the mother of George VI), Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (the Queen Consort of King George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth) and Queen Elizabeth — united in grief. 

Afterward, Queen Elizabeth visits her stables, where she sees a vision of her younger self (with Olivia Colman reprising her role from seasons 3 and 4). The vision points out that she could abdicate the throne, saying, "You're almost 80 years old. No need to go on."  

From then on, there are rumors around the palace that Queen Elizabeth may step down, with her announcement to be made during Charles and Camilla's wedding. 

Netflix ; Anwar Hussein/Getty

However, while writing her reception speech, the Queen has another vision of herself — this time with Claire Foy reprising the youngest version of the character from seasons 1 and 2. During this moment, the Queen is reminded that she took an oath to be the monarch for life. And when she wonders about "the woman [she] put aside" all those years ago, Foy's character says, "Elizabeth Windsor is gone. You buried her years ago."

After she makes her speech during Charles and Camilla's reception , Prince Philip praises her remarks and alludes that he's proud she didn't step down. He then urges her to be the Queen for as long as she can "because those that come after you are not remotely ready to take over." 

As the two mull the future of the monarchy, they both reveal they've looked at each other's funeral plans. That's when Prince Philip says, "I'll leave you to it," and the Queen is left standing by herself as her funeral song begins to play.

As the final episode comes to an end, Queen Elizabeth sees her coffin with the royal standard, regalia and flowers just like it happened in real life, in September 2022. As she takes the moment in, all three portrayals of the Queen — with Foy and Colman once again returning onscreen — are seen standing together before Staunton's character walks away.  

The Crown 's emotional conclusion — with reference to the events of September 2022 — came about when Queen Elizabeth died at age 96, during production on season 6 . 

Initially, the decision had been made to end the series in 2005, which it still does, but Morgan revealed to Variety that he was compelled to change direction as a result of her death.

"We'd all been through the experience of the funeral,” he said, referring to the services that took place on Sept. 19, 2022. “So because of how deeply everybody will have felt that, I had to try and find a way in which the final episode dealt with the character’s death, even though she hadn’t died yet.”

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At the time of the Queen's death, production on the final episodes was temporarily shut down. " The Crown is a love letter to [the Queen] and I've nothing to add for now, just silence and respect, I expect we will stop filming out of respect too," Morgan said in a statement at the time. Production on the Netflix series was also suspended on the day of her funeral.

While not seen on the show, the Queen's coffin was taken to Westminster Hall for the Queen's lying in state, during which people will be able to pay their respects as they pass by the coffin.

Following this period, the official state funeral took place Monday, Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey and was then followed by a procession to The Mall before a committal service in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The Crown seasons 1 to 6 are now streaming on Netflix.

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