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Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II dies, US president orders flags to fly half-staff in honour

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Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral at the age of 96. [Photo: Twitter]

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years, Buckingham palace announced in a statement.

She died on Thursday afternoon at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer. The Queen came to the throne in 1952.

With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, will lead the country in mourning as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms.

Charles said the death of his mother was a “moment of great sadness” for him and his family and that her loss would be “deeply felt” around the world, BBC reported.

The King and his wife, Camilla, now Queen Consort, will return to London on Friday, the report said quoting the Buckingham Palace statement. He is expected to address the nation on Friday.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has issued a proclamation to honor the late monarch ordering all flags at US federal and military facilities to fly at half staff as “as a mark of respect,” one of several symbolic gestures around the globe to honor the influential tenure of the sovereign.

“As a mark of respect for the memory of Queen Elizabeth II, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment,” reads a statement issued by US.

Under Biden’s order, the US flag will also fly at half-staff until sunset “at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.”

Saluting Queen Elizabeth as “more than a monarch,” Biden added that she “defined an era.”

“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,” the statement mentioned which he also shared on Twitter.

 

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