FILE - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowd as she arrives in the Royal Box in the gardens of Buckingham Palace Monday June 3, 2002, during the second concert to commemorate her Golden Jubilee. Others are, Prince Philip, left, Lady Sarah Chatto, second right, Prince Charles, right, and Camilla Parker Bowles, center second row (behind Chatto). After seven decades, the United Kingdom has a new woman to call queen. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will be known as Queen Consort, a title that came with Queen Elizabeth IIs blessing after many years of contention, dating back to the years before she even married Prince Charles. (Stephen Hird, Pool Photo via AP, File) (Stephen Hird, AP2002)
Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has died. She was 96.
Elizabeth spent more than seven decades on the throne as the U.K. rebuilt from war, lost an empire, transformed its economy and both entered and left the European Union. She was a constant presence, the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and she guided the institution of the monarchy through choppy waters.
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She likely met more people than anyone in history, and her image, which adorned stamps, coins and bank notes, was among the most reproduced in the world. But her inner life and opinions remained largely an enigma. The impact of her loss will be huge, and unpredictable.
