Updated Thursday at 7:30 p.m
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden went to the British Embassy on Thursday to offer condolences on the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The American leader sat at a table and signed the condolence book at the embassy. His wife, Jill Biden, brought a bouquet of flowers. She stood by him before she too wrote in the book.
The president then spoke to embassy staff and could say of the former British monarch: “We mourn for all of you. She was a great lady.”
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PARIS – Britain’s historic rival and contemporary ally France lowered flags at the presidential palace and public buildings to half-mast in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, who has died aged 96.
President Emmanuel Macron said no other foreign sovereign had visited the Elysee Palace more than Elizabeth, who has known all eight of France’s modern presidents.
He hailed her “immutable moral authority”, her intimate knowledge of French and the stability she brought “throughout the vicissitudes and upheavals of politics, a constancy with the flavor of eternity”.
“The woman who stood alongside the giants of the 20th century on the path of history has left to join them,” he said in a statement, sharing condolences for Britain from “the French Republic and the French people.”
At the British Embassy in Paris, a 20-year-old fashion student was among many who gathered, teary-eyed, flowers and candles, to bid him farewell.
“When we heard the news, we said to ourselves that Queen Elizabeth has been following us for a good part of our lives,” said fashion student Theo Maillet. “We wanted to pay tribute to her tonight, think of her family and say a final goodbye.”
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Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that since she was crowned in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II visited the island every decade until 2002.
“Without a doubt, she created a special bond with the people of Jamaica during her reign,” he said. “We are saddened that we will no longer see the light of day, but we will remember her historic reign.”
In March, when Prince William and Kate visited Jamaica as part of an official trip to the Caribbean, Holness made a surprise public announcement that the British Commonwealth intended to become fully independent.
Since then, Jamaica has established a Constitutional Reform Committee and is scheduled to hold a referendum in 2025. If approved, it will join other republics in the region including Barbados, Dominica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
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LONDON – Police in Scotland have removed barriers blocking the gates of Balmoral Castle to allow the public to lay flowers for Queen Elizabeth II.
The area was cordoned off after the royals arrived earlier on Thursday.
In London, the wrought iron gates of Buckingham Palace were lit up by dozens of colorful bouquets laid by mourners.
On the Mall, the main thoroughfare leading to Buckingham Palace, around 50 black taxis lined up to pay their respects to the monarch. In nearby Green Park, hundreds of people streamed down the sidewalks that wound through the park on their way to the palace.
“As a young person, this is a really big moment,” said Romy McCarthy, 20. “It marks the end of an era, especially as a woman — we had a woman who was in power as someone to look up to.”
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LONDON – Several sporting events in Britain have been canceled as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Organizers of the BMW PGA Championship golf event immediately suspended play, with many players still out on the course at Wentworth. The course and practice facilities will be closed on Friday.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said Friday’s second Test between England and South Africa at the Oval will not go ahead.
Horse racing meetings in Britain were suspended on Thursday night and Friday, with the governing body wishing to “remember her extraordinary life and contribution to the sport and our nation”.
Domestic rugby matches in England and Scotland were canceled on Thursday and matches will not be played over the weekend either.
Friday’s Tour of Britain stage has been cancelled, with a decision on the final two stages over the weekend to be made in due course.
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LONDON – People mourned in crowds outside Buckingham Palace as officials held an announcement confirming the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the gates of her London home.
Thousands gathered in the pouring rain to pay their respects to the late monarch, who died on Thursday aged 96.
Royal superfan John Loughrey, 67, wept outside the palace as he paid tribute to the “inspirational” Queen. He compared her and the late Prince Philip to swans, which are said to die of broken hearts when they lose their mates. She and Philip were married for 73 years until his death in April last year.
“It went downhill after the Duke of Edinburgh died,” Loughrey said. “They were like two swans.
“God save the Queen.”
LONDON – Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has died. She was 96 years old. Elizabeth spent more than seven decades on the throne as Britain rebuilt from war, lost an empire, transformed its economy and entered and left the European Union.
She was a constant presence, the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and she steered the institution of the monarchy through troubled waters.
She probably met more people than anyone in history and her image, which graced stamps, coins and banknotes, was among the most reproduced in the world.
But her inner life and opinions remained largely a mystery. The impact of her loss will be great and unpredictable.
She was a constant presence, the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and she steered the institution of the monarchy through troubled waters.
She probably met more people than anyone in history and her image, which graced stamps, coins and banknotes, was among the most reproduced in the world. But her inner life and opinions remained largely a mystery. The impact of her loss will be great and unpredictable.
The official steps after the sudden change from Queen of the UK to King
The rules of the British monarchy state that “a new sovereign succeeds to the throne as soon as his or her predecessor dies.” It means Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son, Prince Charles, became king shortly after her death on Thursday afternoon at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Within 24 hours of a monarch’s death, a new sovereign is officially announced as soon as possible at St James’s Palace in London by the ‘Council of Accession’. However, it could be months or even more before Charles’ official coronation. In Elizabeth’s case, her coronation came on 2 June 1953 – 16 months after her accession on 6 February 1952, when her father, King George VI, died. – Associated Press
