Today marks the third anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Elizabeth II died on September 8 2022 at 3.10pm at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. And so ended the longest reign in British history. Her Late Majesty had ruled for 70 years when she died and had marked the only Platinum Jubilee her country has ever seen.
Her eldest son became Charles III at the moment of her death. He was at Balmoral but had taken a break from his mother's bedside for some air. It is understood he learned of her passing when someone rang him to inform him but began their sentence with ''Your Majesty''.
Crowds had already gathered at Buckingham Palace after an announcement just after midday which said Queen Elizabeth's doctors were concerned for her health. Rainbows appeared in late afternoon and, just before the late Queen's death was announced, a double rainbow was seen in the skies above the Palace. More appeared at Windsor and at Holyrood. Buckingham Palace announced her death soon afterwards, at 6.30pm. Those who had stood and waited for news in London fell silent as the flag was lowered at the Palace.
Millions watched the announcement around the world. Elizabeth II had been Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well as fourteen other realms including Australia, New Zealand and Canada. But she was a global figure, one of the most famous people on the planet and her death was the end of an era for many outside her country too.
The day had become surreal and strange, a moment everyone knew must happen but which seemed extraordinary as it unfolded all the same. It became a date in history, the end of that record breaking reign. The start of the final chapter of the story of Elizabeth II, Queen of England and perhaps the greatest Monarch in British history.
Elizabeth II, 1952 - 2022
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