UK: Queen Elizabeth II dies aged 96
Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony in London on November 8, 2015. AP - Kirsty Wigglesworth
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Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday, September 8 at the age of 96, after a reign of more than 70 years.
His state of health had deteriorated a year after spending a night in the hospital for reasons that were never specified.
The entire royal family was at his bedside at Balmoral Castle, Scotland.
His heir Charles automatically became king.
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Queen Elizabeth II, the world's most famous monarch, died Thursday at the age of 96 at her Scottish castle of Balmoral, her family by her side, Buckingham Palace announced in a press release.
The latter announced that his son Prince Charles will automatically succeed him as head of state.
“
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and Queen consort will stay at Balmoral tonight and return to London tomorrow
,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement, an announcement greeted with enormous emotion in the United Kingdom where Elizabeth II was very popular.
The British flag was lowered at Buckingham Palace, where hundreds of people were gathered.
People present in front of the palace burst into tears and the crowd fell silent, noted an AFP journalist, while on television the BBC broadcast the British anthem.
(more information to come)
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