Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96, Buckingham Palace has announced.

"The Queen passed away peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral overnight and return to London tomorrow."

On Thursday, it emerged that doctors were concerned about the Queen's health and advised her to remain under the medical supervision.

Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch having held the throne for more than 70 years.

Over the past year, Queen Elizabeth II has delegated some of her most important royal duties to her eldest son, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne.

In May, the 96-year-old monarch had to step down from presiding over the state opening of Parliament due to mobility issues and did not deliver the traditional Queen's speech outlining the government's legislative agenda. For the first time since 1963, the Queen did not attend the ceremony.

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