The United Kingdom’s royal family has an order set for who takes the throne. This has been a tradition observed since the monarchy was established in 1066 (via Royal Central). Following the tragic death of Queen Elizabeth II, her son, Prince Charles, was next in line, as he is the Prince of Wales.
It’s no secret that Charles is now king. The change in reign has been covered by various media outlets since the queen’s health began to go downhill. However, Charles becoming the king of England is not the only change the monarchy will see. There will be a shift in roles for a few members of the royal brood.
According to Cosmopolitan, Prince William will take over the title as the Prince of Wales. When King Charles III dies, William will take over the throne as his eldest son. Following William’s death, his three children whom he shares with Kate Middleton will follow suit for the throne.
So, where does that leave Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and will life actually change for him and Meghan Markle now that Charles is the king?
Former US Presidents commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s life and service
Fourteen US Presidents served during the Queen’s seven-decade reign, and the living former Presidents are releasing statements of condolence following her death.
Former President Barack Obama, in a joint statement with first lady Michelle Obama, said they are “awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service.”
“Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us,” the Obamas wrote.
“Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity. Time and again, we were struck by her warmth,” they added.
Former President Donald Trump also issued a statement on the death of the Queen, writing in part, “her leadership and enduring diplomacy secured and advanced alliances with the United States and countries around the world. However, she will always be remembered for her faithfulness to her country and her unwavering devotion to her fellow countrymen and women.”
“Melania and I will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was—there was nobody like her!” Trump also said.
Meanwhile, 43rd President George Bush wrote that “spending time at Buckingham Palace, and having tea with Her Majesty – and her Corgis – is among our fondest memories of the presidency.”
“Laura and I were honored to have known Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a woman of great intellect, charm, and wit,” he wrote.
“Queen Elizabeth ably led England through dark moments with her confidence in her people and her vision for a brighter tomorrow. Our world benefitted from her steady resolve, and we are grateful for her decades of service as sovereign,” Bush added.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marked Queen Elizabeth’s passing by remembering her as a someone with “unfailing grace, dignity, and genuine care for the welfare of all its people.”
“In sunshine or storm, she was a source of stability, serenity, and strength,” they said in a statement provided to CNN by a Clinton spokesperson.
UK opposition leader mourns end of “Elizabethan era”
From CNN’s Niamh Kennedy in London
In a televised video statement, UK Opposition leader Keir Starmer mourned the end of Britain’s “Elizabethan era” following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.
Starmer, who is the leader of the UK’s Labour Party, paid tribute to the UK’s longest serving and “greatest ever monarch.”
“Around the world, people are united and united in celebrating her life. This togetherness is a reminder of what she achieved, a reminder of our shared values, which I know will be upheld by her beloved son, Charles, our new king. So as our great Elizabethan era comes to an end, we will honor the late Queen’s memory by keeping alive the values of public service she embodied,” Starmer said.
He stressed that the British public will “always treasure Queen Elizabeth II’s life of service and devotion.”
Royal website has gone dark in honor of Queen Elizabeth II
The website of the British Monarchy has gone dark following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
The website notes that it’s temporarily unavailable and currently has an image paying homage to the late Queen.
A message at the bottom of the main royal’s website reads: “The official website of the Royal Family is temporarily unavailable while appropriate changes are made.”
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.
Thursday, 8 September 2022,” the website read.
Additionally, the websites of Prince of Wales and Harry and Meghan’s Archewell have also become a blacked-out landing page, with messages in memory of the Queen.
Eiffel Tower lights will be turned off tonight in tribute to Queen, Paris mayor says
From CNN’s Renee Bertini
The Eiffel Tower lights, the hallmark of Paris, will be turned off tonight “in tribute to the [Q]ueen Elizabeth II,” the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said in a post on Twitter on Thursday.
Britons remember interactions they had with Queen Elizabeth II
As crowds gather outside Windsor Castle to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II, people are commemorating her legacy and some are even remembering the times they interacted with Her Majesty.
One woman told CNN it was “amazing” when she saw the Queen at an opening of a hospice a few months ago. She said the Queen waved at everyone there and gave the crowd a little smirk and said “thank you” when they told her she looked great.
“She just symbolizes everything. I’m such a big royalist. I lived in Windsor all my life so just growing up with my family loving her and kind of instilling that on us, really,” she said.
She said the Queen was “absolutely” a uniting force, adding “she is going to be missed.”
Jonathan Windsor, from Bristol said he found out about the Queen’s death through a notification on his phone while he was at a pub.
“We toasted Her Majesty on the news. I can’t emphasize how sad our country is with the terrible news,” he told CNN.
Another person, Judy Anzel from London, said her mother called her to tell her about the Queen’s passing.
“Of course this was something we were all expecting to come at some point, but it’s different when it actually happens,” Anzel said, adding “the UK has been in a tough position as of late” and because of that, the death is “going to hit it especially hard at this time.”
CNN’s Paul Murphy contributed reporting to this post.
King Charles III address to come on Friday
King Charles III is expected to make an address tomorrow, a royal spokesperson told CNN.
Bidens mourn passing of Queen, saying she “defined an era”
From CNN’s Sam Fossum
US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden released a statement on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, calling her a “steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations.”
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era,” President Biden says in a statement.
“Today, the thoughts and prayers of people all across the United States are with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in their grief. We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world,” the Bidens wrote in the statement.
“Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special,” they said.
“We were honored that she extended her hospitality to us in June 2021 during our first overseas trip as President and First Lady, where she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom. … She helped Americans commemorate both the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the bicentennial of our independence. And she stood in solidarity with the United States during our darkest days after 9/11, when she poignantly reminded us that ‘Grief is the price we pay for love,'” the statement continued.
The Bidens said they first met the Queen in 1982 while the President traveled to the UK as part of a Senate delegation.
They said they “look forward to continuing a close friendship with The King and The Queen Consort.”
Prince William and Catherine have taken on titles of Duke and Duchess of Cornwall
From CNN’s Lauren Kent and Niamh Kennedy in London
Prince William and Catherine have assumed the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, according to their official Twitter account. Prince Charles and Camilla were previously known by those titles.
Following the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death on Thursday, the bio for Kate and William’s official Twitter account changed to: “The official account of The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge and the Royal Foundation, based at Kensington Palace.”
Prince William and Kate previously held the title of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
UK’s new monarch will be known as King Charles III
Queen Elizabeth’s son Charles will rule under the name King Charles III, it has now been confirmed.
“Her reign was indeed glorious”: Tony Blair pays tribute to Queen
Tony Blair, who served as Britain’s prime minister for one decade of the Queen’s 70-year reign, has said “it was our great good fortune to have her reign over us.”
“We have lost not just our monarch but the matriarch of our nation, the figure who more than any other brought our country together, kept us in touch with our better nature, personified everything which makes us proud to be British,” Blair wrote.
“God save the King,” Truss says to end speech
Liz Truss concluded her speech outside Downing Street with a call to unite behind Charles, Britain’s new King.
“We offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long,” the UK’s new Prime Minister said.
“With the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country. Exactly as her Majesty would have wished: by saying the words, ‘God save the King.'”
Watch whole speech:
The Queen’s death marks the UK’s “saddest day”: ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson says
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted a statement following the announcement that Queen Elizabeth II had died, saying it’s the “country’s saddest day.”
“In the hearts of every one of us there is an ache at the passing of our Queen, a deep and personal sense of loss — far more intense, perhaps, than we expected,” he wrote.
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Come together to support Charles as he becomes King, Truss urges Brits
Prime Minister Liz Truss called on Britons to “come together” to support Charles, the United Kingdom’s new King.
“In the difficult days ahead, we will come together with our friends across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the world, to celebrate her extraordinary lifetime of service,” Truss said.
“It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy.”
“Today the Crown passes, as it has done for more than a thousand years, to our new monarch, our new head of state: His Majesty, King Charles III,” Truss said.
“With the King’s family, we mourn the loss of his mother. And as we mourn, we must come together as a people to support him,” she added. “To help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all.”
Queen was an inspiration to me and many Britons, Truss says
“Britain is the great country it is today because of her,” UK Prime Minister Liz Truss said outside Downing Street following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
“We are now a modern, thriving, dynamic nation. Through thick and thin, Queen Elizabeth II provided us with he stability and the strength that we needed.”
“It’s an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.”
“She was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom, and all round the world.
She has been a personal inspiration to me, and to many Britons, the new PM said.
Canada’s Trudeau reacts to death of Queen “with the heaviest of hearts”
From CNN’s Paul P. Murphy
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is “with the heaviest of hearts” that Canada learned of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
“It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country’s history,” Trudeau said in a tweet.
Queen Elizabeth II served as Canada’s head of state.
In Ottawa, the flag at Peace Tower could also be seen being lowered after the announcement of the Queen’s death.
Charles is “steeped in the future,” CNN anchor says as royal family looks ahead to next chapter
Charles, who is now King following Queen Elizabeth II’s death, now has the job of uniting the United Kingdom, Richard Quest, CNN anchor and correspondent, said.
Other than the years where is personal life created scandal, Charles “has served the country loyally and with great dignity over many years,” Quest said on CNN.
One strength Charles has as the monarchy starts its new chapter, Quest said, is his forward thinking.
“He is steeped in the future. He was ahead of the game with environmental issues. He was ahead of the game on climate change. He’s ahead of the game on a lot of thoughts that are now normal — he was suggesting years ago,” Quest said.
“Then he will have the job of uniting the United Kingdom at a time when there are such great fears and unease,” he added.
Queen Elizabeth was “the very spirit of Great Britain,” PM Liz Truss says
Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss is giving an address outside Downing Street, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Truss said: “The death of her majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and to the world.”
“Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built,” she said. “Our country has grown and flourished under her reign.”
“She was the very spirit of Great Britain, and that spirit will endure.”
Truss met the Queen to formally be appointed Prime Minister on Tuesday, in the monarch’s last engagement before her death. She is the 15th and final Prime Minister to have served under Elizabeth.
Charles mourns loss of his mother as he becomes King
Queen Elizabeth’s son and the new King of the United Kingdom, Charles, has released a statement mourning his mother’s death.
He calls it “a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.”
A statement from His Majesty His King: pic.twitter.com/c1fivUrUPH
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
World leaders honor the life of Queen Elizabeth II and offer condolences to Royal family
From CNN staff
Reactions are starting to pour in from leaders around the world expressing their sympathy and offering condolences to the Royal family following the passing Queen Elizabeth II.
Here are their statements:
President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins:
“It is with profound regret and a deep personal sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my heartfelt sympathy to His Majesty King Charles and to the Royal Family on their very great personal loss. May I offer my deepest condolences to the British people and to the members of the Commonwealth on the loss of a unique, committed and deeply respected Head of State.
Her Majesty served the British people with exceptional dignity. Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as Queen, which will hold a unique place in British history.”
Royal House of the Netherlands:
“We remember Queen Elizabeth II with deep respect and great affection. Steadfast and wise, she dedicated her long life to serving the British people. We feel a strong bond with the United Kingdom and its royal family, and we share their sorrow at this time. We are very grateful for our countries close friendship, to which Queen Elizabeth made such an unforgettable contribution,” it said.
From the White House:
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reacted Thursday to the news that Queen Elizabeth II has died at 96, saying that “our hearts and our thoughts” go to the family and the people of the United Kingdom.
“Our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the Queen, goes to the people of United Kingdom. I don’t want to get ahead of what the President is going to say,” Jean-Pierre said at the end of the White House press briefing, reacting live to the news of the Queen’s passing.
President of France Emmanuel Macron:
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres:
“I am deeply saddened at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I extend my sincere condolences to her bereaved family, the Government and people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the wider Commonwealth of Nations,” Guterres noted in a statement.
“Queen Elizabeth II was a good friend of the United Nations, and visited our New York Headquarters twice, more than fifty years apart. She was deeply committed to many charitable and environmental causes and spoke movingly to delegates at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Zelensky expressed condolences to the entire United Kingdom, saying in a tweet “It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the ?? people, we extend sincere condolences to the @RoyalFamily, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi
“The Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, expresses deep condolences for the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth has been the absolute protagonist of world history for the past seventy years,” Draghi expressed in a statement.
“Her spirit of service, her dedication to the UK and the Commonwealth, the deep dignity with which he held his office for such a long period have been a relentless source of admiration for generations. To the Royal Family, to the Governments and to all citizens of the United Kingdom and of the Commonwealth countries, our deepest condolences,” Draghi stated.
Charles is now King of the United Kingdom
Charles immediately became King upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth.
The Royal family referred to Charles as King in announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth. The tweet referred to Camila as the Queen Consort.
As heir apparent since the age of three, he has been the longest serving heir to the throne in British history.
Upon becoming the sovereign, Charles has the option to take any name he chooses for his reign as King. For example, King George VI’s real name was actually Albert. Two previous monarchs have been called Charles.
Charles had already been taking on some of the Queen’s engagements this year as her health had become enough of a concern for her to cancel some of her commitments, including the State Opening of Parliament.
Both Charles and Prince William had been prioritizing the Queen’s diary over theirs. Both of them had been activated as Counsellors of State, where the Queen delegates her sovereign power for specific purposes, and they were obligated to be even more available for those duties.
Sports world honors Queen Elizabeth II
From CNN’s David Close
The Premier League, the top level of the men’s English football league system, tweeted its condolences in the wake of Queen Elizabeth’s death on Thursday, saying in tweet its thoughts are with the royal family and “everyone around the world mourning the loss of Her Majesty.”
One of the football clubs within the league, Manchester United, also posted on Twitter that it “shares the sorrow of the entire nation.”
Chelsea Football Club said on Twitter that it “is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We join those mourning in the UK and across the world.”
Formula 1 said in a statement on its website the organization is “mourning the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
“For more than seven decades she dedicated her life to public service with dignity and devotion and inspired so many around the world. Formula 1 sends its deepest condolences to the Royal Family and to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth,” Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said in the statement.
Arsenal acknowledged the passing in a tweet as well, saying it will be “taking time to mourn and reflect on Her Majesty’s incredible life and devoted service.
The ongoing professional golf tournament, the BMW PGA Championship being held in Surrey, England, has been suspended for the remainder of the day in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
Rainbow seen at Windsor Castle after Queen’s death announced
A rainbow could be seen over the sky at Windsor Castle as the British flag was lowered after the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
Post source: The List
