Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at the age of 96.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 8, Buckingham Palace said that The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The Queen died with her children gathered around her at her Scottish estate near Aberdeen.
The 96 year old was under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health.
His eldest son Prince Charles of Wales will now become king.
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952 at the age of 25 in the aftermath of World War II, joining a world stage dominated by political figures such as Mao Zedong, Joseph Stalin, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Her reign spanned two centuries of tumultuous social, political, and technological change.
The remnants of Britain’s vast empire disintegrated. Brexit shook the foundations of her kingdom at home, while her family endured a string of scandals.
She was queen and head of state of not only the United Kingdom, but also fourteen former British colonies, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
She was also the head of the Commonwealth, which comprises 56 nations and a quarter of the world’s population, and the supreme governor of the Church of England, the mother church of the worldwide Anglican communion.
A number of Kenyan leaders including president elect William Ruto have sent condolences to the Royal Family.
Ruto in his condolence message hailed the Queen’s “admirable” leadership of the Commonwealth.
“May her memories continue to inspire us. We join the Commonwealth in mourning and offer our condolences to the Royal Family and the United Kingdom,” said Ruto.
Outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta mourned the Queen as an icon of selfless service to humanity.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a towering icon of selfless service to humanity and a key figurehead of not only the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations where Kenya is a distinguished member but the entire world,” President Kenyatta mourned.
