World News: Special edition: Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96

Thursday, September 8

Special edition: Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96

The end of a 70-year reign.

Queen Elizabeth II has died. Britain's longest-serving monarch, 96, signified stability for Britain as it battled storms of the modern age. 🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, welcome to a special edition of Daily Briefing looking back at the Queen's life — and the future of the monarchy.

The end of Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign

The era Queen Elizabeth II, the only monarch most of her subjects have ever known, is over. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor died Thursday at Balmoral Castle. The 41th British monarch since William the Conqueror in 1066, she was the symbol of stability as Britain and its near 1,000-year-old monarchy sailed through roiling storms of history. She reigned, never ruled, as Britain's head of state and constitutional figurehead for decades. A modest, even shy girl, she became the most famous woman in the world, the most photographed and depicted human being in history, who met and shook hands with an estimated 4 million people or more during her reign. Read more

•	The world held its breath Thursday morning after Buckingham Palace released an unprecedented announcement the Queen was under medical supervision as doctors were "concerned for Her Majesty's health."
•	Prince William and Prince Harry joined other members of the royal family at Balmoral Thursday as the world awaited news of the queen's passing.
•	After Queen Elizabeth II, Britain is now facing the unthinkable.

Queen Elizabeth II greets Liz Truss, her 14th prime minister and Britain's third woman premier, when she arrived at the queen's Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 6, 2022, to be invited to form a new government.

JANE BARLOW, POOL/AFP via Getty Images

What happens next? The Queen's eldest son, Prince Charles, is king

At the moment of the sovereign's death, her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles the Prince of Wales, instantly becomes Britain's 41st monarch. The ascension of Prince Charles to the throne of the United Kingdom promises to have a seismic effect on the roles of other royals orbiting the crown. Succession isn't the issue. It's a simple matter of everyone in line moving up one step as Prince Charles becomes King Charles III. Next up, of course, is his firstborn son, Prince William, and then William's firstborn son, Prince George. And so on. But the looming question is what roles and duties will be taken on by royal relatives under a king who has been vocal about scaling back the British monarchy.

•	''A moment of great sadness for me'': The King's statement in response to his ''beloved'' mother's passing.
•	There's a lot of change happening right now in Britain: Just days ago, the queen presided over the ceremonial handover of power to new Prime Minister Liz Truss.
•	Who's Who in the House of Windsor: A look at the British royal family tree, spanning four generations.
•	A royal love story: Look back at Prince Philip's 73-year marriage to Queen Elizabeth II.

At Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London on June 5, 2022. From left, Duchess Camilla, Prince Charles, Prince William, Duchess Kate and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Leon Neal/Pool photo

Queue Operation London Bridge

The death of the monarch is simultaneously the birth of a new reign; as one set of Britain's ceremonial maestros prepare for the funeral of the queen, another set are working on Operation Spring Tide, the separate plan for the rituals accompanying the accession of King Charles III. Operation London Bridge, as the queen's funeral plan is known, involves a minute-by-minute agenda for the days following her death. The queen's coffin will be transferred and she will lie in state on a purple-draped catafalque in Westminster Hall before her funeral at Westminster Abbey 10 days after her passing.

•	Prince Philip funeral: Your questions about Operation Forth Bridge, answered.

A notice is placed on the gates of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, on Sept. 8, 2022 following the announcement of the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

LESLEY MARTIN, AFP via Getty Images

A look at the monarch's life and legacy

Queen Elizabeth has lived through some remarkable moments. From her coronation on international television in 1953 to the first of her iconic Christmas addresses in 1957 to Princess Diana's death in 1997, she has defined her legacy as a consistent leader amid decades of changing family dynamics and defining world events. Click here for a gallery of the monarch from her coronation to "The Crown" portrayal.

•	One of her biggest milestones: This year's Platinum Jubilee celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign.
•	A long-time U.S. ally: From Harry Truman to Joe Biden, Queen Elizabeth II met many U.S. presidents through the years.

Her coronation took place more than a year later, on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey, where British monarchs are crowned. Coronations, the most ancient, solemn and spiritual ceremony in the royal tradition, is also the most rare in the modern era. In 1953, it was televised for the first time, the first major international event broadcast on TV. That allowed millions of her subjects around the world to see their queen take up the emotional and actual burdens of the throne (the crown and scepter) and accept pledges of allegiance from peers and bishops in Westminster Abbey. Watching all this from a balcony above the throne was her young son and heir, Prince Charles, her mother, sister and her extended family.

Her coronation took place on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey, where British monarchs are crowned.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for The Daily Briefing here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.