Britain's Queen Elizabeth II "died peacefully" on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Balmoral Castle, the British royal family's estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. She was 96.
Elizabeth was Britain's longest-reigning monarch. She ascended to the throne in 1952 and, in June, celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years as queen.
King Charles III to receive several key audiences today at Buckingham Palace
King Charles III will undertake a number of important meetings at Buckingham Palace today following his formal proclamation as king this morning.
The king is scheduled to meet with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, at 9 a.m. ET followed by a meeting with the U.K.’s newly appointed prime minister, Liz Truss, and members of her cabinet at 9:30 a.m. ET.
At 10 a.m. ET, King Charles II will receive the leaders of the opposition parties at Buckingham Palace before his final scheduled meeting of the day at 11 a.m. ET where he will receive David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster.
Sep 09, 2022, 8:02 PM EDT
A look at Queen Elizabeth's lifelong love of corgis
Perhaps no animal has been so closely associated with a world figure as corgis were with Queen Elizabeth II.
Her death sparked an outpouring of photographs and drawings of her and her dogs throughout the years.
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at King's Cross railway station in London, on Oct. 15, 1969, with her four corgi dogs after holidays in Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Stf/AFP via Getty Images
Fellow dog owners are also planning to celebrate the queen's life of service with a corgi parade outside of Buckingham Palace next month, the U.K. newspaper The Daily Mirror reported.
President Joe Biden told reporters Friday that he will be attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
"Yes. I don’t know what the details are yet, but I’ll be going," Biden told reporters on the tarmac of Ohio's Columbus International Airport. Buckingham Palace has not yet announced when the queen's funeral will be held.
U.S. President Joe Biden gestures as he signs a condolence book after Queen Elizabeth, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and the nation's figurehead for seven decades, died aged 96, at the British Embassy, in Washington, Sept. 8, 2022.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Asked if he had spoken to King Charles III yet, Biden said, "I know him, I haven’t spoken to him. I did not call him yet."
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
Sep 09, 2022, 1:36 PM EDT
King Charles III pledges to uphold Britain's constitutional principals
In his first speech as monarch, King Charles III pledged to follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II, upholding Britain's Constitution.
"As the queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the constitutional principles at the heart of our nation," King Charles III said.
Britain's King Charles III makes a televised address to the Nation and the Commonwealth from the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London on Sept. 9, 2022, a day after Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96.
Yui Mok/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Drinkers in the Prince of Wales pub in central London watch a televised address by Britain's King Charles III, made from the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London on Sept. 9, 2022, a day after Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96.
Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
"And, wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavor to serve you with loyalty, respect and love as I have throughout my life."
The king also recognized his new role, and the changes it will bring.
"My life will, of course, change as I take up my new responsibilities. It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But, I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others," the king later said.
9:05
King Charles III addresses UK and commonwealthThe address is King Charles III's first as the monarch.
