Liz Truss was informed of The Queen’s death at 4.30pm today, Downing Street confirmed. At lunchtime, at around 12.35pm, Buckingham Palace issue a statement saying doctors are concerned for the Queen’s health.
Ms Truss was told the news by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case. After 5pm, a fleet of cars, including a Range Rover driven by William, with Andrew in the passenger seat and Edward and Sophie in the back, arrives at Balmoral.
It came after a ripple of rumour around Parliament today. During her energy bill announcement, Nadhim Zahawu slipped into the chamber and inserted himself between Kwasi Kwarteng and Truss to speak to the prime minister, handing her a note, and then slipped out again.
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The Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, said: “I know I speak on behalf of the entire house when I say that we send our best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen and that she and the royal family are in our thoughts and prayers at this moment.”
The news was then confirmed to the nation at 6.31pm. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “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.”
Ms Truss said it was “the passing of the second Elizabethan age” and concluded an address by saying “God save the King”. She refers to Charles, the new King, as King Charles III, saying: “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.”
Clarence House confirmed that Charles will be known as King Charles III this evening. And Kensington Palace confirms that Kate and William will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge.
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