* Prince Charles, 73, steps in as King
The longest-serving monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II, has died “peacefully” aged 96 years.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the death of Queen Elizabeth II through a statement on Thursday.
Her eldest son, Charles, 73, succeeds as king immediately, according to centuries of protocol, beginning a new, less certain chapter for the royal family after the queen’s record-breaking 70-year reign.
The queen had been under medical supervision as doctors expressed “concerned for Her Majesty’s health.”
The announcement of her death comes a day after the 96-year-old monarch cancelled a meeting of her Privy Council and was told to rest.
With Queen Elizabeth II’s death, Prince Charles would become king and his wife, Camilla, formerly the Duchess of Cornwall, will become the Queen Consort, a request made by Queen Elizabeth.
“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,” the statement read.
Charles was previously married to the late Princess Diana, mother of Prince Harry.
At 73, Prince Charles is the oldest-recorded person to become a British monarch: King William IV was 64 when he was crowned in 1830.
