Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 at Balmoral, Scotland in the afternoon

Queen Elizabeth has died at the age of 96.Confirming the news, the Royal Family stated that Her Majesty passed away peacefully in the afternoon at Balmoral, Scotland.The official Royal Family Twitter page wrote: "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 Queen's eldest son, who is now King Charles, said in a statement: "The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

"During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."

Queen Elizabeth's death comes just two days after she officially appointment Liz Truss as the United Kingdom's prime minister.Ms Truss addressed the Queen's passing in a televised speech outside Number 10 Downing Street.

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said: "We have lost not just our monarch but the matriarch of our nation, the figure who more than any other brought our country together, kept us in touch with our better nature, personified everything which makes us proud to be British. "

The prime minster of Canada Justin Trudeau also stated: "It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada's longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."She was a constant presence in our lives – and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country's history."