Queen Elizabeth II was the queen of the United Kingdom up until September 8, 2022. Born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor on April 21, 1926, to Queen Elizabeth and George VI, Queen Elizabeth had five children with Prince Phillip. A couple of days before her death, officials were concerned about her health, and at around 10:30 PST, officials announced her death. Queen Elizabeth’s reign lasted for 70 years (1952-2022).

After the passing of the queen, the crown was passed down to her eldest son Prince Charles, now referred to as King Charles III.

“We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother,” he stated. “I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

To inform the anxious crowd waiting outside of Buckingham Palace, a black sign pinned on the gates stating, “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” The people of the city were able to put flowers, letters, and candles to say their final goodbye to the queen.

“When I heard she died, I was shocked and couldn’t believe it,” said Mayra Gonzalez (10).

The bells of Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Windsor Castle rang to honor the queen. There was also a gun salute; the gun was shot 96 times every year that the queen was alive. At St Paul’s Cathedral, there was a memorial for the queen that was open to the public. Additionally, students are getting two weeks off of school and adults are getting two weeks off of work to mourn their queen. Two funerals will be held and the Queen’s family has gathered to mourn her death and attend the funerals. Even those who had dropped their royal titles came to honor the queen.

Numerous stores are anticipated to close on the day of the queen’s funeral at 8:30 a.m. The crowd is believed to include almost all of the world’s leaders and will start filling Westminster Abbey shortly after. The coffin will be carried from the palace to Westminster Abbey at 10:45 am atop the state gun carriage. Britain will go silent at 11 a.m. and the state funeral will start. It is planned that the coffin of Prince Philip, the queen’s husband of 73 years who passed away in April 2021, will be buried next to her.

Wednesday was the final departure of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin from Buckingham Palace, which was met with a gun salute. The casket was decorated with a garland of roses and her crown resting on a purple velvet pillow. Her son, King Charles III, and his brothers and sons marched behind the coffin along with hundreds of thousands of people forming lines to pay their respects before her state funeral on Monday. The Imperial State Crown was covered in an arrangement of flowers including pine from the Balmore estate where Elizabeth passed away and was placed atop the coffin. The procession came to a conclusion at Westminster Hall where Charles and other royals joined for a service.

Gonzalez added, “I honestly thought she would live till she was 100 but sadly she left so soon. She sounded like a great queen and the people loved her; she did a lot for her country and I admire her for it.”