The death of Queen Elizabeth II: September 8, 2022

By Aditi Sangal, Rob Picheta, Adrienne Vogt, Ed Upright, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Elise Hammond, Maureen Chowdhury and Melissa Macaya, CNN

Updated 12:27 p.m. ET, October 7, 2022
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8:38 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

This is what the royal line of succession looks like

From CNN staff

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, her son, Charles, immediately became King.

Here’s what we know about the British royal family’s line of succession.

King Charles

Born: November 14, 1948

What to know: First in the line of succession, Charles was the longest serving British monarch-in-waiting; he’s been the heir apparent since the age of 3. As president of The Prince’s Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and president or patron of more than 400 charitable organizations, the Prince of Wales is the first royal heir to earn a university degree.

More key relatives: Diana, Princess of Wales, to whom he was married from 1981 to 1996. They had two children together: Princes William and Harry.

Diana died in 1997 following a car accident in Paris, along with boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul.

In 2005, the Prince of Wales married Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Born: June 21, 1982

What to know: Prince William, next line to the throne after his father Charles, has achieved the highest educational degree – Masmer of Arta – of any member of the royal family. He served in the military from 2006 to 2013, participating in more than 150 helicopter search and rescue operations.

More key relatives: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, whom he married in 2011. The couple have three children together: Prince George, 9; Princess Charlotte, 7; and Prince Louis, 4.

The family live in Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroom property in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire, about 25 miles from London. The Cambridges’ London residence, Kensington Palace, will remain the family’s principal residence, however, a royal source told CNN in August.

Prince George of Cambridge

Born: July 22, 2013

What to know: When Prince George arrived, he became third in line to inherit the throne. If he becomes king after the reigns of his grandfather Prince Charles and his father Prince William, George will be the 43rd monarch since William the Conqueror.

But for now, he’s still brushing up on his education: George currently attends Lambrook School near Windsor along with his younger sister, Charlotte and his younger brother, Louis.

View more here.

5:23 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

British actors and artists who were given special recognition by the Queen mourn her death 

From CNN's Megan Thomas and Stella Chan

Queen Elizabeth meets with singer Elton John in London on June 4, 2012.
Queen Elizabeth meets with singer Elton John in London on June 4, 2012.  (Rota/Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)

British actors and artists who were honored by Queen Elizabeth II mourned her death Thursday.

Singer Elton John shared his sadness and offered condolences on Instagram.

“Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing,” John wrote in an Instagram post. “She was an inspiring presence to be around, and lead the country through some of our greatest, and darkest, moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth," he said.

“Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly," he added.

John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1998 for services to music and his charitable works. 

Dame Helen Mirren, the English actor who won an Oscar for portraying Queen Elizabeth in the 2006 film "The Queen," also paid tribute to the late monarch.

"I am proud to be an Elizabethan. We mourn a woman, who, with or without the crown, was the epitome of nobility," Mirren wrote in an Instagram post. 

Mirren also played Queen Elizabeth in the Broadway production of "The Audience" in 2015. She was appointed Dame by Queen Elizabeth in 2003 for her services to drama.

Actor Sir Patrick Stewart also remembered the late monarch when asked about her passing at a "Star Trek Day" red carpet event.

“Her legacy will be examined. It's been a very traditional legacy, I feel. I’m sad, I met her several times, she gave me my knighthood, and I was delighted. I wanted her to see the century, having been England’s longest serving monarch. I felt that would have been perfect —100 years on the planet. But I’m excited about, if it is to be, we don’t know that for certain, Prince Charles who is the one next to ascend the throne. I am looking forward very much to what he’s going to do," he said.

Stewart was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2010.

5:04 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

Queen said Prince Philip’s death last year "left a huge void in her life"

From CNN's Sarah Dean and Eoin McSweeney

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, walk at Broadlands in Hampshire on November 18, 2007.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, walk at Broadlands in Hampshire on November 18, 2007. (Fiona Hanson/AFP/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II described being left with a “huge void in her life” after her husband Prince Philip’s death, their son Prince Andrew said last April.

Speaking to media after attending a service at the chapel at Royal Lodge Windsor, the Duke of York said, “I feel very sorry and supportive of my mother who is feeling it probably more than anybody else.”

Philip, the lifelong companion of the Queen and the longest-serving consort in British history, died at the age of 99 on April 9, 2021.

“He was a remarkable man, I loved him as a father. He was so calm. If you had a problem, he would think about it,” Andrew said. “He was always someone you could go to.”

The news of Philip’s death was met with an outpouring of tributes from around the world, including messages from every living US President and other world leaders.

The royal family themselves were “all feeling a great sense of loss,” Andrew said. “We’ve lost almost the grandfather of the nation.”

Asked at the time how his mother was feeling, the duke replied: “The Queen as you would expect is an incredibly stoic person. And she described his passing as a miracle. And she’s contemplating."

“She described it as having left a huge void in her life,” he said, adding that the family was “rallying around to make sure that we’re there to support her.”

Read more here.

4:43 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

French government mourns death of Queen and praises her contribution to Franco-British relationship

From CNN’s Xiaofei Xu in Paris

The French Presidential Palace mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II in a long and emotional statement Thursday, thanking her for the role she played in modern history and Franco-British relationship. 

“She held a special status in France and a special place in the hearts of the French people,” Élysée Palace said in a statement.

The Queen "loved France, which loved her back,” it added.

Queen Elizabeth II held the record for most visits to the Élysée Palace for a foreign sovereign. At various occasions, including the six state visits she made to France, the Queen has met with all eight presidents of the French Fifth Republic, which was established in 1959, according to the statement. 

The Queen was fluent in French and made several public speeches in French while visiting the country.

“She who stood with the giants of the twentieth century on the path of history has now left to join them,” the statement said.

4:32 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

New Zealand PM says Queen defined "notions of service, charity, and consistency"

From CNN’s Philip Wang

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern remembered Queen Elizabeth II in a national address after her passing, saying that she had come to define “notions of service, charity, and consistency.”

“Her commitment to her role and to all of us has been without question and unwavering, ” Ardern said. 

Ardern also announced that New Zealand would be moving into a period of official mourning. Flags will be flown at half-staff. Preparations for a state memorial are underway and will be held after the Queen’s official funeral in the UK. 

“There is no doubt that a chapter is closing today. And with that, we share our thanks for an incredible woman who we were lucky enough to call our queen,” Ardern said. 

The Queen was New Zealand’s head of state.

4:33 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

Australian prime minister honors Queen's "long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service"

From Angus Watson in Sydney, Australia 

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has offered the country’s sympathy and deepest condolences at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

In a statement, Albanese lauded a “long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service.”

 As head of state, Queen Elizabeth visited Australia 16 times.  

“From her famous first trip to Australia, the only reigning sovereign to ever visit, it was clear Her Majesty held a special place in her heart for Australia,” the prime minister wrote. “Fifteen more tours before cheering crowds in every part of our country confirmed the special place she held in ours.”

In 1999 Australia held a referendum on whether to remove the Queen as head of state. The referendum was defeated.

Albanese noted a relationship between Australia and the British monarchy which “matured and evolved throughout Her Majesty’s reign.”

“The Queen greeted each and every change with understanding, good grace and an abiding faith in the Australian people’s good judgment," Albanese noted.

Governor-General David Hurley, the British monarch’s representative in Australia, will address the nation later Friday. 

In a statement, Hurley described Queen Elizabeth as “a truly remarkable person” who showed “selflessness and unwavering commitment to the people whom she served. To us.”

4:12 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

Police remove barriers blocking access to Balmoral Castle gates to allow public to lay flowers

From CNN's Sugam Pokharel

Police have removed barriers blocking access to the gates to Balmoral Castle to allow the public to lay flowers for the Queen, according to PA news agency.  

Others are outside Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to mourn the death of Queen.

4:10 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

Scottish first minister pays tribute to Queen who was "loved and admired" by the people of Scotland 

From CNN's Niamh Kennedy in London 

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who she said was "loved and admired" by the people of Scotland. 

"Like everyone across Scotland, the United Kingdom, indeed the world, I feel a deep sense of sadness on the death of Her Majesty the Queen. On behalf of the people of Scotland, I offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the King, the Queen Consort and to the entire royal family," Sturgeon said in a televised address on Thursday.  

Sturgeon recounted how the Queen was a "great constant in our national life" for 70 years, speaking of how she "inspired" the Scottish public. 

"And by all accounts, Her Majesty was rarely happier than when she was here in Scotland at her beloved Balmoral. A fact I have been privileged to observe personally," the first minister continued. 

She expressed her hope that members of the royal family will find "comfort" in knowing that the queen "spent her final days in a place that she loved so much."

4:21 p.m. ET, September 8, 2022

Pope Francis mourns death of Queen and sends blessing to King Charles III

From CNN’s Nicola Ruotolo in Rome and Xiaofei Xu in Paris

Queen Elizabeth meets Pope Francis at the Vatican, on April 3, 2014.
Queen Elizabeth meets Pope Francis at the Vatican, on April 3, 2014. (Stefano Rellandini/AFP/Getty Images)

Pope Francis mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II, praising her “steadfast witness of faith in Jesus Christ” in a telegram to King Charles III, the new monarch of the United Kingdom.

“Commending her noble soul to the merciful goodness of our Heavenly Father, I assure Your Majesty of my prayers that Almighty God will sustain you with his unfailing grace as you now take up your high responsibilities as King,” the Pope wrote.

“Upon you and all who cherish the memory of your late mother, I invoke an abundance of divine blessings as a pledge of comfort and strength in the Lord,” he added.