Prime Minister Liz Truss leads Britain in mourning the Queen

‘She was the rock on which modern Britain was built’: Prime Minister Liz Truss leads Britain in mourning the Queen after the ‘devastating’ news of her death aged 96

• PM said the devastating’ event marked the end of the second Elizabethan age 
• She spoke in Downing Street , where Union Jacks flew at half mast
• Comes just days after Ms Truss travelled to Balmoral to formally be appointed
• Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing

Liz Truss hailed the Queen as ‘the rock on which modern Britain was built’ as she led the country in mourning the monarch’s death at the age of 96.

The Prime Minister said the devastating’ event marked the end of the second Elizabethan age and her passing was ‘a great loss’ the the nation and the world.

She spoke in Downing Street, where Union Jacks flew at half mast following the end of the Queen’s 70-year reign. 

The death of the beloved monarch at the age of 96 comes just days after Ms Truss travelled to Balmoral on Tuesday to formally be appointed prime minister.

She was the 15th prime minister of the Queen’s 70 year reign it and the ‘kissing of hands’ ceremony would become the Queen’s final personal political role before passing away this afternoon.

Ms Truss referred 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.’

She ended by saying: ‘God save the king.’

The Prime Minister said the devastating’ event marked the end of the second Elizabethan age and her passing was ‘a great loss’ the the nation and the world.

The death of the beloved monarch at the age of 96 comes just days after Ms Truss travelled to Balmoral on Tuesday to formally be appointed prime minister.

The Union Jacks above No10 Downing Street were at half-mast tonight

Praising the Queen, Ms Truss added: ‘It’s an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years. Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.

‘In return she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.

‘She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons – her devotion to duty is an example to us all.’

Charles, the former Prince of Wales, is now King. He will address the shocked nation imminently, as the world grieves Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

All her children had rushed to Balmoral after doctors became ‘concerned’ for her health. Hours later she died, surrounded by her family.

At 6.30pm her death was confirmed. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘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 death will see Britain and her Commonwealth realms enter into a ten-day period of mourning as millions of her subjects in the UK and abroad come to terms with her passing.

And as her son accedes to the throne, there will also be a celebration of her historic 70-year reign that saw her reach her Platinum Jubilee this year – a landmark unlikely to be reached again by a British monarch.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said: ‘We will always treasure Queen Elizabeth II’s life of service and devotion to our nation and the Commonwealth; our longest-serving and greatest monarch.

‘Above the clashes of politics, she stood not for what the nation fought over, but what it agreed upon. As Britain changed rapidly around her, this dedication became the still point of our turning world.

‘So as our great Elizabethan era comes to an end, we will honour the late Queen’s memory by keeping alive the values of public service she embodied.

‘For seventy years, Queen Elizabeth II stood as the head of our country. But, in spirit, she stood amongst us.’

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