The United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and the entire world is mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, the Queen died peacefully at the age of 96 on Thursday at her Scottish estate, Balmoral Castle, in Scotland.

Charles, her eldest son, is now King. He became the new monarch immediately and is now known as King Charles III. He said that his mother’s death was a moment of “greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.” Newly-appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss, who met the Queen just this Tuesday, said that she was “the rock upon which modern Britain was built.”

The outpouring of love and support for the Queen and the Royal Family has been tremendous around the globe. We have collected snapshots of how the world reacted to the passing of Elizabeth II, a testament to her enduring legacy, to share with you, Dear Readers. Public figures, world leaders, celebrities, Paddington, and ordinary people like us have expressed their sadness, as well as their admiration for the Queen. Tributes have been flooding in.

In an ever-changing world, the Queen was a constant. This truly is the end of an era.

Queen Elizabeth II reigned for over 70 years. Her life was one of duty and service. She will be dearly missed

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Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in 1926

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She became Queen in 1952, and was crowned a year later, in 1953

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Together with Prince Philip, they raised four children, and went on to have eight grandchildren, as well as twelve great-grandchildren

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The Queen had an enduring love for corgis, and had over 30 of them throughout her life

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King Charles III said: “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."

Charles III said that he and his family would be comforted and sustained by their knowledge of the “respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held.” Together with his wife Camilla—now the Queen Consort—will return to London on Friday, where the King will address the nation.

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United States President Joe Biden has been leading the international tributes to Queen Elizabeth II. He met her for the first time in 1982. Most recently, they met in 2021.

“She charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom. She stood in solidarity with the United States during our darkest days after 9/11, when she poignantly reminded us that, 'Grief is the price we pay for love,’” he said.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron called Queen Elizabeth II “kind-hearted” and a friend of his country.

"Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II embodied the British nation's continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century,” he said.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the Queen and “her wonderful humor” would be missed. He praised her as a “role model and inspiration for millions” and said that she helped repair the relations between the UK and Germany after the “horrors of World War II.”

Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, opened up about how the monarch was “one of his favorite people in the world.” “She was a constant presence in our lives—and her service to Canadians will forever remain an important part of our country's history. I will miss her so."

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Meanwhile, former US President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, noted that they were "struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance."

George W. Bush said that the Queen “ably led England through dark moments” and shared that “having tea with Her Majesty—and her corgis—is among our fondest memories of the presidency.” Former President Bill Clinton said: “In sunshine or storm, she was a source of stability, serenity and strength. We will always be grateful for the kindness she showed us through the years.”

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The Queen lived her life in service to the United Kingdom. Her’s was a life of duty. And though everyone knew that the day would come when they would have to say a final ‘farewell,’ what has transpired still hasn’t fully dawned on many people.

Queen Elizabeth II reigned for over 70 years, and has been the only British monarch that many of us have ever known. A world without her seems impossible. She was a constant in our universe. Now, Charles

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Born in London on April 21, 1926, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor became heir to the throne in 1936 at 10 years old, after her uncle, Edward VII abdicated the throne. In 1947, she married Prince Philip, who became the Duke of Edinburgh. They stayed together through 74 years of marriage until his passing in 2021, at the age of 99.

The couple had 4 children together: the eldest, Charles, was born in 1948; Princess Anne arrived in 1950; Prince Andrew was born in 1960; Prince Edward—in 1964. The Queen had 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

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Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, passed away in 1952 while she was in Kenya together with Philip. She returned to London, now, as Queen. "It was all a very sudden kind of taking on and making the best job you can," she said. At the age of 27, she was crowned at Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. An estimated TV audience of over 20 million people tuned in for her coronation.

Throughout her reign, the Queen saw the coming and going of 15 prime ministers. From the legendary Winston Churchill to the newly appointed Lizz Truss.

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What follows next has been clear for those in-the-know for, seemingly, forever. There is a secret plan, ‘London Bridge,’ for the days following the Queen’s death. Nearly every single step has been carefully planned out, steeped in tradition. The Guardian has extensively written about this in 2017.

“For a time, she will be gone without our knowing it. The information will travel like the compressional wave ahead of an earthquake, detectable only by special equipment. Governors general, ambassadors and prime ministers will learn first. Cupboards will be opened in search of black armbands, three-and-a-quarter inches wide, to be worn on the left arm,” The Guardian writes.

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“Screens will glow. There will be tweets. At the BBC, the ‘radio alert transmission system’ (Rats), will be activated—a cold war-era alarm designed to withstand an attack on the nation’s infrastructure.

All news organizations will scramble to get films on air and obituaries online. At the Guardian, the deputy editor has a list of prepared stories pinned to his wall. The Times is said to have 11 days of coverage ready to go. At Sky News and ITN, which for years rehearsed the death of the Queen substituting the name ‘Mrs Robinson’, calls will go out to royal experts who have already signed contracts to speak exclusively on those channels. ‘I am going to be sitting outside the doors of the Abbey on a hugely enlarged trestle table commentating to 300 million Americans about this,’” one expert told The Guardian.

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At age 73, King Charles III has now become the head of the Commonwealth, an association of 56 independent countries and 2.4 billion people. He will be the head of state for 14 of these countries, as well as the United Kingdom, writes the BBC.

Though Charles III immediately became King upon his mother’s passing, he will most likely officially be proclaimed monarch on Saturday, at St. James’ Palace in London. The formal coronation will happen sometime later, though it is at this point unclear, when. Queen Elizabeth II had succeeded her father in February of 1952, but she was only crowned in June 1953.