Britain's Queen Elizabeth II "died peacefully" on Thursday, Sept. 8, at Balmoral Castle, the British royal family's estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. She was 96.
Elizabeth was Britain's longest-reigning monarch. She ascended to the throne in 1952 and, in June, celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years as queen.
Coffin arrives at St. George's Chapel for committal service
Queen Elizabeth’s coffin has arrived at St. George's Chapel in Windsor for the final ceremony of the week, a committal service. Elizabeth will be reunited with her husband, Prince Philip, and her coffin will be lowered into the royal vault.
The hearse carrying the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth is escorted along the Long Walk towards Windsor castle in the funeral procession, on the day of the state funeral and burial, in Windsor, Britain, Sept. 19, 2022.
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The Ceremonial Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the Long Walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the Committal Service at St. George's Chapel, in Windsor, England, Sept. 19, 2022.
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The hearse travels along the Long Walk as it makes its way to Windsor Castle, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in Windsor, Britain, Sept. 19, 2022.
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A member of the Coldstream Guards walks past flowers laid on the lawn outside Windsor Castle, during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Sept, 19, 2022 in Windsor, England.
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The hearse is draped with flowers thrown by onlookers.
Sep 19, 2022, 10:41 AM EDT
Minister recounts conversations with queen in her final days
Rev. Dr. Iain Greenshields, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, recounted to ABC News the weekend he spent with Queen Elizabeth in Balmoral in her final days.
“She was 96 and you could see her fragility, but as soon as she started talking and as soon as she was engaged with you, a different kind of person emerged,” Greenshields said.
5:54
Reverend speaks about recent, final meal with Queen Elizabeth II
Rev. Dr. Iain Greenshields detailed the warmth and humor the queen still possessed just days before she died.
She was still filled with her signature humor, he noted.
“I was staying in a place called the Tower Rooms and she said, ‘Your queen is sending you to the tower. She just smiled at me as she said that, and she made sure that I understood, that I got the joke,” he said.
The Royal Family walk behind the coffin as the Procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, aboard the State Hearse, travels inside Windsor Castle, Sept. 19, 2022, ahead of the Committal Service.
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Camilla, the Queen Consort, Princess Charlotte and Prince George attend the state funeral and burial of Queen Elizabeth II, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
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“I asked her what I could possibly give to somebody who has everything, and she smiled at me. I offered her the cross, and she took it very graciously and she wished me the very best in my year ahead as the moderator of the Church of Scotland,” he said.
For Queen Elizabeth, faith was “fundamental,” he said.
King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince William, rear left, and Prince Harry, center rear, follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey for her funeral in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
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“She said right at the beginning of her time, when she was becoming queen, that she was going to ask God for wisdom,” he said, “and that’s something that persisted throughout her life.”
“When I was chatting to her about her faith, she spoke about it and said she had no regrets about starting that journey of faith. She had no regrets at all,” Greenshields said.
Greenshields called her death “astonishing,” noting that she’d been “so vital, so alive, so engaging.”
Sep 19, 2022, 9:57 AM EDT
Biden returns to US
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are aboard Air Force One heading home to the United States after attending Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
President Joe Biden arrives for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Sept. 19, 2022 in London.
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Former President Barack Obama posted a video to Twitter remembering his first time meeting the queen.
"She reminded me very much of my grandmother, which surprised me, not just in appearance but also in manner. Very gracious, and also no nonsense. Wry sense of humor that she could not have been more kind or thoughtful to me and Michelle," Obama recalled.
"Shortly thereafter, Michelle and Malia and Sasha, my two daughters, had occasion to go back to England. Buckingham Palace reached out and Her Majesty had invited Michelle, and the two girls to tea," he said. "She had then offered the girls to drive in her golden carriage around the grounds of Buckingham Palace. It was the sort of generosity and consideration that left a mark in my daughters' lives."
He added, "The combination of a sense of duty, and a clear understanding of her role as a symbol for a nation and as the carrier of a certain set of values, combined with a very human quality of kindness and consideration. I think that's what made her so beloved, not just in Great Britain but around the world."
Michelle Obama on Monday recounted her first memory with the queen in a video on Instagram, and wrote, “My heart goes out to the Royal Family and all those mourning Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's passing.”
Sep 19, 2022, 9:00 AM EDT
Coffin departs London for final time
Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin has departed London for the final time following Monday’s funeral service and powerful procession.
The Queen's funeral cortege borne on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy travels along The Mall on Sept. 19, 2022 in London.
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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is seen in a car during the procession following the service, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
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King Charles III and Princess Royal Anne follow the procession of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Sept. 19, 2022.
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People watch as Britain's Queen Elizabeth's coffin is transported, on the day of her state funeral and burial, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
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Now the coffin is in a hearse and is en route to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor where a committal service will be held.
Members of the public look on on Sept. 19, 2022 in Windsor, England. The committal service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, took place following the state funeral at Westminster Abbey. A private burial in The King George VI Memorial Chapel followed.
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Members of Buckingham Palace household staff pay their respects during the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, Sept. 19, 2022 in London.
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Catherine, Princess of Wales is seen in a car during the procession following the service, on the day of the state funeral and burial of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
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Princess Anne, the queen's only daughter, is in the car behind the hearse, accompanying her mother on each step of this final journey.
Prince William's two oldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, stood alongside their parents, watching the coffin be placed into the hearse. Princess Charlotte is wearing a horseshoe brooch given to her by Queen Elizabeth.
Princess Charlotte of Wales follows by car the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, as it travels on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy, from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch in London, Sept. 19, 2022.
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After a solemn service and procession, the crowds cheered and threw flowers as the hearse drove by.