LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, has died at the age of 96.The Royal Palace announced the queen’s death on Thursday.
She had been placed under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle, her summer residence in Scotland, after doctors became "concerned" for her health.
Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, along with his wife, Camilla, and sister, Princess Anne, traveled earlier on Thursday to Balmoral.
Other members of the royal family, including Charles’ sons, Princes William and Harry, were also gathering at the estate.News of her death sent shockwaves around the world, as the monarch served as a constant, stabilizing force throughout her reign — and most people alive today don’t know a world without her in it.Queen Elizabeth II's reign was marked by a period of immense transition for the British Commonwealth, formerly known as the British Empire, as Britain modernized and many of its former colonies achieved independence.