The Royal Family has confirmed that Queen Elizabeth II has passed away.

The Queen's doctors are concerned for her health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. She was at the home of the Royal Family in Scotland.

The time is at 6:30 p.m. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon, the Royal Family said in a statement.

The reign of Britain's longest ever serving monarch and the second-longest reigning monarch in world history comes to an end today. The first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee was the Queen.

Lilibet

Elizabeth's life prior to becoming queen was full of surprises, even though she was a monarch for over 50 years.

King George V's granddaughter was born at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair on April 21, 1926. She was third in the line of succession when she was born.

Little Princess Elizabeth, left, is shown in 1927. The picture was made as the baby princess was taken for a ride in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Little Princess Elizabeth, left, is shown in 1927. The picture was made as the baby princess was taken for a ride in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Credit: AP

After Edward VIII's abdication, Elizabeth was named the heir presumptive. She wasn't declared heir apparent due to the possibility of a male heir and succession laws that favored males regardless of their age.

As a young child, Elizabeth didn't know her name and called herself "Lilibet", which quickly became her nickname.

Wartime princess and truck mechanic

During World War II, Elizabeth wanted to be involved in the home front effort. Once Elizabeth was old enough to join the military, these efforts evolved.

Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret staged pantomimes at Christmas to raise funds for yarn. Princess Elizabeth made her first public speech and radio broadcast in October 1940, sending a message of true sympathy to wartime evacuees.

In her first radio broadcast, 14-year-old Princess Princes Elizabeth shown making her first radio broadcast with her younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose, in London on Oct. 13, 1940.

In her first radio broadcast, 14-year-old Princess Elizabeth, right, said that England's children at home were full of cheerfulness and courage. She is shown with her younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose, before the broadcast, in London on Oct. 13, 1940. Credit: AP

Many of you have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers. Elizabeth and Margaret Rose know what it's like to be away from people we love most of all.

When she was 16 years old, Elizabeth registered with the Labour Exchange to join the women's armed forces. She joined the Women's auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945. Within five months, she was promoted to junior commander.

Princess Elizabeth kneels to carry out vehicle repairs in the 1940s

Princess Elizabeth during her stint as a mechanic. Credit: Daily Mirror / Mirrorpix / Mirrorpix via Getty Images

One of Elizabeth's major joys was getting dirty under her nails and grease stains in her hands.

At the end of the war, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret mingled with the crowd on the streets of London. "I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down the street, all of us were swept along on a tide of happiness and relief," Elizabeth said in a rare interview.

Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) is greeted by crowds as she tours the East End of London on the day after VE Day, 9th May 1945.

Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) is greeted by crowds as she tours the East End of London on the day after VE Day, 9th May 1945. Credit: Chris Ware / Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Marriage and family life

The wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip took place in 1947. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the match. The advisers to the king did not approve of Philip's lack of financial standing.

Princess Elizabeth marries Prince Philip of Greece, both waving at the crowd.

Princess Elizabeth marries Prince Philip of Greece. Credit: AP

Philip converted to Anglicanism prior to the wedding after giving up his Greek and Danes titles.

During the recovery years after the war, austerity measures were in place. Elizabeth had to save up coupons to purchase fabric for her wedding dress.

The Queen's constant companion throughout her reign was Prince Philip who died in April 2021. They had four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, Anne, Princess Royal, and Prince Andrew, Duke of York. Queen Elizabeth had many children and children's children.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour ceremony to mark the Queen's official 90th Birthday on June 11, 2016 in London, England.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour ceremony to mark the Queen's official 90th Birthday on June 11, 2016 in London, England. Credit: Anwar Hussein / WireImage

Queen in a king's world

She became queen at a young age after her father's death. She ascended the throne at a time when the political sphere was dominated by male politicians. At the time of Elizabeth's ascension, the British government was headed by a 77-year-old man, and his cabinet was made up of mostly men.

Queen Elizabeth II sits in King Edward's chair after receiving the crown, scepter and rod from the Archbishop of Canterbury, back to camera, in Westminster Abbey in London, England, June 2, 1953.

Queen Elizabeth II sits in King Edward's chair after receiving the crown, scepter and rod from the Archbishop of Canterbury, back to camera, in Westminster Abbey in London, England, June 2, 1953. Credit: AP

Elizabeth fought to ensure her voice was heard, and that her age and gender would not be a barrier to being taken seriously by more senior politicians.

Tension between the Queen and her husband is thought to have been caused by strict protocols that came with Elizabeth's role. The traditional roles of a married couple in the 1950s were reversed when Philip gave up his naval career to support his wife and had to walk behind the Queen during all public engagements. The royal house was named after Windsor because Elizabeth and Philip's children took their mother's name instead of their own. The queen's decision to do so was based on advice from the cabinet to ensure stability for the british people

No stranger to criticism

Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Michael of Kent, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and other member of the British Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London, UK, 11th June 1983.

Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Michael of Kent, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and other member of the British Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London, UK, 11th June 1983. Credit: David Levenson / Getty Images

Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II has been criticized for her finances, the breakdown of her children's marriages, and the existence of the monarchy. Elizabeth stated in 1992 that she did not think she should be spared scrutiny.

It's good for people and institutions to be criticized. No institution should be free from the scrutiny of those who support it. The Queen said not to include those who do not.

In 1992 it was announced that the Queen would start to pay taxes.

The royal family's response to Princess Diana's death was criticized by some people. When news of Diana's death broke, the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry were on a holiday in Scotland. After Diana's death, the royal family did not return to Buckingham Palace, nor did they fly the Union flag at half mast. The Queen did not return from Balmoral immediately because she wanted to protect her grandsons after their mother's death.

Longest lived monarch

Queen Elizabeth II with one of her official red boxes which she has received almost every day of her reign.

Queen Elizabeth II with one of her official red boxes which she has received almost every day of her reign, Credit: Mary McCartney / Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II via Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth became the longest reigning monarch in the world after the death of King Adulyadej of Thailand.

The 70th anniversary of Her Majesty's reign and the start of her Platinum Jubilee year were marked by the release of a photograph.

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A queen who struck a balance between a public appearance of tradition and stability and a private act of rebellion. The Queen is said to have taken the King of Saudi Arabia for a ride in her car. In the Middle East monarchy, women were not allowed to drive. It is assumed that the Queen's driving tour was pointed. In recent years, the Queen quietly oversaw changes to the succession laws, bringing an end to older female heirs being overtaken by their younger brothers in succession.

During her reign, the Queen was a big fan of technology. She opened the Information Age exhibition at the Science Museum. The Queen had help from Princess Anne in her first ever Zoom call.

What happens next?

The death of Elizabeth marks the start of a new chapter in the royal family's history, one where her son Charles will have a leading role. The Queen wishes that her husband, the Duke of Cornwall, will be known as the queen consort.

What happens after the Queen's death is explained here.