How the Royal Family Used Twitter to Tell the World the Queen Had Died

The Royal Family announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II on their own account on the social networking site.

Two minutes before the announcement on the platform, the Royal Family posted a message saying the monarch had died peacefully.

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. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W

The family's approach to communication has changed a lot in the last few years of the Queen's rule. The Windsors, known for their use of ceremony to reinforce the power of the monarchy, have become savvy users of social media with King Charles III and his wife, who are expected to take on the title of Queen Consort.

Plans for the monarch's death have been a closely guarded secret for years.

The first step in a carefully choreographed 10-day mourning period will include the suspension of parliament, a public holiday and a state funeral at the abbey.