British Prime Minister Liz Truss has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, hailing her “great legacy” and lamenting her passing as ”a day of great loss” for the United Kingdom and the world.
Speaking outside No. 10 Downing Street, Truss said Elizabeth had been “the very spirit of Great Britain,” having served “with dignity and grace” for 70 years.
Elizabeth’s death was announced by the palace at 6:30pm on Thursday evening, with a short statement saying she “died peacefully at Balmoral” earlier in the afternoon. Elizabeth’s son Charles, former Prince of Wales, immediately succeeded her to become King of England.
“Through thick and thin, she provided us with the stability and strength that we needed,” Truss said, adding that she was “loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.”