Queen Elizabeth II dies - follow the latest news as the world mourns
United Nations officials are understood to have rebuffed a British inquiry about postponing the start of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in mid-September after a potential clash with the date of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, offered his sympathies over the death of the British monarch on Thursday but communicated to UK diplomats that the date of the annual meeting, the first full-scale gathering since the pandemic, could not be shifted.
According to the traditional formula, the most likely date for the royal funeral is Monday, September 19, the day before the high-level debate, in which world leaders address the session, is due to kick off.
Logistics and planning means this is a nightmare for a cavalcade of world leaders who were planning to head to New York.
There are 15 countries that called the 96-year-old queen their head of state, and more than 50 nations in the Commonwealth.
Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, is one of those who has said he is going to the funeral.
“I can confirm the president of the European Council will attend the state funeral of the queen,” a spokesman said.
US President Joe Biden responded “yes, probably” when asked if he would attend. Countries that are still ruled by the UK crown are also expected to make the funeral.
New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern had been due to fly to New York on September 17 but is now going to London first.
“I will prioritise along with the governor general, doing our duty representing New Zealand and passing on the condolences of our whole nation,” she said.
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The Union flag is lowered at the Houses of Parliament following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 08, 2022 in London, England. Getty -
The Union Flag lowered at half mast at Buckingham Palace following the official announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, London, Britain, 08 September 2022. EPA -
The Union Flag above Downing Street, in central London is flown at half mast following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA -
Defence Forces military police lower the Irish flag to half mast outside government buildings in Dublin following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA -
The Union flag flies at half mast at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. PA -
Flags being lowered to half mast outside The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. PA -
The United States national flag flies at half-staff over the White House by proclamation of US President Joe Biden, to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II of Britain following her death, in Washington, DC, USA, 08 September 2022. EPA -
The US flag flies at half-staff at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2022 following the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
Frame grab from a video showing a member of the British Embassy staff lowering the flag outside the embassy to half staff upon news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II in Washington, DC, USA, 08 September 2022. EPA -
The Australian flag files at half-staff at the Australian Embassy, Thursday, September 8, 2022, in Washington, after Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday after 70 years on the throne. AP -
The Canadian flag flies at half-staff over the Canadian Embassy in Washington, Thursday, September 8, 2022, after Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch and a rock of stability across much of a turbulent century, died Thursday after 70 years on the throne. AP -
The Union flag flies at half-staff at the British Embassy in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. AFP -
A Canadian flag flies at half-staff at the top of the Peace Tower after the death of Britian's Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022 in Ottawa. AFP -
The New Zealand flag at half-mast outside Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Friday, September 9, 2022. AP -
A Union flag flies at half-mast at the British embassy in Berlin, Germany 08 September 2022, following the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. EPA -
The Brazilian and the MERCOSUR flags fly at half-mast at the Planalto Palace after the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, in Brasilia, on September 8, 2022. AFP -
The Union flag at half-staff due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, at the British Consulate General, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 08 September 2022. EPA -
Union flags flies at half-mast at the British embassy in Madrid, Spain, 08 September 2022, following the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. EPA
At the UN, the Security Council stood in silent tribute at the start of a meeting on Ukraine. France’s ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, the council president, sent condolences on behalf of its 15 members.
He said Queen Elizabeth presided “over a period of historic changes both for her country and the world … Her life was devoted to the service of her country”.
The queen visited the UN headquarters twice, including in 2010 when she addressed the general assembly.
“I hope that when future generations judge our actions, our sincerity, our willingness to lead and our determination to do the right thing will stand the test of time,” she said.
“In tomorrow's world, we must all work together and more vigorously than ever before if we really want to be United Nations.”
Also up in the air are the plans of Liz Truss, the new UK prime minister, who was planning to make her debut on the international stage at UNGA after having taken office on Tuesday.
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April 21, 1926: Elizabeth, Duchess of York (1900-2002), gives birth to Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, her first child and the future queen. Getty -
December 11, 1936. Elizabeth becomes heiress presumptive when her father becomes King George VI. Getty -
November 20, 1947. Princess Elizabeth marries Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Getty -
November 14, 1948: Princess Elizabeth gives birth to her eldest child Prince Charles. Getty -
August 18 1950: Elizabeth gives birth to her second child, Princess Anne. AFP -
1952. Princess Elizabeth ascends to the throne, learning of her ascension on a trip to Kenya with the Duke of Edinburgh on February 6. Getty -
June 2,1953: Crowned Queen Elizabeth II by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Geoffrey Fisher at Westminster Abbey. Getty -
February 19, 1960: Queen Elizabeth gives birth to her third child, Prince Andrew. Getty -
March 10, 1964. Queen Elizabeth II gives birth to her fourth and last child, Prince Edward. Getty -
May 18, 1965: Queen Elizabeth II with Paul Nevermann (1902 - 1979), the Mayor of Hamburg, in Hamburg during a an official trip to West Germany - her first state visit. Getty -
June 2, 1977: Livery-clad coachmen accompany the state coach bearing Queen Elizabeth II on her Silver Jubilee. Getty -
June 29. 1981: Prince Charles And Princess Diana marry. Getty -
June 21, 1982: Diana gives birth to Prince William. Getty -
September 16, 1984: Diana gives birth to her second child with Prince Charles, Prince Harry. Getty -
November 20 1992: Flames rip through private apartments in the east wing of Windsor Castle. AFP -
September 1, 1997: Diana dies after a car crash in Paris, sending the UK and world into shock. AFP -
November 20, 1997: The Queen and Prince Philip celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary at Westminster Abbey. Getty -
June 4, 2002: The Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh wave to well-wishers, as they ride the Gold State Coach from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral in London, for a service of thanksgiving to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. AP -
2007: Queen Elizabeth becomes oldest UK monarch on her actual birthday of April 21, and celebrates on her sovereign birthday of June 16 during the annual Trooping the Colour Parade. Getty -
April 29, 2011: The Queen's oldest grandchild Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge marry. Getty -
2012: Queen celebrates her diamond jubilee, which included a cameo in the London 2012 Olympics alongside actor Daniel Craig in his guise as James Bond. Getty -
September 9, 2015. Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest reigning monarch in British history. Getty -
June 11, 2016 . Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 90th birthday. Getty Image -
February 5, 2017: Queen Elizabeth becomes the first British monarch to reach their sapphire jubilee. Getty -
May 19, 2018: Grandson Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Megahn Markle, The Duchess of Sussex marry at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Getty -
April 9, 2021: Queen Elizabeth's husband Prince Philip dies months short of his 100th birthday. Getty -
June 2022: Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear have cream tea at Buckingham Palace as part of celebrations for her platinum jubilee. Getty
King Charles III is due to set the date for the funeral on Saturday. He automatically become king on the death of his mother but the funeral arrangements cannot be made until the Accession Council meeting that confirms him in the role.
This gathering is usually convened at St James’s Palace in London within 24 hours of the death of a sovereign.
However, it will be held later because the announcement of the queen's death did not come until early evening on Thursday, meaning there was not enough time to set the plans in motion for Friday morning.
