LONDON: QUEEN ELIZABETH II PASSES ON AT AGE 96

  Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning-monarch and one of the world's most enduring royal personalities died at 96. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the queen died Thursday at Balmoral Castle, her official residence in Scotland.

"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," the palace said in a statement.

The news came after palace officials issued a statement that the queen had been put under "medical supervision" at Balmoral as her doctors were "concerned for Her Majesty's health." All of the senior members of the royal family quickly traveled to be by her side.

A summary of her life