Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's Longest Reigning Monarch dies?
Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign took Britain from the age of steam to the era of the smartphone
and who oversaw the largely peaceful breakup of an empire that once spanned the globe
Queen Elizabeth II has Died at the age of 96
She died peacefully at her estate in Balmoral, Scotland on the afternoon of Sept. 8
This statement is being made by Buckingham Palace
Elizabeth led the UK through a time of political upheaval
She began her reign as head of an empire, albeit one in decline
By the time of her death, the future of the UK itself was in doubt
with recurrent calls for independence in Scotland and Britain's exit from the European Union leading to renewed tension in Northern Ireland