Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest reigning monarch, died Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after 70 years on the throne. She was 96. Her eldest son, Prince Charles, 73, inherited the crown, taking the name King Charles III. His wife Camilla is now Queen Consort. Charles said his mother's death was "a moment of the greatest sadness" for the royal family, and for people worldwide who regarded her as a symbol of grace and stability. Thousands gathered at Buckingham Palace, where news of the queen's death was posted on the gate. "It's an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years," said Britain's new prime minister, Liz Truss. "Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories.