Queen Elizabeth II Has Died, Buckingham Palace Announces

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. Her family gathered at her Scottish estate after concerns grew about her health earlier on Thursday. The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.

White House cancels Biden speech upon news of queen's death. The White House canceled the president's Thursday afternoon speech on the coronavirus vaccine upon learning of Queen Elizabeth II's death. Biden was expected to make a public plea for Americans to get updated coronavirus vaccine shots and also detail his administration's plans to make the omicron-targeting boosters widely available this fall. The White House did not say whether the president's remarks would be rescheduled for a later date. News of the queen's death broke as White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrapped up her press briefing Thursday afternoon. "Our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the queen, [and to] the people of the United Kingdom," said Jean-Pierre, visibly surprised, adding that she would not comment further to let the president speak for himself.