Queen Elizabeth II — the longest-reigning monarch in British history, whose dedication to royal tradition and stiff upper-lip in the face of family scandals endeared her to generations of Britons — has died. She was 96.
The death of the beloved monarch came after Buckingham Palace announced Thursday that her doctors had been “concerned for Her Majesty’s health.”
She had also been forced to ditch numerous public engagements, including some over the summer celebrating her historic 70-year reign.
The queen leaves behind four children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, many of whom raced to be by her side as her condition deteriorated while at her Scottish estate, Balmoral.
Elizabeth became the kingdom’s longest-reigning monarch on Sept. 9, 2015, edging out her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
Known for her colorful hats and beloved corgis, the Queen will be best remembered for the greater feat of simply keeping the institution of the monarchy alive and going strong into the 21st Century, experts said.
“Through her life, she built on the mystique of monarchy all around the world,” British historian Robert Lacey, author of the biography “Monarch: Life and Reign of Elizabeth II,” told The Post.
“When historians look back on her reign, that will be it … If you’d been a betting man, you’d have put your money on a republic.”
The future Queen Elizabeth II was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, in London to the then-Duke and Duchess of York.
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Charles, as the queen’s eldest son, at the time of her death will inherit the sovereign title and job as head of the Commonwealth, along with other assets such as land and property.
The Church of England’s most senior religious figure offered his prayers Thursday after members of the royal family rushed to Queen Elizabeth II’s bedside in Balmoral Castle, Scotland, over concerns about her health.
“My prayers, and the prayers of people across the @churchofengland and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today,” the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, wrote in a tweet.
All the Queen’s children travelled to Balmoral, near Aberdeen, after doctors placed the Queen under medical supervision.
Her grandson, Prince William, is also there, with his brother, Prince Harry, on his way.
Queen Elizabeth II’s tenure as head of state spanned post-war austerity, the transition from empire to Commonwealth, the end of the Cold War and the UK’s entry into – and withdrawal from – the European Union.
Her reign spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill, born in 1874, and including Liz Truss, born 101 years later in 1975, and appointed by the Queen earlier this week.
She held weekly audiences with her prime minister throughout her reign.
The Queen was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, in Mayfair, London, on 21 April 1926.