How news of the Queen’s death was revealed on British TV

Emotional television presenters choked back tears today as they revealed the news that the Queen had died peacefully at Balmoral. Buckingham Palace announced just after 6.30pm in the UK today that the Queen died ‘peacefully’ this afternoon.

On the BBC, Huw Edwards (pictured) announced the news solemnly, looking into the camera to repeat Buckingham Palace’s statement twice. Edwards added: ‘The new King and Queen consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.’ The channel then transitioned to a somber instrumental rendition of the national anthem, backdropped by a picture of the late Queen.

Over on Sky news, Dermot Murnaghan (pictured) said: ‘We have some very important news. Buckingham Palace has just announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has died. She was 96-years-old. The Queen died… just a few moments ago the announcements at Balmoral. She was the longest-serving monarch in British history and the oldest head of state in the world. Her eldest son and heir Charles the former Prince of Wales is now the King.’

Sky’s Royal Reporter Rhiannon Mills added: ‘This will clearly come as devastating news for the royal family and millions of people across the United Kingdom and around the world. Queen Elizabeth II was a much loved and respected monarch and a truly unique figure on the world stage, a head of state without equal. Admired not just here in the United Kingdom but across the world by members of the public, politicians and religious leaders.’ The reporter added emotionally: ‘Many of us will simply not remember a time when she was not our head of state and she was a constant figure in every aspect of national life.’

On LBC with Andrew Marr and Shaleigh Fogarty the announcement came: ‘Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Queen has died,’ Andrew Marr (pictured) said as he choked up. On ITV, Robert Peston said ‘A black cloud has descended over House of Parliament. ‘There is a deep anxiety. The Queen has played such an important significant role in all our lives, and an important constitutional role.’ Channel 4’s Matt Frei said: ‘Whether you are in favour of the monarch, she is the mother of the nation. Never before have we had a new prime minister and a new monarch in one week.’

BBC One has suspended all regular programming to provide special Royal coverage after the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. Earlier today Bargain Hunt was taken off air to inform viewers that doctors were ‘concerned’ about Her Majesty’s health, following a statement from Buckingham Palace. The BBC One afternoon schedule has been moved to BBC Two. It is unclear when the schedule will return to normal. The popular daytime program, in which two teams are given £300 ($345) to hunt for the best bargains to sell at auction, was halted just before 12.40pm on Thursday.

Twenty minutes before the 1 o’clock news was due to begin, viewers were watching Bargain Hunt presenters before it suddenly changed to a black screen. BBC News presenter Joanna Gosling then appeared to break the news. She said: ‘Welcome to viewers on BBC One. We have had news from Buckingham Palace that the Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral. Doctors have become concerned for her health and she is now under the supervision of doctors. It is understood she is comfortable and immediate family members have been informed.’ Following this, the BBC suspended its usual programming to present rolling coverage on the 96-year-old monarch’s health.

Later, BBC News presenter Huw Edwards was seen wearing a black tie as he presented live from the studio on Thursday afternoon. The BBC said it had ‘no comment’ about its change to scheduling. The 96-year-old head of state – Britain’s longest-serving monarch – had been dogged by health problems since last year that left her struggling to walk and stand. Concerns for the monarch began accumulating on Thursday morning when Buckingham Palace issued a formal announcement that doctors were ‘concerned’ for Her Majesty’s health and recommended that she remain under medical supervision at Balmoral castle.

Her ‘immediate family’ were informed, Buckingham Palace revealed, with her heir, the Prince of Wales, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, rushing to her bedside from their Scottish home Birkhall – around 10 miles from Balmoral. Newspapers across the Commonwealth – from Canada to Australia – and across Europe – including France, Spain, Germany and Italy – as well countless others around the world shared the news to their readers on Thursday. BBC News led up to the announcement with interchangeable updates coming from Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Downing Street, Windsor, Aberdeen airport and the studio. At around 3.45pm the BBC documented an RAF aircraft carrying the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of York and the Ear and Countess of Wessex landing at Aberdeen airport before making their way to Balmoral.

They reported at about 2.45pm that there was a ‘somber’ mood among Parliament as they suspected information about the Queen’s condition was spreading among the politicians. At around 3.45pm they documented an RAF aircraft carrying the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of York and the Ear and Countess of Wessex landing at Aberdeen airport before making their way to Balmoral. A royal spokesman said earlier today: ‘Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.’

The Queen – an instantly recognizable figure to billions of people across the globe – was in her Platinum Jubilee year, which marked 70 years since she succeeded her father king George VI in 1952. Earlier today, before Buckingham Palace’s official announcement had been made, there had been a flurry of activity in the Commons this lunchtime as concerns about the Queen were raised to the Prime Minister.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle interrupted the speech of SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford during the energy debate to tell MPs: ‘I know I speak on behalf of the entire House when I say that we send our best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen and that she and the royal family are in our thoughts and prayers at this moment.’ He added: ‘If there is anything else, we will update the House accordingly.’ The royal family’s website appeared to crash following the news of the Queen’s health concerns. An error message appeared on screen reading: ‘Gateway time-out’. SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford said he was ‘saddened’ to hear the announcement made about the Queen’s health. Pictured: The moment Nadhim Zahawi briefed Liz Truss about the Queen in the Commons today just before news about her health emerged.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle interrupted Mr Blackford’s speech in the energy debate to say the House sends its best wishes to the Queen. Resuming his speech, Mr Blackford told the Commons: ‘I’m sure on behalf of all colleagues that we’re saddened to hear the announcement that has been made, and the thoughts and prayers of all of us will be with Her Majesty the Queen and indeed with the royal family.’

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