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The former Prince Charles has become the king of England following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The new monarch will be known as King Charles III, royal officials say. Queen Elizabeth II , Britain's longest-reigning monarch who served as the beloved face of her country and source of strength for seven decades, died Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She was 96. Charles ascended to the kingship immediately upon the death of his mother, according to British laws of succession. Soon after, he released his first statement as king. "The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family," the king said. "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved mother." "I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world," the king continued. "During this ...

World leaders have started to pay tribute to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II after her family announced her passing Thursday at the age of 96.  Elizabeth’s 70-year reign ended as she passed peacefully in her Scottish home of Balmoral, surrounded by her family. Her son King Charles III said the Queen's passing was a moment of "the greatest sadness" for the Royal family, and that her death will be "deeply felt" by "countless people around the world."  President Biden praised the Queen for her "steadying presence" and acting as "a source of comfort and pride." He highlighted the Queen's "unmatched dignity" and her unmatched role as "the bedrock" of the special relationship between the U.S. and U.K.  "She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection—whether they heard her on the radio as a young princess speaking to the children of the Unit...

Queen Elizabeth II , Britain's longest-reigning monarch who served as the beloved face of her country and source of strength for seven decades, died Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She was 96. Elizabeth's doctors said earlier Thursday that they were "concerned for Her Majesty’s health" and that she was "resting comfortably" at Balmoral under medical supervision. She died "peacefully" Thursday afternoon, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow," Buckingham Palace said. The royal was preceded in death by her husband, Prince Philip, who spent more than seven decades supporting the queen. The Duke of Edinburgh, Britain’s longest-serving consort, died in April 2021 at age 99. Elizabeth and Philip were married for more than 70 years and had four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. From the ...

World leaders and politicians are reacting Thursday to Kensington Palace’s announcement that Queen Elizabeth II’s doctors are "concerned" for her health.  The Palace says "following further evaluation this morning," the 96-year-old's medical staff "recommended she remain under medical supervision."  "The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral" Castle, a statement added, with members of the British royal family traveling to Scotland to be by her side.  LIVE UPDATES: QUEEN ELIZABETH UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION: ROYAL FAMILY TRAVELS TO BE BY HER SIDE Here are how prominent public figures are reacting to the news:  Liz Truss, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom:  "The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime. My thoughts -- and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom -- are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time."  BRITAIN PRAYING FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH, AR...

The Polish military is seeking to purchase 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from Boeing, tripling an earlier request for 32 aircraft Thursday. The purchase would grant Poland the 2nd largest fleet of Apaches in the world, behind the United States. The Boeing-produced aircraft is among the most advanced attack helicopters in the world. First entering service in 1984, the Apache has seen numerous updates to its weapons, engines and communications equipment. "Boeing is honored the Government of Poland has selected the AH-64E Apache for the Polish Armed Forces’ new attack helicopter fleet," Boeing wrote in a Thursday statement. "An Apache selection strengthens U.S-Polish military ties by enhancing interoperability and cooperation between Poland, the U.S. Army and NATO nations." "During the procurement process, Boeing established significant cooperative partnerships across the Polish government and industry. Our partnership with the Polish Armaments Group, i...

During his unannounced visit to Kyiv Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with top names, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the famous bomb detection dog, Patron. Images of Blinken holding Patron began to surface after he traveled to a children's hospital to greet children who have been maimed during Russia’s war in Ukraine.  Patron, a 3-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, whose name reportedly means "ammo" has become a symbol of resilience in Ukraine’s fight against Russian occupation and helped to neutralize hundreds of Russian bombs in Ukraine.  BLINKEN MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO KYIV TO ANNOUNCE $2B MILITARY AID FOR UKRAINE, EUROPE The terrier, along with his owner Mykhailo Iliev of the Civil Protection Service, was granted state honors by Zelenksyy in May for his help in detecting and dismantling more than 200 explosive devices at that time, according to Reuters.  Blinken was snapped cradling the beloved dog Thursday and later presentin...