Liz Truss was informed of the death of Queen Elizabeth II at 4.30pm today while the official announcement was made after 7pm.

The news was confirmed by the secretary of the cabinet of the prime minister of Great Britain, Simon Case.

After her statement in Downing Street, Truss spoke to King Charles III and she is expected to meet cabinet ministers tonight.

Meanwhile, Truss said "we are all devastated" by the news of the Queen's death, which is a "huge shock to the nation and the world".

She describes the Queen as "a rock on which modern Britain was built", adding that "Britain is the great country it is today because of her".

Advertisement

The prime minister said that the queen was a personal inspiration to her, as well as to many Britons, "Her dedication to duty is an example to us all", reports the

bbc.

Advertisement

"Today the Crown passes, as it has for over a thousand years, to our new monarch, our new head of state, His Majesty King Charles III.

With the King's family we mourn the loss of his mother and we are together.

We offer him our loyalty and devotion, just as his mother has given us so much for so long," said the first British government.

Advertisement

She concludes her statement by saying that it is “the passing of the second Elizabethan age.

God save the king".

/Telegraph/