At around 6:30 pm UK time, BBC newsreader Huw Edwards announced on air in a somber voice that the Queen had died peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday afternoon. Edwards said, "Just moments ago, Buckingham Palace announced the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the palace has just issued this statement saying: 'The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and Queen will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.'"

Within the first five minutes, Edwards repeated the statement four times for those tuning in late and briefly summarized the Queen's ascension to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI. It has been over 70 years since then. A similar scene was broadcast on television news bulletins across the UK at around the same time.

The same statement that Edwards read was posted simultaneously on the royal family's accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as on the official family website.

This news came just hours after Buckingham Palace released a statement earlier on Thursday saying that "after further assessment this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision." Within about an hour, the BBC canceled all regular programming to focus on her health.