A grieving population.
For several hours on Thursday, the British held their breath, suspended on news of a deterioration in the state of health of their queen.
Until the announcement of the worst: Elizabeth II died in the afternoon, after 70 years of reign, thus leaving the throne to her son, renamed Charles III.
Back to the last hours of a sovereign who, until the end, assumed her duty.
Read also“Thank you”, “we loved you”: Elizabeth II on the front page of all the newspapers, worldwide press tribute to the queen
It was around noon (British time, one hour less than in France) that the first speculations concerning the health of Elizabeth II arose.
While Prime Minister Liz Truss has just finished announcing in Parliament her plan to help households in the face of soaring energy bills, her minister Nadhim Zahawi slips by her side and hands her a note.
She leaves the House of Commons, followed shortly after by the leader of the opposition Keir Starmer, giving rise to speculation and questions.
"The whole country" is "concerned" about his state of health
Half an hour later, at 12:32 p.m. precisely, a brief statement from Buckingham Palace in an alarming tone announces that the sovereign's doctors are "concerned" about her state of health and "have recommended that she be placed under medical supervision" at Balmoral.
"The Queen continues to feel well and remains at Balmoral," the palace said.
In the process, Liz Truss, officially appointed Tuesday by the queen at Balmoral, declared on Twitter that "the whole country" is "concerned" by the state of health of Elizabeth II.
Before 1 p.m., the British press agency PA indicates that the members of the royal family closest to the sovereign are “informed”.
The services of his heir Charles, 73, and his grandson William announce that they are going to Balmoral.
Around 2 p.m., it was the turn of the services of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who live in the United States but were due to attend a charity event in London in the evening, to announce that they were traveling to Scotland.
British media then explain that Meghan remains in London.
In the late afternoon, a small crowd begins to gather in the rain outside Buckingham Palace in London.
“The queen died peacefully”
Shortly before 4 p.m. a Royal Air Force jet landed at Scottish Aberdeen airport with two of the Queen's children, Princes Andrew and Edward, and her grandson William, second in line of succession.
The heir to the crown Charles and his sister Anne are already there.
A few minutes later, US President Joe Biden let it be known that he and his wife are "in thought with the queen and her family".
At 6:30 p.m. local time, Buckingham Palace announces that "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon".
His son Charles automatically becomes king.
"The King and Queen consort will stay at Balmoral tonight and return to London tomorrow," the palace said in its statement.
The flag is lowered to half-mast at Buckingham Palace, in front of which the crowd is silent and some burst into tears.
VIDEO.
When the BBC announces the death of Queen Elizabeth II
Immediately, the tributes multiply throughout the world.
"Our thoughts are with the family" and "the people of the United Kingdom," said the White House spokeswoman.
French President Emmanuel Macron salutes "a friend of France" who "has forever marked her century" and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he is "pained" by the death of the sovereign.
In Scotland, Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, in favor of independence from London, deplores “a deeply sad moment for the United Kingdom”.
Charles takes the name of Charles III
At 7:04 p.m. local time, the new king, Charles, called his mother's death a "moment of very great sadness" which will be felt "all over the world".
This is his first intervention as sovereign.
"We deeply mourn the passing of a beloved sovereign and a beloved mother," he said in a statement.
VIDEO.
“God save the king”: the speech of the British Prime Minister, Liz Truss after the death of the queen
A few minutes later, in an address outside Downing Street, Prime Minister Liz Truss greets a Queen "loved and admired throughout the world" and calls Charles "His Majesty Charles III".
Finally, at 7:25 p.m., the services of the one who was hitherto known as Prince Charles confirm that he is taking the name of “Charles III”.