LONDON: Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Thursday at the age of 96. She died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. There were reports earlier that her health condition was bad. Her son Prince Charles, the next king, his wife Camilla and daughter Princess Anne were besides her at the time of her death. Queen Elizabeth died after reigning for 70 years.

When the British flag was lowered at half-mast soon after announcing the death of Queen Elizabeth, rainbows appeared at various places including the royal residence of Windsor Castle. Many gathered outside the Buckingham Palace to see it.

Elizabeth formally acceded to the throne in 1952. Her coronation was at Westminster Abbey in 1953. She was one of the richest women in the world. She was born on April 21, 1926 as the daughter of Prince Albert and Elizabeth Bowes. She married Philip Mountbatten in 1947. The Queen has four children namely Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward. The golden jubilee of the monarchy was celebrated in 2002 and diamond Jubilee in 2012. Queen Elizabeth was the first British monarch to visit Ireland.