President Yoon offers condolences over death of Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years, the BBC reported on Sept. 9.
She died peacefully on Thursday afternoon at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer. The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.
Her son King Charles III said the death of his beloved mother was a "moment of great sadness" for him and his family and that her loss would be "deeply felt" around the world.
King Charles III takes the throne in an era of uncertainty for both his country and the monarchy itself.
Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed condolences over the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 9, saying, "Her kind heart and good deed will remain in our memories."
In a message posted in English on Twitter, President Yoon said, "Deepest condolences to the people of the United Kingdom for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She had a strong belief in the cause of human freedom and left great legacies of dignity."
Her passing ends an era, the modern Elizabethan age. Her 73-year-old son, Charles, automatically became king upon her death. He will be known as King Charles III, although his coronation might not take place for months.
Through countless public events in her 70 years as monarch, Elizabeth likely met more people than anyone in history. Her image — on stamps, coins and bank notes — was among the most reproduced in the world.
But her inner life and opinions remained mostly an enigma. The public saw only glimpses of her personality: her joy watching horse racing at Royal Ascot or being with her beloved Welsh corgi dogs.
The impact of her loss will be huge and unpredictable, both for the nation and for the monarchy.
World leaders paid tribute to her long reign. U.S. President Joe Biden called her a “stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy.”
She strongly felt the burden of her role as queen, though she was not destined for the crown from birth.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in London on April 21, 1926, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York. Her father’s elder brother, Prince Edward, was first in line for the throne, to be followed by any children he had.