One year ago today Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at the age of 96.
Her Majesty died on September 8 2022. Prior to the announcement, concerns were raised as her family rushed to Balmoral, and people on TV donned black ties and suits.
At the time of her death, her son, King Charles, said: “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
Paperwork, which was released by the National Records of Scotland shows that Queen Elizabeth II died of ‘old age’. Old age is the range of ages for persons nearing and surpassing life expectancy.
The death of Queen Elizabeth II set in motion Operation London Bridge, a collection of plans including arrangements for her state funeral, and supported by Operation Unicorn, which set protocols for her death occurring in Scotland.
The UK observed a national mourning period of 10 days. The Queen’s lying in state took place in Westminster Hall from 14 to 19 September, during which time an estimated 250,000 people queued to pay their respects.
Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral on 19 September was the first held in Britain since Winston Churchill‘s in 1965. A funeral service was held at Westminster Abbey. Thousands of people across Birmingham paid their respects to the Queen, with flowers and tributes left in Birmingham city centre. Locals also gathered in Centenary Square to watch the Queen’s funeral.
Aston Villa and Birmingham City also paid tributes to the Queen the weekend following her passing when the football fixtures resumed.
Here are photos showing how the city mourned the Queen’s passing this time last year.
1. Families join the tributes to Queen Elizabeth II and watch her state funeral on a big screen in Centenary Square, Birmingham
2. The scene at Centenary Square in Birmingham on the 19th September 2022 where people attend a big screen showing the funeral of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the 2nd.
3. People come together to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in Centenary Square Birmingham where her state funeral was shown on a big screen
4. People gather in Centenary Square Birmingham to pay their respects and to watch the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth II on a big screen