SPECIAL COVERAGE: Queen Elizabeth II dies at the age of 96

She passed away peacefully at Balmoral in Scotland.

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving British monarch, has died at the age of 96 overnight.

Her death was announced by Buckingham Palace shortly after 3.30am AEST (6.30pm in London).

Moments later, thousands began gathering outside the palace to mourn the second-longest reigning monarch in global history.

Tributes flowed in from everyone around the world, including from her son, now known as King Charles III.

"We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother," he said.

Just days ago the Queen, was pictured with the UK's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss.

She was appointed by the Queen on Tuesday, and today said she "provided us with the stability and strength that we needed."

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The Queen's body will now be taken to the nearby city of Aberdeen, from Balmoral, before being taken to Edinburgh.

Her Majesty oversaw enormous social change over her 70-year reign, including conflicts & the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Anthony Albanese this morning released a televised address, saying that "through the noise and turbulence of the years, she embodied and exhibited a timeless decency and an enduring calm."

Her Majesty's death comes just over a year after the death of her husband, Prince Philip.

Queen Elizabeth became Queen following the sudden death of her father whilst she was on a in Kenya in 1952.

What comes next

The Queen's body will now be taken to the nearby city of Aberdeen, from Balmoral, before being taken to Edinburgh.

The UK has declared a period of 10 days of national mourning ahead of the Queen's funeral, which protocol says will be held at Westminster Abbey in London.

HM King Charles' official coronation is likely to take place within a year.

Currency will be reprinted with the King's portrait and the Queen's currency will begin to be removed.

The Queen and Australia

Her Majesty visited Australia on many occasions, firstly as a 27-year-old, where an estimated 75% of the population flocked the streets to see her.

She said that "there is the added satisfaction for me that I am able to meet my Australian people as their Queen."

Her final visit, in 2011, saw her come to Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth, where she was greeted by tens of thousands of people.

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