Queen Elizabeth II dies

A friend of a friend of a friend works in the BBC at a high level and they were told last week to plan for her passing in the coming days (genuinely).

Regardless of whether you're a prince or a pauper, the passing of a parent is tough no matter what their age. I hope it is peaceful and they have the strength they need over the coming days.

That would explain why she looked so pleased in the photos following the meeting with Liz Truss. She must must have been delighted to have been able to carry out her duties one last time.

Operation London Bridge looks like it will be called into action sooner than later.

I think historians will be kind to her, a positive presence overall.

There have been rumours for a while now that she has bone cancer.

Going by the reaction of UK govt and opposition politicians, I'd hazard a guess that the situation is ominous - they certainly seem to be talking as if the news at lunchtime was extremely serious.

Hue Edwards has long been lined up to present when the Queen’s death is announced so the fact that he is on and wearing a black tie would suggest this is going one way

My 90 year old father watching the beeb now. He was living in London for her coronation (being a proud Irish man he refrained from joining in the celebrations 😃) I hope he gets to pointedly avoid another coronation. But even he acknowledges Queen Elizabeth ii has been a remarkable Head of State.

Nicholas Witchell, the BBC’s royal correspondent, saying there is a ‘suspicion’ that she has an underlying serious condition.

He is basically an official mouthpiece for the monarchy so must have been given the nod to give that information

You'd wonder if she has spent the last few months looking back and wondering was it worth it.

A life of unimaginable privilege, but very little personal freedom, all the dirty laundry aired in public, all the boring trips, dinners and engagements.

An end of an era and probably the first act in the demise of the monarchy.

Are they struggling to fill the air here speculating and waffling.

My Gran went like this, peacefully through old age, downhill over a few days.

It's difficult for us Irish to comprehend what this means for most British people. The vast majority have lived with Elizabeth as queen. With the the impending cold winter approaching,this will be another portent of doom.