King Charles III arrives at Buckingham Palace as monarch for the first time

3m ago / 5:20 PM UTC

Shamrock Rovers apologize for fans celebrating queen’s death

Shamrock Rovers apologized on Friday for fans of the famed Irish soccer team who celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s death with offensive chants hours after she died.

“Shamrock Rovers F.C. has been made aware of chants by a group of individuals at last night’s game,” the club said in a statement. “Such highly insensitive and callous chanting is not acceptable at our club and is against the values that Shamrock Rovers F.C. stands for.”

The mocking chants at Tallaght Stadium came during the club’s match against Swedish side Djurgårdens. The Europa Conference League contest ended, 0-0.

47m ago / 4:36 PM UTC

Manager of England football team on queen’s death

1h ago / 4:13 PM UTC

Queen’s death revives criticism of Britain’s colonial past

As the death Thursday of Queen Elizabeth II prompted an outpouring of grief from millions across the world, it also revived criticism of her legacy, highlighting the complicated feelings of those who saw her as a symbol of the British colonial empire — an institution that enriched itself through violence, theft and oppression.

“If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star,” Uju Anya, an associate professor of second language acquisition at Carnegie Mellon University, tweeted Thursday afternoon.

While Elizabeth ruled as Britain navigated a post-colonial era, she still bore a connection to its colonial past, which was rooted in racism and violence against Asian and African colonies. There have been growing calls in recent years for the monarchy to confront its colonial past.

Read the full story here.

2h ago / 3:31 PM UTC

Mourners, and corgis, pay respects outside Buckingham Palace A corgi outside Buckingham Palace in London on Friday. Susannah Ireland for NBC News

2h ago / 3:25 PM UTC

After queen’s burial, late husband will be moved to be by her side

After Queen Elizabeth II is buried, her late husband of 73 years will be transferred from the spot where he has been temporarily interred for nearly a year and a half so he can be laid to rest by her side.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, arrive by carriage at the Royal Ascot Races on June 21, 2007, in Ascot, England.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images file

When Prince Philip died in April 2021 at age 99, his coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault beneath St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The vault was created in the early 1800s for George III, who is one of several kings buried there, among other royals, according to the Telegraph.

Philip’s final resting place was always meant to be next to his bride. The queen will be buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh will be transferred to be alongside her.

Queen Elizabeth II looks at the coffin of Britain’s Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during his funeral service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021.Jonathan Brady / Pool via AFP – Getty Images file

Also inside the chapel are the remains of the queen’s father and the chapel’s namesake, George VI; her mother; and her sister, Princess Margaret, the Telegraph reported.

2h ago / 3:16 PM UTC

Scenes outside Buckingham Palace Crowds of mourners hold up phones as King Charles III and Camilla arrive outside Buckingham Palace in London on Friday. Susannah Ireland for NBC News

2h ago / 3:13 PM UTC

U.S. ambassador to the U.K. pays tribute to the queen

The U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom offered her condolences to the royal family, honoring Queen Elizabeth II’s dedication to public service.

“There has been no greater steward of the alliance of friendship and cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom than Queen Elizabeth,” Ambassador Jane Hartley said in a statement.

“We grieve with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth,” she said, adding that the U.S. will honor Elizabeth’s memory through its continued partnership with the U.K. and a “renewed commitment to our most Special Relationship.”

2h ago / 2:54 PM UTC

A kiss on the hand for King Charles III A well-wisher kisses the hand of Britain’s King Charles III as he walks outside Buckingham Palace in London on Friday. Yui Mok / AP

3h ago / 2:48 PM UTC

Xi Jinping sends ‘deep condolences’ to Britain’s royal family

Chinese President Xi Jinping has released a statement extending his “sincere sympathy” to the “British royal family, government and people,” following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“I attach great importance to the development of China-UK relations and stand ready to work with King Charles III,” he added, noting that Elizabeth was the first British monarch to visit China.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also sent a note of condolence to British Prime Minister Liz Truss, expressing his condolences to both the royal family and the U.K. government.

3h ago / 2:38 PM UTC

‘It’s not sunken in’ — mourners describe meeting the new king

Crowds of people gathered at Buckingham Palace on Friday to catch a glimpse of the new king — and some even managed to meet him.

Julie Masters, 57, from Sussex in southern England, says she was the first person to shake the hand of the new king. She had been waiting with hundreds of others, pressed up against the police barriers.

“It’s not really sunken in,” she said.

Margaret Walker, from Wokingham, 40 miles west of London, is 95 years old, just one year younger than the queen. She said: “Charles and Camilla shook my hand and I shan’t wash them again!”

Read more about the scene at the palace here.

3h ago / 2:30 PM UTC

King Charles III’s address to be broadcast at 6 p.m. local time

King Charles III’s inaugural address to the nation will be broadcast at 6 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET) Friday, according to Buckingham Palace.

The message was prerecorded in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace earlier Friday afternoon.

An official photograph of the king was taken during the recording, Buckingham Palace added. The photo will be shared after the address.

While Charles technically became king the moment his mother died, he will not be formally proclaimed the new monarch until a historic ceremony that will take place Saturday morning.

3h ago / 2:27 PM UTC

Gun salutes fired in tribute to the queen

Gun salutes took place at 1:00 p.m. (8 a.m. ET) across the U.K. in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. One round was fired for each of the 96 years of her life.

The gun salutes took place in London’s Hyde Park, at the Tower of London and also on Royal Navy ships at sea, according to the Ministry of Defense.

3h ago / 2:22 PM UTC

Flags at NATO lowered to half-staff

All flags at the NATO headquarters building in Brussels have been lowered to half-staff to commemorate the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Over more than 70 years, she exemplified selfless leadership and public service,” the organization’s secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said in a tweet, adding that he was sending his “deepest condolences” to NATO allies Britain and Canada, and the rest of the Commonwealth.

The United Kingdom was a founding member of NATO at its inception in 1949. The queen was crowned three years later.

3h ago / 2:07 PM UTC

Photo shows King Charles III waving to crowds at Buckingham Palace Daniel Leal / AFP – Getty Images

4h ago / 1:43 PM UTC

U.S. ambassador to the U.K. reflects on the queen’s public service

Jane Hartley, the American ambassador to the U.K., commended the queen’s commitment to service during an interview with Savannah Guthrie on NBC’s “TODAY” show.

“I think she contributed a sense of dignity, a sense of commitment, a commitment to democracy, freedom, humanitarian concerns,” Hartley said.

“I must say when I met her, I was so taken personally by not only how substantive she was, because she cared deeply about policy and she cared deeply about what was happening in the world, but her sense of warmth and her sense of caring just came through immediately.”

4h ago / 1:34 PM UTC

King Charles III greets crowds after arriving at Buckingham Palace

Britain’s new king arrived at his new official residence for the first time as monarch just after 2 p.m. Friday local time (9 a.m. ET), having traveled from Scotland where he was beside his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as she died Thursday.

Dressed in a black suit with a black tie, Charles greeted a large crowd of well-wishers of all ages outside Buckingham Palace, shook hands and acknowledged the enthusiastic cheers and cries of “God save the king!”

4h ago / 12:55 PM UTC

King Charles III arrives in London to begin his reign

The new monarch, Charles III, arrived in West London on Friday afternoon. He faces a packed schedule of events to commemorate his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and he was accompanied by Camilla, the Queen consort.

His plane touched down at RAF Northolt in West London just after 1:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m. ET) before he entered his official car to make the 30-minute journey to London.

King Charles arrives at RAF Northolt in London from Balmoral, where his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died Thursday afternoon.Ben Cawthra / Sipa USA via AP

5h ago / 12:37 PM UTC

Premier League games put off as a ‘mark of respect’ to the queen

LONDON — The Premier League has postponed its upcoming round of matches as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, adding to the cancellation of high-profile golf, cricket and horse racing events across Britain on Friday.

England’s top-flight soccer clubs held a meeting Friday and said they wanted to “pay tribute to Her Majesty’s long and unwavering service to our country.”

Players pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II during a soccer match between West Ham and FCSB Steaua Bucharest in London on Sept. 8, 2022.Ian Walton / AP

“This is a tremendously sad time for not just the nation but also for the millions of people around the world who admired her,” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said, “and we join together with all those in mourning her passing.”

The English Football League — the three divisions below the Premier League — also called off their games scheduled for the weekend.

Read the full story here.

5h ago / 12:15 PM UTC

British PM Truss leads tributes from U.K. lawmakers

British Prime Minister Liz Truss led the tributes to Queen Elizabeth II as lawmakers gathered in the country’s Parliament to pay their respects.

“In the hours since last night’s shocking news, we have witnessed the most heartfelt outpouring of grief at the loss of Her late Majesty the Queen,” Truss said.

“Crowds have gathered, flags have been lowered to half-mast, tributes have been sent from every continent around the world,” she added.

Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, said that the queen’s “legacy would live on forever.” He added that Elizabeth “played a crucial role as the thread between the history we cherish and the present we own.”

5h ago / 12:13 PM UTC

Yeoman Warders line up outside the Tower of London Yeoman Warders, nicknamed Beefeaters, line up for the death gun salute that will be fired at the Tower of London, to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II, in London on Sept. 9, 2022. Glyn Kirk / AFP – Getty Images

5h ago / 12:11 PM UTC

Charles III to be formally proclaimed king in historic ceremony Saturday

Charles technically became king the moment Queen Elizabeth II died, but he will be formally pronounced the new monarch at 10 a.m. (5 a.m. ET) at an accession council at St. James’s Palace on Saturday.

The accession council is attended by members of the Privy Council, who are advisers to the monarch on matters of the state. The ceremony is split into two parts: First, the council will proclaim Charles the king without his attendance, and, in a follow-up ceremony, he will join them and swear to uphold the church in Scotland and swear to continue the running of government.

At 11 a.m. (6 a.m. ET), the first public proclamation of the new monarch will be read from a balcony in St. James’s Palace by the Garter King of Arms, in the presence of the earl marshal and the serjeant-at-arms, who are ceremonial officers of the crown and the Parliament. Following this first public proclamation, similar ceremonies will follow suit in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

During the proclamation of the new monarch, flags will temporarily fly at full-staff, although they will be returned to half-staff after the ceremony to reflect the period of national mourning.

5h ago / 12:03 PM UTC

Boris Johnson refers to the queen as ‘Elizabeth the Great’

Speaking to the House of Commons, Boris Johnson delivered what some called a moving tribute to the queen.

5h ago / 11:56 AM UTC

Bank of England to delay key interest rate meeting

The Bank of England said Friday it would postpone a decision on whether to raise interest rates “in light of the period of national mourning.”

The decision could have serious consequences given the scale of the United Kingdom’s cost-of-living crisis.

The bank’s monetary policy committee was due to meet Thursday but will now meet Sept. 22 instead, it said.

6h ago / 11:49 AM UTC

Biden to attend queen’s funeral

The White House has confirmed to NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie that President Joe Biden will attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The queen will be laid to rest after 10 days of mourning, during which time the public can pay their respects. Leaders from around the world are expected to attend the state funeral.

6h ago / 11:47 AM UTC

Charles leaves Scotland Britain’s King Charles III leaves Aberdeen Airport as he travels to London following Thursday’s death of Queen Elizabeth II, in Aberdeen, Scotland. Aaron Chown / AP

6h ago / 11:41 AM UTC

King Charles III leads Britain in mourning

For the first time in 70 years, Britain awoke Friday without its queen. And as the country entered a lengthy period of national mourning after her death, it stepped into this uncertain new era already troubled by economic crisis and its latest bout of political upheaval.

Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to lay flowers and to witness history as a well-rehearsed plan for how the nation will bid farewell to one monarch and welcome another swung into action. With typical order and correctness, Buckingham Palace issued advice Friday morning on exactly where the public can leave floral tributes.

King Charles III, the longest-serving heir to the throne, is finally assuming his birthright at the age of 73. He will lead the country in a run of royal events based on traditions stretching back centuries.

Charles was returning to London on Friday from Balmoral, the Scottish castle where the family rushed to be by the queen’s side in her final moments. He will address the nation later for the first time as king.