Her Majesty The Queen passed away this morning at the age of 96.
According to a statement from the palace she passed in her sleep on September 8, 2022, UK time.
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The news has rocked the United Kingdom, Australia and really most of the world. The newly appointed King Charles released a statement earlier today acknowledging how much The Queen meant to people across the globe.
“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, by countless people around the world,” the statement said.
Mourners in England and Scotland have already begun laying flowers and other memorabilia at Buckingham Castle, Balmoral and Windsor Castle.
Back at home there are some ways everyday Australians can pay tribute to the late monarch.
The easiest way is by leaving a message of condolence online through the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website. Mourners can fill out an online Condolence Form and their message will be sent to Buckingham Palace; it might also be displayed at the National Library of Australia.
You can also leave a message of condolence on the Royal Family website. A selection of these messages will be passed on to the Royal Family and may be held in the Royal Archives.
Alternatively, if you live near a Government house, you can leave a message in one of the condolence books available to sign until Friday September 23. Or you can download your own condolence book and mail your message to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Though some mourners have been laying flowers at the Forecourt of Parliament House, Government House Sydney and other locations around the country, the Royal Family has asked Australians to make a donation to charity instead.
If you’re a flag owner, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet says the Australian National Flag should be flown at half-mast until the day after the funeral in the UK.
If you happen to have a Governor-General’s flag that should still be flown at full mast as it represents the Monarchy which is continuous.
While the UK will observe 10 days of mourning, there is no official mourning period in Australia. However, there will be a National Day of Mourning, the date of which is to be confirmed and will not be a public holiday.
For more information, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has a full list of FAQs on their website.
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