The UK, Commonwealth and the world is in mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The 96-year-old British monarch passed away "peacefully" at her Balmoral estate on Thursday, September 8, 2022, in the afternoon, Buckingham Palace confirmed. Since the news broke world leaders and global figures have been remembering Her Majesty and have shared their condolences as well as their special memories of a special woman...

After Queen Elizabeth’s passing, her son Prince Charles - who is now King Charles III - released a statement remembering his "much loved mother". It read: "The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. 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. "During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."

The new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Liz Truss - who had the final official engagement with Her Majesty this week - stood outside No10 Downing Street to address the nation. She said: "It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy. Today, the crown passes, as it has done for more than a thousand years, to our new monarch, our new head of state, His Majesty, King Charles III. "With the king's family, we mourn the loss of his mother. And as we mourn, we must come together as a people to support him, to help him bear the awesome responsibility that he now carries for us all. We offer him our loyalty and devotion just as his mother devoted so much to so many for so long. "And with the passing of the second Elizabethan age, we usher in a new era in the magnificent history of our great country, exactly as Her Majesty would have wished: by saying the words, 'God save the King!'"

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a heartfelt message paying tribute to Her Majesty - the head of state for Canada. He said: "It was with the heaviest of hearts that we learned of the passing of Canada’s longest-reigning Sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to Twitter to share his condolences. He wrote: "It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On behalf of the people, we extend sincere condolences to the Royal family, the entire United Kingdom and the Commonwealth over this irreparable loss."

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth as both a monarch and a mother and grandmother. He said: "There are no words that can adequately express the sense of loss our nation will feel. “There can simply be no finer example of dignified public duty and unstinting service, and we all owe our sincere gratitude for her continued devotion, living every day by the pledge she made on her 21st birthday. Her dedication to our country has been incomparable and, as such, she leaves an enduring legacy. "My thoughts and prayers are with the King and the royal family at this time of great sadness. “The country has lost a devoted public servant; and the royal family has lost a much-loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother.”

Former US President Barack Obama recalled his and his wife Michelle’s bond with Queen Elizabeth while he was in office. He said: "Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us. “Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.”

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson released a statement describing the moment as the UK's "saddest day". He said: "This is our country's saddest day. In the hearts of every one of us there is an ache at the passing of our Queen, a deep and personal sense of loss - far more intense, perhaps, than we expected. "She seemed so timeless and so wonderful that I am afraid we had come to believe, like children, that she would just go on and on. "Wave after wave of grief is rolling across the world, from Balmoral - where our thoughts are with all the Royal Family - and breaking far beyond this country and throughout that great Commonwealth of nations that she so cherished and which cherished her in return. "As is so natural with human beings, it is only when we face the reality of our loss that we truly understand what has gone. It is only really now that we grasp how much she meant for us, how much she did for us, how much she loved us."

The French President released a deeply moving statement which remembered Queen Elizabeth as being a true friend of France. He wrote: ""Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth embodied the British nation's continuity and unity for over 70 years. I remember her as a friend of France, a kind-hearted queen who has left a lasting impression on her country and her century."

The former President of the United States released the following statement: "Hillary and I mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and we join with people across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and all around the world, in giving thanks for her extraordinary life. Throughout her remarkable 70-year reign, she led Britain through great transformations with unfailing grace, dignity, and genuine care for the welfare of all its people. In sunshine or storm, she was a source of stability, serenity, and strength."

The former US President and his wife Melania Trump posted a sincere tribute to Queen Elizabeth on Truth Social. The post read: "Together with our family and fellow Americans, we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom during this time of great sorrow and grief."