This is BBC News from London.
Buckingham Palace has announced the death of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II
She was monarch to more than 100 million people in 14 countries; as far apart as Canada and New Zealand.
Her reign of just over 70 years, represents almost 30% of the time that the United States has existed as an independent country,
seeing the coming and going of 14 of the 45 US presidents,
twelve French presidents
fifteen British Prime Ministers,
four Spanish rulers
and five Moroccan kings.
Her face has appeared on more banknotes and more coins in more currencies than any other monarch in history.
It is difficult to overestimate the impact of the queen on global politics, culture and history.
Her death will change the world.
Elizabeth was, perhaps, the most recognized - the most famous woman the world has known.
Alongside Big Ben and cups of tea, Queen Elizabeth was an emblem of Britishness
to all who weren't British.
In the UK, she was justified by, and often presented in the media as: the figure of unity,
the binding that keeps the otherwise divided kingdom, united
and as an easy way for the difficult present time to connect back to a past when Britain felt victorious, happy and glorious.
Now she has gone, the unity and the link with the past goes with her.
The death of Queen Elizabeth has changed the United Kingdom.
History has ended.
Of course, we are all in shock.
"...and one thinks immediately, Nick, first of all, of the loss for the Royal F.amily."
"One does. This is an absolutely massive moment."
We are all a bit disoriented.
80% of the British population has known no other monarch.
To say "God save the king" feels strange,
but these feelings will fade quickly.
What will stay with us for a longer time is the demand for something new,
something better.
Elizabeth's death has come at the worst time for the monarchy.
The United Kingdom is in turmoil.
The country has an unelected prime minister who is deeply unpopular,
a financial crisis that has millions of people in poverty,
high inflation, the threat of a trade war with the EU,
low productivity, a population still bitter and divided over Brexit,
animosity between England and Scotland,
difficulties in Northern Ireland
and national industrial action involving teachers, nurses, rail workers, postal staff and the judiciary:
all of which could bring the country to a standstill.
The UK has seen a rise in food banks;
where an increasing number of people who fall into poverty can get free food.
Now the nation has "warm banks" - a new concept to keep public buildings open longer,
so the rising number of people who cannot afford to heat their homes have somewhere to go to keep themselves warm.
The British people are demanding something new, something different.
The timely death of the queen offers even greater opportunity for even greater change,
and the people of Britain will take that greater opportunity.
The queen's death is her final act of unity as the UK enters a period of official mourning.
There is a sombre mood as the country comes together and comes to terms with its loss - of its queen and its past.
The industrial action that had been planned for the coming week has been postponed out of respect -
but it hasn't been cancelled.
The solidarity in grief and sorrow is unlikely to last for the 10 days of official mourning.
The anger, frustration and unhappiness felt by the British people are much stronger emotions.
The sadness at the death of an old, but wealthy, monarch will soon pale into insignificance if homes cannot be heated
and children cannot be fed.
In our past, we were Elizabethans under the queen who defined the British nation and the world,
but that queen is now dead.
The king takes the throne as Charles III and we become Caroleans,
but we go into a future as a nation and a people that will define the king.