Queen Elizabeth has died. The announcement was made this afternoon, after a day in which speculation about the Queen’s health had been mounting. She was at her estate in Balmoral, surrounded by her family, when she passed away. Britain has been plunged into mourning, in what may prove to be a cathartic moment for the United Kingdom. Her eldest son Charles now becomes King of the United Kingdom. He has named his wife Camilla as Queen Consort.

This week, Queen Elizabeth officiated at her final function, when she invited the new leader of the Conservative Party, Liz Truss, to take the position of Prime Minister and to form a government.

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, was among the first to pay tribute to a woman, who was regarded as remarkable even by those opposed to the monarchy. She became queen on 6 February 1952, and had reigned as monarch for an unprecedented 70 years – though her coronation didn’t take place until 2 June 1953.

“It is with profound regret and a deep personal sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” President Higgins said.

"On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my heartfelt sympathy to His Majesty King Charles and to the Royal Family on their very great personal loss. May I offer my deepest condolences to the British people and to the members of the Commonwealth on the loss of a unique, committed and deeply respected Head of State.

"Her Majesty served the British people with exceptional dignity. Her personal commitment to her role and extraordinary sense of duty were the hallmarks of her period as Queen, which will hold a unique place in British history.

"Her reign of 70 years encompassed periods of enormous change, during which she represented a remarkable source of reassurance to the British people. This was a reassurance based on a realism of the significance of present events, rather than any narrow conception of history. This was so well reflected by a remarkable generosity of spirit which helped to foster a more inclusive relationship both with the British people themselves and with those with whom her country has experienced a complex, and often difficult, history.”

One of the most poignant and exceptional moments in the Queen’s reign took place during the State visit that she made to Ireland in May 2011, when Mary McAleese was President. The hospitality extended to the Queen then was reciprocated three years later, following the election of Michael D. Higgins later in 2011.

"As President of Ireland, I recall the exceptional hospitality afforded to Sabina and myself by the Queen and the late Prince Philip on our four day State Visit to Britain in 2014,” President Higgins said. "Together we celebrated the deeply personal interconnection between the Irish and British people, a connection embodied by the hundreds of thousands of families who have moved between our shores over the centuries.

"As we know, the Queen often spoke of how much she enjoyed her own historic State Visit to Ireland in 2011, the first such Visit by a British monarch since Irish independence, and during which she did so much through eloquent word and generous gesture to improve relations between our two islands.

"Queen Elizabeth’s Visit was pivotal in laying a firm basis for an authentic and ethical understanding between our countries. During those memorable few days eleven years ago, the Queen did not shy away from the shadows of the past. Her moving words and gestures of respect were deeply appreciated and admired by the people of Ireland and set out a new, forward looking relationship between our nations – one of respect, close partnership and sincere friendship.

"As we offer our condolences to all our neighbours in the United Kingdom, following the loss of a remarkable friend of Ireland, we remember the role Queen Elizabeth played in celebrating the warm and enduring friendship, and her great impact on the bonds of mutual understanding, between our two peoples. She will be deeply missed.

"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.”