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Great North Run: Organisers confirm famous half marathon WILL go ahead on Sunday in wake of Queen Elizabeth II's death
The announcement of her passing was made by Buckingham Palace at 6.30pm on Thursday, September 8. She died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, with some of her closest family by her side.
Her Majesty the Queen ruled for longer than any monarch in British history, dedicating her lifetime to serving the UK and Commonwealth.
It was announced on Friday, September 9 by Buckingham Palace that a period of royal mourning will be observed until seven days after the Queen’s funeral.
King Charles III addressed the nation for the first time at 6pm on Friday evening, September 9.
In his address, he pledged to “serve with loyalty, respect and love” as he thanked the late Queen for her “love and devotion”.
He earlier greeted crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace and held his first in-person audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss.
In the North East, the iconic Great North Run half marathon has been confirmed as going ahead this Sunday (September 11). The 13.1-mile route runs between Newcastle and South Shields, raising thousands for charity.
Other events due to take place throughout the Great Run weekend have been postponed, as have Premier League and EFL fixtures across the coming days.
BBC One has also suspended its regular programming schedule in the wake of the Queen’s death and is airing rolling news coverage on Friday.
Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne came in February 1952, following the death of her father (King George VI), with her coronation at Westminster Abbey taking place in June 1953.
In June 2022, an extended celebration was held in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee as the nation paid tribute to the dignity, dedication and duty of the Monarch.
The nation has united in mourning as countless tributes are paid to Queen Elizabeth II, with people and organisations alike recognising her unwavering determination to serve her people.
Her son Charles, whose new title has been confirmed as King Charles III, will now serve as monarch – our first King in more than 70 years.
After returning to London with the Queen Consort (Camilla, formerly the Duchess of Cornwall), he is expected to address the nation for the first time on Friday.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King will be proclaimed at the Accession Council at 10am on Saturday (September 10) in the State Apartments of St James’s Palace.
You can read tributes following the Queen’s passing and updates on what happens next below.
Last updated: Friday, 09 September, 2022, 21:33
Countless tributes are being paid to the duty and dedication to Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, September 8 at the age of 96.
Her accession to the throne came when she was just 25 – and for more than 70 years since, she has given her everything to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.
We are now in a period of national mourning, with more details to become clear and many updates to follow in the coming days. We will keep you informed of the key information as it becomes available.
To Our Queen and the Royal Family; our thoughts are with you at this time of sadness. Her son Charles – now to be King Charles III – is our new monarch.
It was a sombre mood on the streets of Sunderland this morning, Friday September 9.
Residents mourning the death of the Queen described her as “Britain’s backbone” and a “brilliant leader” who will be greatly missed.
Watch their tributes here.
Hetton town residents who wish to pay a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II can sign the council’s book of condolence.
It is available at The Hetton Centre.
The Mayor of Hetton David Geddis opened the book on Friday morning, September 9.
Here are other places in Wearside where you can sign books of condolence.
The death of Queen Elizabeth II brought to an end the second Elizabethan era, and sparked the beginning of a new time in British history.
The next era of British history under King Charles III will be known as the Carolean era.
It was most recently used to describe the reign of King Charles II who was ruler from 1660 to 1685.
You can read more about it here.
The reign of King Charles III has begun and, as the name suggests, he is the third monarch to be known as Charles in the history of the crown.
Both of King Charles III’s namesakes had turbulent reigns as monarch, reigning through civil wars, outbreaks of plague, and the worst fire the city of London has ever seen.
You can read more about how King Charles I and II fared during their time on the throne here.
For the first time in 70 years, when King George VI was the ruler of the country, Britain’s head of state is once again a king.
This has resulted in a change of the title of the country’s national anthem, as it is now called ‘God Save The King’.
See the lyrics here.
MPs applauded the King’s address after they watched it in silence in the Commons chamber.
Some could be seen wiping away tears during the speech.
The Commons had been suspended for a short period to allow MPs to watch the speech on televisions in the chamber.
The King ended his address by saying: “To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May ‘flights of angels sing thee to thy rest’.”
The King said he was creating his son and heir, William, Prince of Wales adding: “With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations, helping to bring the marginal to the centre ground where vital help can be given.”
The King said: “My life will of course change as I take up my new responsibilities.”
He added: “It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”
The King added he wished to “express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas”.
In an address to the nation, the King said his mother pledged to devote her life “to the service of her peoples” on her 21st birthday in 1947.
He said: “That was more than a promise: it was a profound personal commitment which defined her whole life.
“She made sacrifices for duty.
“Her dedication and devotion as Sovereign never waivered, through times of change and progress, through times of joy and celebration, and through times of sadness and loss.”
The King added: “As the Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the Constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.”
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