My Chemical Romance, Slash and Halestorm‘s Lzzy Hale are among a variety of musicians who recently performed live with one of a series of Ukraine-themed Gibson Les Paul electric guitars that will be auctioned this November to raise money for Ukrainian relief.
Gibson craftsmen created a limited-edition run of the Guitars for Peace Les Paul Custom guitars, which feature the azure blue and gold colors of the Ukrainian flag.
This summer, various artists played the guitars while on tour and signed special autograph books that will be auctioned to benefit the cause.
Other artists participating in the initiative include Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Rush‘s Alex Lifeson, Dire Straits‘ Mark Knopfler and Chic‘s Nile Rogers.
The guitars and autograph books will be up for bid as part of the latest installment of the Julien’s Auctions “Icons & Idols: Rock ‘n’ Roll” sale, scheduled to take place November 11-13 at the Hard Rock in New York City and online at JuliensLive.com. Bidding for the items will start October 11.
All of the money raised by the auction of the Ukraine-themed guitars will be donated to humanitarian relief for the Ukrainian people in the wake of Russia’s invasion, and to help the country rebuild after the conflict ends. The campaign was organized in conjunction with Gibson Gives, the company’s charitable arm.
“It’s been heartbreaking to watch the innocent people of Ukraine in such turmoil,” Hale says. “I’m so proud of my Gibson family for stepping up to provide a bit of hope to our fellow humans.”
Adds Slash, “It is an honor to represent the brave sovereign state of Ukraine. I’m proud to support them during this conflict.”
To help raise additional funds, a Gibson Gives Guitars for Peace T-shirt is now available for purchase at Bonfire.com.
Christina Aguilera is about to add another impressive honor to her trophy case. The singer will receive this year’s Spirit of Hope Award at the Billboard Latin Music Awards.
The award was created in 1996 in memory of late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Christina earned the honor not only for her musical career but for her philanthropy. The singer, who has sold over 75 million records worldwide, is a staunch supporter of LGBTQ rights and is part of the global effort to end world hunger.
The “Beautiful” singer joins an impressive list of honorees, including Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Shakira, “Despacito” singers Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, Carlos Santana, Marry Me star Maluma and Marc Anthony.
The 2022 Billboard Latin Music Awards take place Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m. ET. The ceremony will be broadcast on Telemundo and will also stream on Peacock.
A rep for Oscar winner Nicolas Cage and his fifth wife, Riko Shibata, tells People the pair has welcomed a new baby girl.
August Francesca is the third child for the 58-year-old Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent star, and the first for 27-year-old Shibata, who Cage married in February of 2021.
“Mother and daughter are doing fine,” a rep tells the magazine.
Cage has two other children: 31-year-old Weston, 31, with ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton and 16-year-old Kal-El, with ex-wife Alice Kim.
(LONDON) — Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II died hours after Buckingham Palace announced she was “under medical supervision” because “doctors are concerned” about her health.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the royal family said in a statement Thursday evening local time.
Earlier in the day, the palace announced she was under medical supervision “following further evaluation” that morning.
The 96-year-old monarch had spent the summer at Balmoral Castle, the royal family’s estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A royal source told ABC News earlier on Thursday that immediate family members had been informed of the situation.
The queen’s oldest child, Charles, Prince of Wales; and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; as well as the queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, were at Balmoral, according to their respective spokespersons. The queen’s other sons, Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; as well as Edward’s wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Charles’ two sons, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex began to make their way to Balmoral, their respective spokespersons confirmed earlier Thursday.
On Wednesday, the queen canceled a meeting of her Privy Council and was told to rest, a source at Buckingham Palace told ABC News. At the time, the palace would not comment on the queen’s health beyond saying she was heeding doctors’ advice to rest.
After the palace’s announcement of her health on Thursday morning, U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss took to Twitter to say that her “thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”
“The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime,” Truss tweeted.
Truss, who was recently selected as the new leader of the U.K.’s ruling Conservative Party, had an audience with the queen at Balmoral Castle on Tuesday, during which she was formally asked to form a new government as prime minister after Boris Johnson’s official resignation. It was the first time in the queen’s 70-year reign that the ceremonial transfer of power was held at Balmoral, rather than at Buckingham Palace in London.
The queen faced several health conditions over the past year, including COVID-19 and an overnight hospitalization for what Buckingham Palace described at the time as “preliminary investigations.”
In July, British newspaper The Telegraph reported that Buckingham Palace changed the details of the queen’s job description in its annual report by swapping out the “Queen’s programme” of engagements for more general “visits in royal programmes.” Instead, members of the royal family, including Charles, the heir apparent to the British throne, would step in and support some of her duties.
A palace source told ABC News at the time that these changes were not “drastic” but a small update. The Sovereign Grant report indicated that the queen’s role still comprised two key elements: Head of State and Head of Nation, which means that as Head of State, she “must fulfill” specific duties.
In May, Charles stepped in for his mother when she missed the opening of Parliament due to mobility issues. It was the first time in six decades that she was not present. Instead, her crown was placed next to Charles.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II is likely to hit some of the world’s most famous musicians hard because during her reign, she bestowed royal honors on many of them, including knighthoods.
While some famous artists turned down knighthoods or other honors, including The Rolling Stones‘ Keith Richards, David Bowie and ex-BeatleGeorge Harrison, most were more than happy to make the trip to Buckingham Palace to receive their medals from either the queen herself or a high-ranking member of the royal family, such as then-Prince Charles or Prince William.
Here’s a list of all the rock and pop stars who’ve received such honors, starting with the highest one, a knighthood.
Knighthoods
1986 — Bob Geldof, organizer of Live Aid [honorary knighthood, cannot be called “sir” because he’s Irish]
1995 — Iconic British pop star Cliff Richard [also received an OBE, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]
1996 — Beatles producer George Martin [now deceased]
1997 — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney [also received an MBE, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]
1998 — Elton John [also received a CBE, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and the Order of the Companions of Honour]
2002 — Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones
2006 — Tom Jones [also received an OBE, Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]
2007 — Bono of U2 [honorary knighthood, cannot be called “sir” because he’s Irish]
2016 — Van Morrison [also received an OBE]
2016 — Rod Stewart [also received a CBE]
2017 — Ray Davies of The Kinks [also received a CBE]
2018 — Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees [also received a CBE]
2019 — Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr [also received an MBE]
CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)
2003 — Sting [ex-The Police]
2004 — Roger Daltrey of The Who
2004 — The Bee Gees [Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb]
(LONDON) — The queen is preceded in death by her husband of more than 70 years, Prince Philip, who died April 9, 2021, at the age of 99.
Queen Elizabeth is survived by her three sons, Princes Charles, Andrew and Edward; one daughter, Princess Anne; eight grandchildren, Princes William and Harry of Wales, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York, and Peter and Zara Phillips, as well as Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren.
Her eldest son, Charles, the Prince of Wales, succeeds her as king. His wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is expected to become queen consort, a title that Queen Elizabeth requested at the time of her Platinum Jubilee.
Charles’s eldest son, Prince William, is now heir to the throne.
The queen was hospitalized in late October 2021 for what Buckingham Palace described as “preliminary investigations.” After a one-night hospital stay, the queen returned home to Windsor Castle, where she resumed her work, the palace said at the time.
A few weeks later, on Nov. 14, the queen missed the annual Remembrance Sunday service after she sprained her back, Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time.
In February 2022, the queen tested positive for COVID-19 but had only “mild cold-like symptoms” as a result of the virus, according to the palace.
Two months later, in April, the queen celebrated her 96th birthday at Sandringham, her country estate in Norfolk.
In June, the queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. She attended just three events during the four-day celebration due to what Buckingham Palace described at the time as “some discomfort.”
A history-making female monarch
When Queen Elizabeth came to the throne in 1952, some Britons were so thrilled by the young queen they declared it was a second “Elizabethan Age.”
Elizabeth II would come to embody not only the British monarchy but a tradition of doing one’s duty and maintaining a stiff upper lip.
On her 21st birthday, she pledged to her future subjects: “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.”
It was a promise she never forgot.
Queen Elizabeth, the longest-lived British monarch, reigned through 14 American presidents, and just as many British prime ministers, proving herself a savvy stateswoman and a constant leader on the world stage.
The queen, who traveled on more than 271 state visits during her reign, was sometimes the only female on the stage with world leaders, and she always stayed mum on her personal political opinions, proving her mastery of “soft diplomacy.”
As recently as 2021, she met with world leaders at a Group of 7 summit meeting in Cornwall in June, and hosted President Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, at Windsor Castle afterward.
In addition to being sovereign of the United Kingdom and 15 Commonwealth realms, she was also the head of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 54 independent countries.
During her reign, she visited nearly every country in the Commonwealth — missing only Cameroon and Rwanda — and made many repeat visits, according to the royal family’s official website.
Always committed to the service aspect of her role, the queen had links, either as royal patron or president, to over 600 charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organizations, according to the royal family’s official website.
Well into her 90s, the queen continued to attend royal engagements, from Buckingham Palace garden parties and receptions to knighting ceremonies, state banquets and travels throughout the Commonwealth.
She was a modern monarch who kept up with the times, including sending her first tweet in 2014 and publishing her first Instagram post in 2019.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Queen Elizabeth began doing video calls so that she could continue to connect with people while working from home.
Queen Elizabeth’s path to the throne
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London on April 21, 1926, a granddaughter of King George V and the first child of Prince Albert, the Duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, a daughter of the Scottish nobility.
Four years after Elizabeth’s birth, the Yorks had a second daughter, Princess Margaret Rose.
The family’s lives changed in 1936, when King George V died, and his eldest son became King Edward VIII.
Edward VIII — known to Elizabeth as “Uncle David” — began a relationship with a woman named Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
The romance triggered a constitutional crisis. When Edward decided to give up his throne to marry Simpson, Elizabeth’s father, Albert, ascended to the throne.
Elizabeth was just 10-years-old when her father became King George VI, having adopted his father’s name.
With no sons in the family, the heir to the throne would be George’s elder daughter — Elizabeth.
In 1940, during World War II, Princess Elizabeth, then 14, made her first broadcast, addressing the children of Britain, especially wartime evacuees.
When the war ended, she began to carry out public engagements, including in 1947, when she made her first official tour overseas, joining her parents and sister on a visit to South Africa.
Love and marriage
In1939, when then-Princess Elizabeth visited the Naval War College with her family, she reconnected with a young Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, who had served in the British Navy during the war and was a student at the college.
Like Elizabeth, he was a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria.
The couple exchanged letters and, in 1946, Philip, then in his mid-20s, was given permission by King George VI to marry his daughter, on the condition that they wait until Elizabeth was 21.
The couple married on Nov. 20, 1947, in a royal wedding in Westminster Abbey. Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles and adopted the anglicized surname of his mother’s family, calling himself Lt. Philip Mountbatten.
For several years after their marriage, Philip and Elizabeth lived a relatively normal life. He continued to serve in the Royal Navy, and the couple soon had their two oldest children, Prince Charles, in 1948, and Princess Anne, in 1950.
Philip and Elizabeth’s lives changed in 1952, when, while Elizabeth was touring Kenya, her father, King George VI, died.
She became Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 25, and Philip gave up his career in the Royal Navy to support his wife.
Elizabeth becomes queen
As if heralding a new, modern era, Elizabeth’s coronation on June 2, 1953, was broadcast on radio and television.
The new queen was a busy woman. She met regularly with the prime minister and other cabinet members and saw all cabinet papers as well as all important Foreign Office telegrams. She was also supreme governor of the Church of England.
She presided over a number of ceremonies, such as the opening of Parliament and the Trooping the Color; hosted heads of state of the Commonwealth and other countries; conducted official visits overseas; served as head of the British Navy, Army and Air Force; and served as patron of more than 700 organizations.
She also found time to pursue her own interests as a horsewoman and dog owner.
The queen and Prince Philip also expanded their family, welcoming their third child, son Prince Andrew, in 1960 and their fourth child, Prince Edward, in 1964.
Royal family faces personal drama
Although some modernizations had crept in, Elizabeth both lived and reigned much as her father and her grandfather had. But other members of her family were having a harder time keeping up the Edwardian traditions, and their foibles overshadowed much of her later reign.
Princess Margaret had given up her plans to marry a British war hero, Group Capt. Peter Townsend, because he was divorced.
Margaret subsequently married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was named Earl of Snowdon. They had two children, but by 1978 the marriage ended in divorce, a move that had been taboo in the royal family since the days of Henry VIII.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Princess Anne, married Capt. Mark Phillips in 1973. The queen became a grandmother in 1977, when Peter Phillips was born, followed by a sister, Zara, in 1981.
As the heir to the throne, Prince Charles faced heavy public scrutiny over whom he would marry.
In 1981, the 32-year-old prince married 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer. The British people became smitten with their new princess, who added a new glamour to the House of Windsor.
Diana quickly giving birth to two sons, Princes William and Harry.
Charles and Diana’s marriage was behind the scenes more emotionally fraught for both parties, according to accounts at the time.
Charles would later be accused by Diana of having an affair with his now-wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, while Diana, for her part, by all accounts had a hard time adjusting to the pressures of royal life and felt that she received little support.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s second son, Prince Andrew, had married Sarah Ferguson and been named the Duke of York. Andrew’s naval career though often kept them apart and their marriage was soon on the rocks too.
‘Annus horribilis’
As 1992 drew to a close, Elizabeth said in her annual Christmas broadcast that it had been an “annus horribilis.”
Within that year, Andrew and Sarah were separated.
Princess Anne divorced her husband and subsequently married Navy Cmdr. Timothy Laurence.
But it was the marital woes of Charles and Diana that dominated the headlines. A journalist named Andrew Morton published “Diana: Her True Story,” a book in which Diana’s friends freely described her marriage as a sham, revealing Charles’ interest in Camilla and Diana’s own battles with bulimia.
Also in 1992, a fire ravaged Windsor Castle, the medieval fortress where Elizabeth had spent so much of her childhood. The royal family faced backlash from British taxpayers who learned they were expected to help pay for the repairs.
The queen’s horrible year finally drew to a close with the announcement in December 1992 that Charles and Diana were separating.
Divorce and the death of Diana
The separation did not end the war of the Windsors.
Charles and Diana continued to feud, with the tabloids following every move.
Many Britons started to question the value of the monarchy, and it was suggested that the succession should skip Charles altogether and go right to his son William.
After Charles and Diana each opened up to the press on their own to tell their sides of the story, the couple’s divorce was finalized in August 1996.
Just one year later, on Aug. 31, 1997, Diana died following a car crash in the Pont D’Alma Bridge in Paris during which her car was pursued by paparazzi.
Queen under fire
The news of Diana’s death at the age of 36 plunged Britain — and indeed, much of the rest of the world — into grief.
Millions of Britons left flowers and remembrances outside Buckingham Palace in Diana’s memory.
The prime minister paid public tribute to the “people’s princess.” Flags everywhere were at half-staff. But the queen was nowhere to be seen.
Elizabeth and Philip had been at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with Princes William and Harry, then 15 and 12, respectively, when the accident occurred.
But when people in front of Buckingham Palace began holding up signs reading “Where is our queen when we need her?,” Elizabeth got the message.
She returned to London with her grandsons, and gave an address to the nation praising her former daughter-in-law. At Diana’s funeral procession, the queen was seen bowing as the cortege passed by.
A sacred duty
In 2002, Britain celebrated the queen’s golden jubilee, marking her 50th anniversary on the throne.
Critics wondered whether the public could get excited about a tarnished royal family headed by an aging monarch, but the crowds turned out in droves for a special jubilee concert, and Elizabeth presided over a number of special events marking the anniversary.
But her jubilee year was marred by two deaths.
On Feb. 9, her younger sister, Princess Margaret, died at age 71.
Then their mother, the Queen Mother, died on March 30 at the age of 101.
As Elizabeth herself aged, some wondered whether she would retire, allowing her son Charles to become king while still in middle age. But the queen had no intention of abdicating.
Diamond Jubilee and family scandal
In 2011, Queen Elizabeth watched as the future heir to her throne, her grandson, Prince William, wed Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, in a royal wedding at Westminster Abbey seen as breathing fresh life into the monarchy.
One year later, in 2012, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Diamond Jubilee — 60 years on the throne. The festivities included a concert with Paul McCartney and Elton John, a carriage procession through the streets of London and the queen’s appearance with her family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
She was only the second British monarch in 1,000 years to make it that far, and her reign was characterized by her decades of determination and fortitude.
Several years later, in 2019, the queen faced a less uniting moment for her family and the monarchy when her son Prince Andrew found himself again under scrutiny for his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender with whom Andrew was photographed walking through New York’s Central Park shortly after Epstein’s prison sentence ended in Florida.
When Epstein faced new criminal charges in 2019, Andrew faced allegations that he had sex on multiple occasions with an American teenager, which he categorically denied.
The criticisms grew to the point that Andrew announced in November 2019 that he would step back from public duties “for the foreseeable future,” saying he was doing so with Queen Elizabeth’s permission.
Two days after the announcement, Andrew was spotted riding horses with Queen Elizabeth, a move seen by some royal watchers as a signal the queen was sticking by her son’s side.
A growing family
Even amid the controversies, as Queen Elizabeth continued her history-making reign, she watched as her family grew through marriages and children’s births.
The queen and Prince Philip were the parents of eight grandchildren, Princes William and Harry of Wales, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York, Peter and Zara Phillips, as well as Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.
The queen’s oldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, brought her first two great-grandchildren into the world with his daughters, born in 2010 and 2012. Peter’s sister, Zara Phillips, would go on to have three children.
Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, went on to have three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princes Louis.
Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed a son in February 2021, the ninth great-grandchild for Queen Elizabeth.
Eugenie’s sister, Princess Beatrice, gave birth to a daughter on Sept. 18, 2021, with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The couple named their daughter Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, a nod to her great-grandmother.
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, gave the queen two more great-grandchildren with the birth of their son, Archie, in 2019 and their daughter, Lilibet, in 2021.
Lilibet, who goes by Lili, is also named after the queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet.
Harry and Meghan’s exit from the royal family
Harry and Meghan’s high-profile wedding at St. George’s Chapel in 2018 also seemed to breathe new life into the monarchy, as William and Kate’s had done seven years before, but the honeymoon for the couple and royal life was short-lived.
Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they would “step back” as senior working members of the royal family, a decision that sent shockwaves among royal watchers and the royal family, and forced the queen to again step in to keep her family and the monarchy together.
Queen Elizabeth oversaw a high-stakes family summit to determine Harry and Meghan’s future, which ultimately saw them forgo royal life to start fresh with their family in California.
The royal family was criticized for not finding a place in the monarchy for Harry and Meghan, who were greeted as rock stars on overseas tours and were seen as bringing a new and more diverse future to the royal family.
Just over one year after leaving their royal roles, Harry and Meghan gave a bombshell interview to Oprah Winfrey in which they made claims of racism, spilled family tensions into the public eye and said they face a lack of support, both financially and emotionally.
Despite the allegations, Harry described a great fondness for the queen, a sign of the enduring legacy she had on her family.
“I’ve spoken more to my grandmother in the last year than I have done for many, many years,” said Harry, revealing he and Meghan and Archie have video calls with the queen. “My grandmother and I have a really good relationship and an understanding, and I have a deep respect for her. She’s my commander-in-chief, right? She always will be.”
A pandemic and Prince Philip’s death
As Queen Elizabeth dealt with the fallout from her family’s troubles, a deadly coronavirus pandemic swept the globe in 2020, bringing to a halt the usual royal public appearances with pomp and circumstance.
The queen and Prince Philip, who were high risk for COVID-19 because of their age, spent much of the pandemic quarantined together at Windsor Castle, a royal residence located about one hour outside of London.
No longer able to make in-person appearances, Queen Elizabeth adapted with the times as she always has, participating in video calls with people from across the Commonwealth.
The time at home at Windsor Castle afforded the queen more time than she would normally have had with Philip, who retired from official royal duties in 2017.
Philip was hospitalized for one month in early 2021 before returning to Windsor Castle, where he died on April 9, 2021, at the age of 99.
Just weeks later, on April 21, 2021, Elizabeth celebrated her 95th birthday.
“I have, on the occasion of my 95th birthday today, received many messages of good wishes, which I very much appreciate,” the queen said in a statement at the time. “While as a family we are in a period of great sadness, it has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world.”
A history-making Platinum Jubilee
In 2022, Elizabeth marked yet another first in her reign, becoming the first British monarch to reach a Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne.
On Feb. 5, 2022, the queen made her first public, in-person appearance in several months when she met with representatives from local community groups in the ballroom at Sandringham House, her Norfolk estate, to celebrate the start of her Platinum Jubilee.
That same day, she released a statement, renewing the pledge of service she gave in 1947, on her 21st birthday.
“As I look ahead with a sense of hope and optimism to the year of my Platinum Jubilee, I am reminded of how much we can be thankful for. These last seven decades have seen extraordinary progress socially, technologically and culturally that have benefitted us all; and I am confident that the future will offer similar opportunities to us and especially to the younger generations in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth,” the queen wrote. “I am fortunate to have had the steadfast and loving support of my family.”
The queen continued, “I was blessed that in Prince Philip I had a partner willing to carry out the role of consort and unselfishly make the sacrifices that go with it. It is a role I saw my own mother perform during my father’s reign.”
In her statement, Elizabeth also set a path for the monarchy moving forward in her public request that Camilla become Queen Consort when Charles becomes king.
“I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me,” she wrote. “And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
In June, the public celebrated the queen with a four-day celebration of her Platinum Jubilee.
The celebration included everything from Trooping the Color to a National Service of Thanksgiving, a star-studded concert led by Diana Ross and thousands of lunches and street parties across the country. At the end of celebration, Elizabeth appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside Charles and Camilla and William and Kate and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.
The queen also shared a written thank you message at the end of the celebration.
“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come,” she wrote. “I thank you most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations.”
The queen signed her message with her first name, Elizabeth, followed by the letter R, which stands for Regina, the Latin word for queen.
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, has died at age 96.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow,” read the brief announcement on the Royal Family’s official Twitter.
About a half-hour later, King Charles, as he is now officially known, also issued a statement on the Royal Family’s official Twitter. Titled “A Statement from His Majesty the King at the Time of The Queen’s Death,” it reads: “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 queen was preceded in death by her husband of more than 70 years, Prince Philip, who died April 9, 2021, at the age of 99.
Queen Elizabeth is survived by her three sons, Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward; one daughter, Princess Anne; eight grandchildren, Princes William and Harry of Wales, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York, and Peter and Zara Phillips, as well as Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren.
Queen Elizabeth’s eldest son, Charles, will officially succeed her as king at a date to be determined, though with his mother’s passing, he is now formally known as King Charles. His wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is now queen consort, a title that Queen Elizabeth requested Camilla be granted at the time of her Platinum Jubilee celebration earlier this year.
Charles’s eldest son, Prince William, is now heir to the throne.
In June, the queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. She attended just three events during the four-day celebration due to what Buckingham Palace described at the time as “some discomfort.” The previous October, she’d been hospitalized overnight for what Buckingham Palace described as “preliminary investigations.” She also tested positive for COVID-19 in February but experienced only “mild cold-like symptoms” as a result of the virus, according to the palace. Two months later, in April, the queen celebrated her 96th birthday at Sandringham, her country estate in Norfolk.
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in London on April 21, 1926, a granddaughter of King George V and the first child of Prince Albert, the Duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, a daughter of Scottish nobility. The family’s lives changed in 1936, when King George V died and his eldest son became King Edward VIII.
Edward VIII soon famously began a relationship with American divorcee Wallis Simpson. The romance triggered a constitutional crisis that ended with Edward giving up the throne to marry Simpson. Elizabeth’s father, Albert, adopted his father’s name and became King George VI — leaving 10-year-old Elizabeth, his eldest daughter, as heir to the throne.
When her father died on February 6, 1952, after years of declining health, Queen Elizabeth II ascended the British throne at age 25; some Britons were so thrilled by the young queen they declared it was a second “Elizabethan Age.”
Queen Elizabeth II’s reign spanned 14 U.S. American presidents and just as many British prime ministers. Along the way, she proved herself a savvy stateswoman and a constant leader on the world stage. She traveled on more than 271 state visits during her reign and was sometimes the only woman on the stage with world leaders. She always stayed mum on her personal political opinions, demonstrating her mastery of “soft diplomacy.”
As recently as June 2021, Queen Elizabeth II met with world leaders at a Group of 7 summit meeting in Cornwall, and hosted President Biden and first lady Jill Biden at Windsor Castle afterward.
In addition to being sovereign of the United Kingdom and 15 Commonwealth realms, the Queen was also the head of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 54 independent countries. During her reign, she visited nearly every country in the Commonwealth — missing only Cameroon and Rwanda — and made many repeat visits, according to the royal family’s official website.
As popular as she was, the Queen weathered particularly harsh scrutiny over her alleged poor treatment of Princess Diana, whom then-32-year-old Prince Charles married in 1981, when the former Diana Spencer was 25. Diana later accused Charles of having an affair with his now-wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, while Diana by all accounts had a hard time adjusting to the pressures of royal life, including merciless hounding by the press, and felt that she received little support from Buckingham Palace.
Diana and Charles’ divorce was finalized in August, 1996. Just one year later, on August 31, 1997, Diana died at age 36 following a car crash in the Pont D’Alma Bridge in Paris during which her car, in which she was traveling with her romantic partner, Dodi Fayed, was pursued by paparazzi.
Much beloved the world over, Diana’s death plunged Britons into grief that soon turned to anger when the Queen was absent during public tributes and made no official statement of her own. Facing increasing public criticism, Elizabeth ultimately returned to London from Balmoral Castle, where she and Prince Philip had been when the accident occurred, along with Diana’s two sons. The Queen delivered an address to the nation praising her former daughter-in-law. At Diana’s funeral procession, Queen Elizabeth II was seen bowing as the cortege passed by.
If tradition is observed, Queen Elizabeth II’s death will be followed by ten days of official national mourning before her funeral is held at Westminster Abbey, in London. Her remains will be interred at Windsor Castle.
ABC/Richard Harburgh; Eric Liebowitz/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
Fans are eagerly awaiting to see Ariana Grande take on the role of Glinda the Good Witch in the upcoming movie adaptation of the Wicked musical. Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo, who stars as Elphaba a.k.a. The Wicked Witch of the West, has nothing but praise for her co-star.
“I love her, truly,” Erivo told Variety. “She’s funny and unbelievably talented and unbelievably sweet and truly working hard. We’re both working really hard together.”
The Pinocchio actress added, “I’m excited for both of us.”
The upcoming Wicked adaptation has been split into two films, with the first half arriving in 2024. Erivo supports the move, adding, “It means that we have more of the story to tell — more room, more real estate to tell these two stories.”
The British actress noted that when she first heard the announcement, “I was like, ‘Well alright then, I guess we’ve got our work set ahead of us.'”
Wicked the Broadway musical was based off the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. So, it could be assumed elements from the book could make it into the movie adaptation.
As for Ariana, she previously told fans via her R.E.M. Beauty YouTube channel that it’s likely she won’t come out with new music until the Wicked movies are done.
The Grammy winner has coveted the role of Glinda since she was a child and is dedicating “every piece of me, every minute, every ounce of my heart, my time, my everything that I can give” to the role. “I am spending all my time with Glinda,” she previously said.
Ariana also praised Erivo, saying that starring opposite of the legend is “the most incredible gift of my entire life.”
Jack White now officially shares a name with one of the most iconic villains in comic book history.
According to IGN, the latest issue in DC Comics’ Flashpoint Beyond series finally reveals the birth name of The Joker: Jack Oswald White. While previous films have given Batman’s arch nemesis a name, such as Arthur Fleck in the 2019 movie Joker, IGN notes that the character has never before had a full name in the “core DC Comics continuity.”
In an Instagram post commenting on the news, White writes, “I’d love to thank DC comics for giving The Joker the name of ‘Jack White’ after me.”
While the “Seven Nation Army” rocker notes that The Joker’s “hair is usually not as blue as mine,” he “still take[s] it as a flattering gesture on their part and consider it an honor.”
“It was a lonely journey through my life being the only person with that name until now,” he adds.
In a separate post, White shares that he coincidentally reached out to comic book artist Mikel Janín, who’s an illustrator on Flashpoint Beyond, to contribute to the artwork for his solo album Fear of the Dawn. Specifically, White wanted to commission a portrait of himself “in the range of the style” that Janín draws The Joker.
“Bizarre patterns and coincidences emerge in the universe that we only see glimpses of at times, some meaningful, some meaningless,” White muses.
By the way, White’s music has been used in several DC Extended Universe films — the White Stripes songs “The Hardest Button to Button” and “Icky Thump” soundtracked the trailers for 2017’s Justice League, while “Seven Nation Army” can be heard in 2016’s Suicide Squad, which starred another rocker, Jared Leto, as The Joker.
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As Eminem celebrates winning an Emmy for his Super Bowl performance with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent, he’s also reflecting on one of the darkest times in his career.
Slim Shady appeared on a podcast hosted by his manager, Paul Rosenberg, and recalled nearly dying from a drug overdose in 2007.
Eminem was battling an addiction to prescription pills and was hospitalized after accidentally ODing on methadone.
“It took a long time for my brain to start working again,” the “Lose Yourself” rapper said.
“You literally were coming off of an overdose, and they had to sort of stabilize you with a few medications,” Rosenberg explained. “And some of them took you a minute to adjust to—let’s just leave it at that. So, you’re learning how to rap again almost literally, right? Because it’s the first time, probably, you were creating without having substances in your body in…however many years, right?”
The Detroit MC, born Marshall Mathers, remembered Rosenberg worrying about the long-term effects of the overdose.
“Didn’t you ask the doctors when I first started rapping again, didn’t you say, ‘I just wanna make sure he doesn’t have brain damage’?” Mathers asked.
“Yeah. I thought you might have some permanent problems,” Rosenberg responded. “Yeah. I was concerned, for sure.”
Now, 15 years later, Eminem is healthy, and he just dropped an animated video for his 50 Cent collab, “Is This Love,” off his new greatest hits collection, Curtain Call 2.
