Top stories:
- HONG KONG RECORDS 10,076 NEW INFECTIONS AS AUTHORITIES CAUTION AGAINST LARGE GET-TOGETHERS AT MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL
- BRITAIN'S QUEEN ELIZABETH II TRAGICALLY DIES
- NORTH KOREA UNDETERRED IN THE FACE OF BRUISING U.S. SANCTIONS
{O/C} {Good evening}
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II passed away early this morning at the age of 96.
While she'll be remembered most for an epoch-defining legacy, tributes began pouring in from world leaders.
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It's a crushing day in Britain given this brief notice from Buckingham Palace confirming the death of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at 96.
An agonised Prince Charles issued a statement expressing the royal family's profound sadness and grief over her demise.
Among those rushing to accompany the ailing Queen were Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and Camilla.
Born in 1926, the Queen was an icon of a century that rattled the world.
Her 70-year reign began when Winston Churchill was prime minister.
{Soundbite}
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, British Monarch (2015):
Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones, my own is no exception.
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Milestones such as recovering from the Second World War, the transformation of the British economy, the handover of Hong Kong as well as an acrimonious Brexit.
In addition to having met with fourteen U.S. Presidents, the emblematic Queen was also venerated by many in her own country.
She also bore witness to the fairy-tale nuptials of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who was later killed in a Paris car crash.
The Queen also embraced changes that modernised the monarchy, starting with the weddings of Prince William and Prince Harry.
Speaking of whom, the Queen was entangled in a controversy over her alleged mistreatment of Prince Harry's wife, American actress Meghan.
The twilight of the Queen's reign was somewhat marred by the death of her husband, Prince Philip in 2021.
The Queen's demise was par for the course given her declining health over the past few years, as her platinum jubilee was subdued.
But to illustrate just how altruistic she had been, she still swore in incumbent Prime Minister Liz Truss days before her departure.
One by one, world leaders expressed their condolences.
{Soundbite}
LIZ TRUSS, British Prime Minister:
She was the very spirit of Great Britain. And that spirit will endure.
It is a day of great loss, but Queen Elizabeth II leaves a great legacy.
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JUSTIN TRUDEAU, Canadian Prime Minister:
She was our Queen for almost half of Canada's existence. And she had an obvious, deep and abiding love and affection for Canadians.
She served us all with the strength and wisdom for seventy years.
{VO}
In China, President Xi Jinping expressed "deep condolences" and portrayed her death as a gargantuan loss to the British people.
Here in Hong Kong, Chief Executive John Lee struck a mournful tone as he expressed his overwhelming sadness over the Queen's passing.
Folks were seen laying wreathes outside the British Consulate in town.
And at the British Embassy in Washington, President Joe Biden expressed his anguish after penning his condolences.
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JOE BIDEN, U.S. President:
We mourn for all of you. She was a great lady.
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KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, White House Press Secretary:
Our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the Queen, goes to the people of the United Kingdom.
{VO}
The Queen's funeral will be held after 10 days of nationwide mourning.
And after a lifetime of preparation, Prince Charles is poised to be enthroned, but his coronation won't take place at least after the official mourning.
The implications of her death remain unknown but certainly far-reaching.
Fluttering flags across Britain have been lowered to half-staff in her memory.
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