Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, has died, aged 101.
The Queen Mother, born The Honourable Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, died in her sleep at the Royal Lodge, Great Windsor Park yesterday. Her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, was at her side.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
As is traditional, a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Queen was posted on the gates of Buckingham Palace:
Annoucement of death of the Queen MotherThe Queen, with the greatest sadness, has asked for the following announcement to be made immediately. Her beloved mother, Queen Elizabeth, died peacefully in her sleep this afternoon, at Royal Lodge, Windsor. Members of the Royal Family have been informed.
The Royal Family web-site says of the Queen Mother: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, the present British sovereign, and the widow of the late King George VI. The daughter of Lord Glamis, later 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, she was descended from the Royal House of Scotland and retained strong associations with Scotland.
“The Queen Mother’s remarkable life spanned over a century, a period of immense change. Having married Prince Albert, Duke of York in 1923, she found herself Queen Consort on the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936. As Queen she played a significant role in the life of the nation, supporting the King and helping to uphold national morale during the difficult years of the Second World War and its aftermath.
“Widowed at the age of 51, she continued to undertake Royal duties for the next fifty years in support of her daughter, The Queen. Public appearances continued right up to the end of her life, even in periods of ill health. The resilience, sense of duty and gracefulness of The Queen Mother in all areas of her life earned her a secure place in the heart of national life.”
- Statement by John Howard
- Howard comments on the death of the Queen Mother
- Listen to the ABC Radio News at 7.45am today (3m)
- (1) Listen to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair pay tribute to the Queen Mother (28s)
- (2) Listen to Tony Blair (40s)
- Listen to Prince Charles On His Grandmother (4m)
- Listen to the Queen Mother discussing distance in Australia (35s)