Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning Monarch of England, is dead at age 96 according to the Royal Family’s Twitter. The queen, who served for 70 years, was put on medical observation at Balmoral after doctors became wary of her health the morning before her death.

  Although the queen is typically seen as only the face of the U.K., she lent her support to the country in several ways. Before ascending to the throne at age 25, Elizabeth contributed to Britain’s military effort as an auto mechanic during World War II. 

   During her reign she provided her country with what seemed to be long lost stability, modernizing the monarchy and engaging in diplomacy. The queen additionally made history as being the first British monarch to address the U.S. Congress in 1991.

  The queen’s death comes at a particularly difficult moment for the U.K. as it faces a recession amidst extreme inflation. On Tuesday, Elizabeth appointed her 15th prime minister, Liz Truss, who said in a speech on 10 Downing Street: “She was the very spirit of Great Britain—and that spirit will endure.”

  Queen Elizabeth II will be succeeded by her son, Prince Charles, 73. The prince has been awaiting his reign since he was 3-years-old, making him the longest ever king-in-waiting in British history.