“The BBC interrupts its programming to make an important announcement.”
These were the first words with which Huw Edwards, presenter of the BBC, announced seconds later, around 18:30 local time (17:30 GMT), the death of Queen Elizabeth II of England at the age of 96.
Edwards’ words were followed by the sound of the British anthem along with a solemn image of the queen in profile with the crown.
It was 12:30 local time (06:30 Ecuador) this Thursday when Buckingham Palace, always so restrained and succinct, issued a disturbing statement. In just two sentences, they collected the “concern” of the doctors for her state of health and announced that they were placing her under medical surveillance.
The analysts most versed in interpreting the cryptic messages from the Windsor house quickly identified in the chosen language the seriousness of the situation. Six hours later, the world was shocked by the news: Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at her summer residence in Balmoral, at the age of 96 and after 70 years as sovereign of the British. (I)