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It has been confirmed that nearly 10 million people watched the BBC News Special reporting the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II<\/a> yesterday (Thursday 8th September 2022).<\/p>\n Viewership on BBC One peaked at 9.83 million at 6:30pm, when Her Majesty\u2019s death was announced live on air by newsreader Huw Edwards.<\/p>\n It had been the first time that the UK saw the passing of a monarch since 1952, when Queen Elizabeth\u2019s father King George VI died, leading her to take the throne.<\/p>\n She was the UK\u2019s longest-serving monarch, having been on the throne for 70 years. Her Platinum Jubilee was marked earlier this year, with special programming and events held throughout the country.<\/p>\n Since the Queen\u2019s passing, the UK has entered a period of national mourning, which will last until after her state funeral has been held.<\/p>\n As soon as the news was announced that the Queen had died aged 96 at Balmoral, tributes poured in<\/a> from around the globe, from heads of state, politicians, the entertainment industry and members of the public.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was appointed by Her Majesty at Balmoral earlier this week, made a statement outside 10 Downing Street, in which she said: \u201cQueen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built. Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her.\u201d<\/p>\n