Hunter residents are waking to the news on Friday morning that the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II, has died.
Buckingham Palace announced the 96-year-old passed away peacefully on her Scottish estate.
Her loss is being felt throughout Australia and across the world.
Large crowds have already gathered outside Buckingham Palace in central London, while tributes are pouring in from near and far.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the death of Queen Elizabeth II marked the close of an exceptional era.
“With the passing of Her Majesty, an historic reign and a long life devoted to duty, family, faith and service has come to an end,” he admitted.
“The government and the people of Australia offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are grieving for a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – the person whom for so long was their greatest inner strength.
“Australian hearts go out to the people of the United Kingdom who mourn today, knowing they will feel they have lost part of what makes their nation whole.
“There is comfort to be found in Her Majesty’s own words: ‘Grief is the price we pay for love’.
“This is a loss we all feel, for few have known a world without Queen Elizabeth II.
“In her seven remarkable decades on the throne, Her Majesty was a rare and reassuring constant amidst rapid change. Through the noise and tumult of the years, she embodied and exhibited a timeless decency and an enduring calm.
“From the moment the young princess became Queen, shouldering the mighty weight of the institution into which she was born, Her Majesty made dedication to duty and service above self the hallmark of her reign.
“She celebrated our good times, she stood with us in the bad. Happy and glorious but steadfast too.
“In particular, we recall the sympathy and personal kindness she extended to Australians afflicted by tragedy and disaster.
“Throughout it all, she was a monarch who let her humanity show, performing her duty with fidelity, integrity and humour. In this, she was supported so long and so lovingly by the late Prince Philip, her ‘strength and stay’ for 73 years.”
Mr Albanese said from her famous first trip to Australia, the only reigning sovereign to ever visit, it was clear Her Majesty held a special place in her heart for Australia.
“Fifteen more tours before cheering crowds in every part of our country confirmed the special place she held in ours,” he added.
“As monarch for more than half the life of our Federation, the relationship between Australia and Britain matured and evolved throughout Her Majesty’s reign.
“The Queen greeted each and every change with understanding, good grace and an abiding faith in the Australian people’s good judgment.
“This was the deft and diplomatic way she bound the diversity of the modern Commonwealth, nations around the world who will mourn her passing.
“Today marks the end of an era, the close of the second Elizabethan age.
“This time of mourning will pass but the deep respect and warm regard in which Australians always held Her Majesty will never fade.
“May she rest in eternal peace.
“In the coming days, the Governor-General and I will head to London where we will meet the King.
“We will convey the sorrow of Australians as well as our best wishes to him and the Queen Consort as he takes on his duties as sovereign.”
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes also paid her respects.
“Queen Elizabeth II is the only reigning monarch most of us have known, serving her nation and the Commonwealth for more than 70 years,” she said.
“Newcastle welcomed Her Majesty to the city four times during her reign, the first coming in February 1954 just two years after her coronation.
“During that visit, she toured the city with the Duke of Edinburgh, arriving by train at Newcastle Station and being officially greeted at City Hall before visiting No.1 Sportsground, BHP Steelworks, Stockton and Newcastle Airport.
“Queen Elizabeth II returned to Newcastle in 1970 to open the International Sports Centre and visited again seven years later to open Australia’s first purpose-built regional gallery, the Newcastle Art Gallery, on 11 March 1977.
“Her final visit to the city occurred in May 1988 when she opened Queens Wharf, a project spearheaded by former Lord Mayor Joy Cummings.
“Our City’s flags will immediately fly at half-mast until further notice.
“We’ll also establish an official condolence book for residents to sign.
“May she rest in eternal peace.”
Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell said Her Majesty had been an inspiration to the global community, as well as NSW.
“She visited our state 12 times including many regional areas like Lismore, Broken Hill, Bathurst and Dubbo,” he stated.
“As the first reigning monarch to visit our nation, Queen Elizabeth II set foot for the first time on Australian soil in 1954 at Farm Cove in Sydney Harbour where an unprecedented crowd of more than one million people greeted her.
“The public’s overwhelming jubilation and enthusiasm at seeing the young monarch was the beginning of the state’s long-held joy in her frequent visits.
“Her Late Majesty will forever be connected to pivotal moments in our state’s history.
“She officially opened the Parliament of New South Wales in 1954, Sydney Opera House in 1973 and Darling Harbour in 1988.
“While we mourn her passing, it is the occasion for the people of NSW to offer thanks for a lifetime of public duty to the Crown, the Commonwealth, and to millions of people across the globe.”
Fears had been growing about the Queen’s health recently as the Royal family rushed to Scotland to be by her side after she’d been placed under medical supervision.
The country’s new King, who will be known as King Charles III, will address the nation on Friday.
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