Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at the family home in Balmoral aged 96.

The royal website has posted the following statement:

The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.

The new King of England His Majesty Charles III released the following statement:

The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.

Many Lismore App readers have only known one monarch as Queen Elizabeth inherited the throne on February 6 1952 with her coronation on June 2 1953.

Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning British monarch ruling for more than 70 years surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria who ruled for 63 years.

It was reported overnight that the much loved Queen was under medical supervision with all the Queen's children by her side or travelling to be with her.

Queen Elizabeth's death will be mourned by many local Lismore and Northern Rivers residents following a Royal visit to Lismore and Casino in 1954 shortly after her coronation in June 1953.

The visit took place on Wednesday, February 10 in heavy rain with a large crowd of 50,000 in attendance. The heavy rain was the precursor to the 1954 floods which occurred a week later.

(The vehicles used in the Royal CBD tour in 1954 were stored at the Trevans Ford site on Keen Street. Photo: Cartalk)

The Queen and Prince Philip stayed at The Gollan Hotel and flew out of the Evans Head Aerodrome.

(The Queen and Prince Philip leaving the Gollan Hotel. Photo: Northern Star archives)

The Royal visit put Lismore on the national map as news outlets from all over the country ran stories.

A Northern Star story published on 11 February 1954 said:

Nearly 10,000 packed into the area around the official dais in Spinks Park yesterday long before the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived for the formal address of welcome and the presentation of church and vivid leaders.

By 9:30am the area was a dense mass of people , oblivious to the heavy incessant rain which threatened to mar the official function.

Molesworth Street, from the dais to the Woodlark Street intersection, was packed with crowds on each side as the time for the Royal progress drew near.

In a story from the Barrier Minor in Broken Hill:

The Queen said she "well knew" the contribution Lismore residents were making toward the prosperity of Australia and strengthening of the British Common-

wealth.

"I regret my visit to Lismore must be so short, but I am glad it has enabled me to meet, personally, many more of you who live far away from the capital cities," Her Majesty added.

Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II - 21 April 1926 to 8 September 2022.