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As ITV’s Chris Ship reports, there has been no update on the Queen’s health for around five hours:
More on BBC coverage by Mark Sweney and Jim Waterson:
The BBC has suspended programming on its main channel to switch to general news coverage as concerns grow over the Queen’s medical condition.
BBC One, the UK’s most popular channel, interrupted Bargain Hunt shortly after 12.30pm to deliver a statement from Buckingham Palace saying doctors were “concerned” about his health.
The 96-year-old, who broke with tradition by staying at her Balmoral summer home to greet new Prime Minister Liz Truss earlier this week, has been suffering from “episodic mobility problems” since from last year
BBC One has switched to a BBC News special until at least 6pm, when the corporation’s evening news programme, which is hosted by presenter Huw Edwards, is broadcast. Edwards is dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and black tie, in line with the corporation’s on-air dress code when a member of the royal family dies as a mark of respect.
BBC insiders say there is some relief that the news has been reported during the day with veterans Edwards and Nicholas Witchell, the corporation’s royal correspondents since 1998, available to lead coverage.
Yalda Hakim, presenter of the international news program Impact on BBC World News, tweeted an apology after posting that an announcement had been made that the Queen had died.
Updated at 17.46 BST
Outside Buckingham Palace, the crowd has swelled to several hundred, the Press Association reports, despite the rain.
People gather under umbrellas in front of Buckingham Palace in London. Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters A woman lays flowers at the gates of Buckingham Palace. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Meanwhile, at Balmoral, journalists continue to gather.
Journalists shelter under umbrellas outside Balmoral. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA
More well wishes for the queen from all over the world…
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the secretary-general, António Guterres’
thoughts are with the Queen, her family and the people of the United Kingdom at this time.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said:
My thoughts and prayers are with her. She represents the whole history of Europe which is our common home with our British friends, she has always given us stability and confidence, she has shown immense courage and she is a legend in my eyes.
US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said:
The Queen is an example of consistent leadership and a beloved figure around the world. It has been a historic friend of the United States. The decades of his reign have seen a profound deepening of the special relationship between our two countries that has literally changed the world. The Queen, the Royal Family and all our friends in the UK are in our thoughts and prayers.
Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley said:
Following the news from Buckingham Palace, and on behalf of all Australians, the thoughts and prayers of the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley are with Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family at this time.
Updated at 5.42pm BST
Prince William at the wheel of the car driving Prince Andrew and the Wessex family to Balmoral. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesAlexandra Topping
The Queen’s health has been closely monitored throughout her reign, but no more so than in recent years as she has aged and experienced periods of ill health.
The royal house has its own team of doctors, who are on call 24 hours a day. They are led by Professor Sir Huw Thomas, Head of the Medical Family and Physician to the Queen, a title that dates back to 1557.
Thomas has been part of the Royal Medical Team for 16 years and became the Queen’s personal physician in 2014.
The role is not full-time and has no fixed hours or sessions, but Thomas is available whenever needed.
Thomas was knighted in the 2021 New Year’s Honors and made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), a personal gift from the monarch. At the time of the honour, in an interview at Imperial College London, he said it had been “a busy couple of years in this role”, adding that he felt “very grateful to have been recognised for my service thus far.”
Although BBC One has suspended its regular timeslot (see also 2.59pm), ITV News broadcasts a special news program from 5pm. It plans to broadcast continuous news coverage until 7:30 p.m.
US President Joe Biden sends thoughts to the Queen
The White House has said that Joe Biden has been informed of the queen’s deteriorating health and that the president and first lady of the US, Jill Biden, are sending thoughts to her and her family.
“His and the first lady’s thoughts are solidly and directly with the queen today and her family,” White House spokesman John Kirby told Reuters.
Carriages carrying members of the Royal Family including the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex arriving at Balmoral tonight. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA
People have started laying flowers on the gates of Buckingham Palace. The first bouquet was placed shortly after 5 p.m., the Press Association reports.
The car driven by the Duke of Cambridge arrives at Balmoral
Severin Carrell
Outside the gates of the Balmoral estate under dark clouds, a handful of members of the public huddle under umbrellas in the rain, as representatives of the national and international media gather in the gloomy afternoon.
The vehicles carrying the Queen’s sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, have just passed through the gates after a flight from RAF Northolt to Aberdeen Airport. The car with the Queen’s children was driven by Prince William.
Updated at 5.20pm BST
Shawl Rajeev
Under stormy skies, tourists visiting Windsor Castle on Thursday afternoon said they were shocked and deeply concerned by reports that there had been a deterioration in the Queen’s health.
Sharon Carter, an M&S saleswoman, had traveled from Portsmouth with her husband, James, to visit the royal town and castle, and stopped to ask why a group of around forty TV journalists were outside the doors
Speaking about the Head of State’s condition, she said: “It’s so sad and sudden. She looked pretty good when she was photographed with Liz Truss a few days ago.
“She is well respected and has always been there for the country. It’s hard to think that she won’t be there. It’s a sad day for the country and the monarchy,” he said.
Hardeep Bains, a 45-year-old IT consultant from Slough, said news of the Queen’s frailty would worry the whole country, even those who do not support the monarchy.
“I was listening to the radio today and they were saying that no one but people in their 70s can remember there being a monarch other than the Queen. That’s incredible.
“Whatever you think of the other members of the royal family, she’s been solid. I hope she works out,” he said.
Updated at 5.15pm BST