British Queen Elizabeth II has died aged 96, ending her record-breaking 70 years on the throne, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement on Thursday.

As the United Kingdom mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II, shockwaves were sent around the world. She had led the British Royal Family for over seven decades, and she was also an important figure in Commonwealth realms and countries.

A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations whose monarch and head of state is the monarch of the United Kingdom. During Queen Elizabeth II's reign, the Commonwealth realms recognized her as their monarch.

At her coronation in 1953, Elizabeth II was crowned queen of seven independent countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, which later changed its name to Sri Lanka. Over her reign, she was the queen of 32 countries in total. At the peak, she was queen of 18 countries at the same time, between 1983 and 1987. Since then, Fiji (1987), Mauritius (1992) and Barbados (2021) have become republics. As of 2022, 14 Commonwealth realms had the queen as their monarch in addition to the UK.

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II undertook more than 200 visits to Commonwealth realms and visited almost every country in the Commonwealth, as well as making many return visits over the years.

She made 22 official visits to Canada after ascending to the throne in 1952, more than to any other Commonwealth realm. In second place was Australia with 18 visits, according to The Royal Family's official website.

"I declare before you all," Queen Elizabeth II said in her 21st birthday broadcast, "that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family."