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Sombre moment Sunrise and Today hosts break Queen’s death on-air
Breakfast TV hosts across Australia all wore black as they broke the news that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away at age 96 on Friday morning.
Her Majesty, Britain's longest-serving monarch, died ‘peacefully’ at her castle in Balmoral, Scotland after struggling with health issues all year.
Both Sunrise and Today broke the news at 4:30am, with David ‘Kochie’ Koch and Karl Stefanovic donning black suits and Natalie Barr and Allison Langdon wearing black dresses.
“Hello Australia, you are waking up to the sad news that the Queen has died overnight,” Kochie said on the Channel Seven breakfast program.
“It's the day we knew was inevitable but had hoped would never come. Queen Elizabeth II passed away at age 96 after 70 years on the throne.”
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Meanwhile on Channel Nine, Karl Stefanovic welcomed viewers to a special edition of Today.
“We’re bringing you the sad news this morning that the Queen, the longest serving British monarch, has died aged 96.”
Karl’s touching tribute
Later in the show, Karl spoke about the “special” moment he met the Queen during her final visit to Australia in 2011.
“I had the great privilege of meeting her a long time ago now, about 10, 15 years ago at Kirribilli,” he shared.
“She came in and she was very slight in person, she looked fragile but she was just full of energy. And every single person that she met she engaged with. I just completely went to water when I shook her hand.”
Karl went on to say that despite the fact she was well into her 80s when they met, she had an enormous amount of energy.
“She gave everything of herself to the public and when you saw her in person, you saw that up close and personal,” he remarked. “She just had energy to burn, just an incredible woman.
“She‘s obviously ‘the Queen’, but in person made you feel very comfortable and I think one of her great skills was that and probably why she was so loved at every facet of society across the world.”
The Queen dies aged 96
This comes after the Queen’s death was announced by Buckingham Palace on Friday morning AEST.
Their statement said: “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.”
Charles quickly issued his own statement, saying: “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,” he finished.
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