His Majesty, King George VI, has died peacefully in his sleep at Sandringham House.
The official announcement from Sandringham, given at 1045 GMT, said the King retired in his usual health, but passed away in his sleep and was found dead in bed at 0730 GMT by a servant.
He was 56, and was known to have been suffering from a worsening lung condition.
Princess Elizabeth, who is at the Royal hunting lodge in Kenya, immediately becomes Queen at the age of 25.
She has been informed of her father's death, and is preparing to return to London, but a thunderstorm has delayed the departure of her plane.
She is expected back tomorrow afternoon, when she will take the Royal Oath which will seal her accession to the throne.
The body of King George is to lie in state in Westminster Hall from next Monday, 11 February, until the funeral.
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