A BBC reporter has apologized after "incorrectly" announcing the passing of Queen Elizabeth II after news emerged that doctors were "concerned" about her health.
Shortly after 3:00 PM UK time, BBC's Yalda Hakim tweeted: "BREAKING: Queen Elizabeth has died aged 96, Buckingham Palace has announced."
Just a few minutes later, the post was deleted and Hakim shared a follow-up tweet that read: "I tweeted that there had been an announcement about the death of the Queen. This was incorrect, there has been no announcement, and so I have deleted the tweet. I apologise."
Meanwhile other users on the platform, including journalists, had also been duped by a fake BBC account that also claimed that Queen Elizabeth II had died before it was announced by Buckingham Palace officials.
Vivian Salama, a National Security reporter at Wall Street Journal, was one such journalist. She wrote: "1000 apologies all: I retweeted news about the queen from what appears to be a fake BBC account. Good reminder to double check even the most authentic-looking tweets!"
At the time, a statement from Buckingham Palace merely revealed that doctors were concerned about Queen Elizabeth II's health.
It read: "Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral."
Moments before the statement, the UK's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, was given a note in Parliament informing her of the state of Queen Elizabeth II as she was unveiling her plans to freeze energy bills until 2024.
In response to the news, Truss said on Twitter: "The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime. My thoughts - and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom - are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time."
Ultimately, the UK's longest-serving monarch died at her Scottish estate Balmoral after 70 years of service.
Her son King Charles III said the passing of his mother was a "moment of great sadness" for him and his family and that her loss would be "deeply felt" all over the world.
He said: "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."
