Piers Morgan has paid an emotional tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in the wake of her passing on Thursday.
Her Majesty passed away peacefully at her Scottish estate in Balmoral, bringing to an end an unprecedented reign of more than 70 years - longer than any British monarch had served before her.
Since the death of the 96-year-old royal, tributes have poured in from celebrities and ordinary people alike.
At the start of his live special, Morgan said of the Queen's passing: "Well, this is the saddest and most momentous turning point in the history of the United Kingdom.
"There’s nobody in this country or the world that hasn’t lived the majority of their lives under the reigning of Queen Elizabeth II."
"For over 70 years she served this country with astoundingly dedicated duty. I struggle to even imagine a Britain without her," he added.
Morgan also referred to the late Queen as the "greatest there’s ever been" and the "very essence of being British."
He continued: "She’s always been there, she had an aura of invincibility that sadly today has been shattered and now we have to learn as a country to live without her. You will remember this day, because it’s history unfolding before our eyes.
"She guided us through the best of times and the worst of times. Through wars, terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters, financial crisis. Whatever it was, she was there."
Concluding his message, Morgan stated that when Queen Elizabeth II died, "a little piece of Britain died with her."
Meanwhile, Sir Elton John hailed the Queen as having had an "inspiring presence" and said he would "miss her dearly".
“Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing,” he shared in a Twitter statement. “She was an inspiring presence to be around, and led the country through some of our greatest, and darkest, moments with grace, decency, and a genuine caring warmth. Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly.”
Sports commentator Gary Lineker said: "Such a terribly sad day. Her Majesty The Queen has died. A truly remarkable woman who served her country with dignity, loyalty, and grace. A comforting ever present in the lives of most of us. Rest In Peace, Your Majesty."
