Queen Elizabeth updates: State funeral ends 11 days of ceremonies

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, there is a new line of succession to the British throne.

The queen's oldest son, Charles, the Prince of Wales, is now the new king. Members of his direct family -- including his sons, Princes William and Harry -- are now higher in the line of succession.

In general, succession falls to the first-born child of the heir and their children, followed by the next oldest sibling of the heir and their offspring and so on.

Read more about the line of succession here.

With the queen's death come questions about what happens next, as the world has not witnessed a changeover in Britain's monarchy in 70 years.

The U.K. government and the royal family have been planning for years to ensure a smooth transition after the queen's death, and to appropriately honor her history-making reign.

Read more about what might happen in the days to come.

Buckingham Palace announced Thursday that Queen Elizabeth II has died. She was 96.

"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon," the palace said in a statement. "The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

Elizabeth is survived by her three sons, Charles, Prince of Wales; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; her daughter, Anne, Princess Royal; her eight grandchildren, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie; Peter and Zara Phillips; Lady Louise Windsor; and James, Viscount Severn. She is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren.

Her oldest son, Charles, succeeds her as king. His wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is expected to become queen consort, a title that Elizabeth requested at the time of her Platinum Jubilee in June.

Charles's oldest son, William, is now heir apparent to the throne.

U.S. President Joe Biden has been briefed on Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and "will be updated throughout the day concerning news out of the United Kingdom," given the reports of her health, White House spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday

"His and the first lady's thoughts are solidly and squarely with the queen today and her family," Kirby told reporters.

Biden also expressed that his thoughts are with U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss, who took office on Tuesday and is currently taking part in a previously scheduled phone call with Biden and other allies focused on "continued support for Ukraine," according to Kirby.

"I can tell you that in this video conference that the president is having as we speak, I can tell you that he did convey to Prime Minister Truss, who is on the video teleconference, that he and Dr. Biden are thinking very much of the queen and the family and the people of the United Kingdom," Kirby said.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle