Buckingham Palace announced Thursday that Her Majesty the Queen had died "peacefully" at her beloved Balmoral Castle at the age of 96, and according to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who met with the Queen in June, Her Majesty was not afraid of death and was as at peace with her life as she was with her passing. It seems that.

"She had no fear of death, she had hope for the future, she knew the rock on which she stood, and she thought it was someone who gave her strength.

Of being in the same room as the longest reigning monarch in British history, Welby said, "I felt that history was right in front of me, but it was a history of those piercing blue eyes blinking, extraordinary smiles and delighting in quick, dry comments."

Welby met with Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle in June and presented her with a special Canterbury Cross to commemorate her unwavering dedication to the Anglican Church in her platinum jubilee year, PEOPLE reports.Since her accession to the throne in 1952, the Queen has been the ceremonial head of the Church of England The Queen has served faithfully as the ceremonial head of the Church of England. This power now passes to her successor, King Charles III.

On Friday evening, Welby attended a service of prayer and reflection at St. Paul's Cathedral in London in honor of Her Majesty the Queen. Among those in attendance was new Prime Minister Liz Truss, whom the Queen had met two days before her death.

Welby shared words of support for Charles III's first speech as monarch, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the words of comfort and hope for us all, spoken in such deep sorrow. Our prayers are with Your Majesty and your family. May you know God's faithful love now and forever."