Dame Vera Lynn, the Forces' Sweetheart whose songs helped raise morale in World War Two, has died aged 103.
The singer was best known for performing hits such as We'll Meet Again to troops on the front line in countries including India and Egypt.
Her family said they were "deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of Britain's best-loved entertainers".
In a statement, they confirmed she died on Thursday morning surrounded by her close relatives.
Information on a memorial will be announced at a later date.
Six weeks ago, ahead of the 75th anniversary of VE Day and during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Dame Vera said simple acts of bravery and sacrifice still define our nation.
A week later, she became the oldest artist to get a top 40 album in the UK, beating her own record when her greatest hits album re-entered the charts at number 30.
Dame Vera, who had sold more than a million records by the age of 22, was also remembered for singing The White Cliffs Of Dover, There'll Always Be An England, I'll Be Seeing You, Wishing and If Only I Had Wings.
The Queen echoed her famous WW2 anthem during a speech to Britons who were separated from families and friends during the coronavirus lockdown in April, telling the nation: "We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again."
Buckingham Palace said the monarch will send a private message of condolence to Dame Vera's family.
WW2 veteran Sir Tom Moore, who raised more than £32m for NHS charities during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in April, said: "I really thought Vera Lynn would live longer, she's been speaking so well on TV recently. She had a huge impact on me in Burma and remained important to me throughout my life."
Singer Katherine Jenkins, who performed Dame Vera's wartime classics for the VE Day anniversary last month, said: "I simply cannot find the words to explain just how much I adored this wonderful lady.
"Her voice brought comfort to millions in their darkest hours, her songs filled the nation's hearts with hope, and her emotive performances, whether home or abroad, then or now, helped to get us through."
In a photo tribute on Twitter, Clarence House posted pictures of Dame Vera meeting the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
The Royal British Legion described her as "an unforgettable British icon" and a "symbol of hope to the Armed Forces community past and present".
The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, said she was a "hero" who captured the "sense of longing felt by so many during our darkest hour", while Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said she "lifted our nation and its Armed Forces in their moment of maximum peril"
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