The crown has always been Queen Elizabeth II’s top priority. So she insisted on personally handing over the office of British Prime Minister to Liz Truss (47) just two days before her peaceful death. And yet it had long been noticeable that the 96-year-old had been withdrawing more and more for a long time. Away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, she recently settled on her estate in the Highlands of Scotland to enjoy country life and traditionally spend her summer holidays there.
Shock to the world – Queen Elizabeth II is dead
Balmoral Castle was a special place for the monarch. As royal expert Rebecca English writes in “The Mail”, the Queen and her late husband Philip were happiest there and could have lived like a “fairly normal couple”. She also says that this summer was one of the most beautiful of her last years.
Your faithful companions
She was “accompanied by a handful of loyal associates who had sworn to stay with her to the end”. Among them are her collaborator Paul “Tall Paul” Whybrew (officially “Page of the Backstairs”) and Barry Mitford, her “Serjeant-at-Arms”. The two men were her regular companions, reportedly bringing her the horse racing mail every day and sitting with her to watch her favorite sport on TV.
Angela Kelly was also always by her side. Regarded as her right-hand man, she held the title of personal assistant, adviser and carer to Her Majesty the Queen. The protective “AK47”, as it was called, should not have left its side, according to the report. “She wrapped the Queen in cotton wool,” the royal insider, a Source, told over the summer. “She was very overprotective and made sure Her Majesty didn’t do too much.”
A normal summer
But her family has also been increasingly on the side of the deceased monarch in the recent past. Most recently, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, William, 40, and Kate, 40, and their three feisty children, who nicknamed their great-grandmother “Gan Gan.” However, the regular presence of Prince Edward (58) and his wife Sophie (57), who treated her like a second daughter, is said to have been particularly important to her. All in all, it was “a very typical and happy summer in Balmoral, with lots of walks, picnics and barbecues,” according to English. “Of course, the Queen wasn’t there all the time, but she attended,” says a Source, according to the report.
A person close to the Queen revealed to the journalist just days ago that she was “really in a good mood”, adding: “I know you would expect me to say that, but she was really in a good mood.” With this statement, the insider indicated that the Majesty’s seizure of weakness suddenly came overnight on Wednesday. From then on things went fast. As of Thursday afternoon, the news about her state of health has rolled over.
The tragic chronology of the day of her death
Around noon local time: Prime Minister Liz Truss has just presented her relief plan to cushion high energy costs in Parliament when Minister Nadhim Zahawi enters the room, rushes over to her and hands her a note. Truss then leaves the House of Representatives, followed shortly thereafter by opposition leader Keir Starmer, who was also handed a note beforehand.
12:32 p.m. local time:In a brief statement, Buckingham Palace said Elizabeth II’s doctors were “concerned” about her health following a morning check-up and have recommended medical monitoring at Balmoral Castle. Shortly thereafter, Prime Minister Truss wrote on Twitter that “the whole country” was “deeply concerned” about the Queen.
12:39 p.m. local time: The BBC interrupts its current program with the news of the Queen’s health and then reports continuously on developments. Presenter Huw Edwards wears a dark suit with a white shirt and black tie, as per the BBC dress code for royal family deaths.
12:45 p.m. local time: Prince Charles’ office announces that he and his wife Camilla have made their way to Balmoral Castle.
3:50 p.m. local time: A Royal Air Force plane lands in Aberdeen, Scotland. On board are Prince William and the Queen’s two youngest sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, as well as Edward’s wife Sophie.
4:30 p.m. local time: According to a spokesman, Prime Minister Truss will be informed of the Queen’s death at this time.
5:05 p.m. local time: A car with Prince William at the wheel and Andrew, Edward and Sophie in the seats drives through the gates of Balmoral Castle.
6:30 p.m. local time:Buckingham Palace tweeted: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.” Only her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne were by her side, the others did not make it in time. This means that their eldest son Charles automatically becomes king. “The King and Queen will remain in Balmoral tonight and return to London tomorrow,” the palace said. At Buckingham Palace, the flag is flown at half-mast, the crowd waiting in front of the palace is silent, and many people burst into tears.
7:04 p.m. local time: In a statement, the new King Charles praised the Queen as “a dear ruler and a much-loved mother”. Her death was “a moment of great sadness for me and all members of my family”. He knew their loss hurt people across the country, the Commonwealth and the world. A little later it is announced that he will henceforth bear the title of King Charles III.
7:52 p.m. local time:Finally, Prince Harry joins the grieving family – without his wife, Duchess Meghan. The two have been on a European trip since the beginning of the week.
