A letter written by one of the Queen’s closest royal aides has been uncovered, revealing new details about Queen Elizabeth’s last moments before her death.
In the letter—which is included in a passage from the upcoming book The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy
by royal biographer Robert Hardman—the Queen’s longtime private secretary, Sir Edward Young, describes the monarch’s final “peaceful” moments before her death at the age of 96 in September 2022. “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain,” he wrote in his memo, which is now part of the Royal Archives, according to the Daily Mail.
According to the Daily Mail, the Queen’s death occurred abruptly, prompting King Charles (then Prince Charles) to board a helicopter for a last-minute journey to Balmoral, where his mother spent her last moments. While the initial impression was that she still had another “day or two, not an hour or two,” Charles and his wife Camilla, now Queen Camilla, made their way to her as fast as they could. The couple spent an hour privately by her side, according to the book.
However, the Queen’s eldest son wasn’t at her side at the exact moment when she passed. After spending some time with her, he decided to step out for a walk to clear his head. He was gathering mushrooms on the property when his sister, Anne, made a call to have him brought back to the castle immediately. Charles received the news of his mother’s death while driving back. Addressed in a phone call as “Your Majesty” for the first time, Charles realized his mother had passed away.
After arriving at the castle, Charles went directly to his mother’s bedside to say his private farewells with Camilla by his side. At the time, Charles also privately reached out to his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. However, he couldn’t get through to Prince Harry, as he was already aboard a flight from California to the U.K. after he heard of the Queen’s declining condition.
As plans for the days ahead were being formulated, a footman delivered the Queen’s red box containing sensitive state documents. Inside were two sealed letters, one for Charles and one for her royal aide Young, the contents of which remain undisclosed. The Queen’s list of candidates to join the Order of Merit was also left behind, marking her final royal duty as monarch.
The Queen’s state funeral took place at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022, followed by a private service St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, where she was laid to rest beside her late husband, Prince Philip.
For more about the royal family and King Charles, read royal biographer Robert Hardman’s book, The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy
, out January 18, 2024. Delving into the challenges confronted by the new king in his first year on the throne, the book dives into a period of royal life marked by family dramas, political upheavals, and major questions about the monarchy’s future. Hardman’s unparalleled access to the Royal Family, their inner circle, and previously undisclosed documents in the Royal Archives provides a perspective rarely seen for those outside of the Firm. The book also considers the pivotal role of Queen Camilla to the complex dynamics between King Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry, altogether painting a picture of the new monarch’s evolving status in the world.
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