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Queen Elizabeth’s Final Moments Before Her Death Revealed in New Book

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Queen Elizabeth’s Final Moments Before Her Death Revealed in New Book

Intimate details about the Queen’s final moments have come to light in a new book by royal biographer Robert Hardman

Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade
Queen Elizabeth on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 2, 2022. PHOTO: JONATHAN BRADY – WPA POOL/GETTY IMAGES

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More than one year after Queen Elizabeth’s death, new details have emerged, casting a revealing light on the circumstances surrounding the iconic monarch’s death.

In an excerpt from royal biographer Robert Hardman’s new book, The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy (out Jan. 18), in Daily Mail on Friday, the author shares a memo of the monarch’s final moments from her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, who was at Balmoral when the Queen died on Sept. 8, 2022.

“Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain,” Young notes in the previously unseen memo that’s now part of the Royal Archives, according to Daily Mail.

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The outlet also revealed that while there were concerns for the Queen’s well-being at the time, her death occurred with such abruptness that King Charles (then Prince Charles) found himself hastily boarding a helicopter for an eleventh-hour journey to Balmoral. En route, he read his “London Bridge” notes, a meticulously prepared protocol for the aftermath of her death.

Britain's King Charles III, Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex arrive at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, 2022, for the State Funeral Service for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. - Leaders from around the world will attend the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The country's longest-serving monarch, who died aged 96 after 70 years on the throne, will be honoured with a state funeral on Monday morning at Westminster Abbey. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

While at Balmoral, Charles and his wife Camilla (now Queen Camilla) spent an hour with the Queen privately at her bedside before she died, according to the book.

Princess Anne, along with Angela Kelly, the Queen’s senior dresser and trusted confidante, took turns by her bedside. The Rev Kenneth MacKenzie, a seasoned minister at the nearby Crathie Kirk, joined them, reading passages to the Queen from the Bible.

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Meanwhile, Charles personally reached out to both of his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, urging them to make their way to Scotland to bid their farewells, the outlet reports. During that moment, he still held the belief that the Queen had not mere hours, but rather days, remaining before her passing.

The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy

The book also includes the private moment when Charles learned his mother had died — and he was now monarch.

While Charles was out gathering mushrooms to clear his mind after visiting his mother, he received the news of her death while driving back to Balmoral, reports the Daily Mail. His senior aide took a call, prompting Charles to pull over. In that moment, he was addressed as “Your Majesty” for the first time, and in that moment he realized his mother had died.

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According to the excerpt, despite numerous attempts, the King tried to personally inform his younger son, Harry, but since he was already airborne, he couldn’t get through to him.

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Princess Beatrice observe the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as it is transferred from the gun carriage to the hearse at Wellington Arch following the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III.
Upon the Queen’s passing, the United Kingdom — where she reigned for a record 70 years — mourned. Around the world, including in the other nations that called her the head of state or sovereign, her death was grieved by those to whom she was an unwavering fixture amid the turmoil of ever-changing times.

The loss was most profound for her large family, including her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The monarch’s state funeral was held at Westminster Abbey in London on Sept. 19, gathering 2,000 leaders and royals from around the world. The service was followed by a committal service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, where she was later buried in a private ceremony beside her husband Prince Philip, her father King George VI, her mother Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret.

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