LAST UPDATE | 8 Sep 2022
MEMBERS OF BRITAIN’S royal family travelled to Queen Elizabeth II’s residence today in Balmoral, Scotland, after it was confirmed that the monarch was being kept “under medical supervision”.
It has since been announced that the 96-year-old died this afternoon.
The initial statement – an unusual one – came from Buckingham Palace this morning. It said:
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
A Royal Air Force plane carrying three of the queen’s four children – Charles, Edward and Andrew – along with her grandson William and other members of the Windsor family arrived at Aberdeen Airport just before 4pm.
William drove his two uncles into Balmoral as part of a cavalcade of cars at the Queen’s Scottish Highlands home just after 5pm.
The queen’s grandson Harry was said to be travelling alone without his wife Meghan Markle, who is understood to be remaining in London. William’s wife Catherine is also remaining in the UK capital to take care of their children.
There were no plans for UK Prime Minister Liz Truss to travel to Scotland today or tomorrow, Downing Street said earlier today, though that may yet change.
Visits
Heir to the throne Charles was said to have been making regular morning visits to see his mother later in the summer as she continued to struggle with her mobility, with the unplanned visits considered highly unusual.
During her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in May the late queen only travelled to Buckingham Palace twice and she had caught Covid-19 in February.
Last year, she missed the Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph service and Cop26 climate change talks.
On Tuesday, the queen appointed Liz Truss as UK Prime Minister. For the first time during her 70-year reign, that duty did not take place in Buckingham Palace as she had remained in Scotland due to concerns for her health.
The following day, the queen pulled out of a virtual meeting of the Privy Council.
Truss said earlier this afternoon after news broke that the UK was “deeply concerned” for the monarch.
“The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime. My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time,” she tweeted.
The first ministers of Scotland and Wales, Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford, also tweeted their concern for the monarch’s condition.
US President Joe Biden told Truss he was “keeping the Queen and her family in their thoughts”, the White House said.
The initial public indication of the developments leading up to the Queen’s death took place earlier today during a House of Commons sitting when Commons Leader Nadhim Zahaw entered the chamber, sat down next to Truss and began urgently speaking to her.
Labour leader Keir Starmer was also passed a note by his deputy Angela Rayner.
Religious reaction
The Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the head of the principal leader of the Church of England, has said the “prayers of the nation” were with the queen.
Archbishop John McDowell, the Church of Ireland’s Primate of All Ireland said in a statement:
“The Archbishop of Armagh and the people of the Church of Ireland, conscious of concerns around the health of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, would offer their prayers and urge others to pray at this very difficult time.”
- With reporting by Press Association
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