Buckingham Palace announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday evening, but with little detail. 

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon” was all Buckingham revealed, but Elizabeth II’s health had been failing for days. 

It was an already predicted scenario that the longest serving monarch of the United Kingdom would die after an illness. Elizabeth II, however, did not have the privilege her mother had in 2002 to speak with her loved ones before passing. 

Queen Elizabeth II passed with Charles III, her eldest son, and Anne, her daughter and Princess Royal, by her side. The Queen had passed by the time other members of the royal family arrived at Balmoral Castle. 

LAST DAYS AT BALMORAL

The British royal family has several places of residence across the realms, where they move to on occasions such as summer holidays. Windsor Castle was the Queen’s home, but so was Buckingham and Balmoral. 

Balmoral Castle in Aberdeen, Scotland, was Elizabeth II’s preferred place to stay for her annual summer holiday. It is a grand estate owned by the monarchy since 1852, sitting in the midst of Cairnsgorm National Park on the banks of the River Dee. 

The COVID-19 pandemic made Elizabeth II move from Buckingham Palace in London to Windsor Castle in Berkshire in 2020. She then moved from Windsor to Balmoral in August and remained there as her health was failing. Her family believes she had been her happiest in Balmoral. 

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THE QUEEN WAS EXHAUSTED BY COVID-19 IN FEBRUARY

Elizabeth II tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year. At 95, she spoke with the Royal London Hospital staff via video call on April 6. While speaking with Asef Hussain, a COVID-19 patient, she referred to the aftereffects of the viral disease.

“I’m glad that you’re getting better… It does leave one very tired and exhausted, doesn’t it? This horrible pandemic. It’s not a nice result,” Elizabeth II told Hussain.

IN BALMORAL CASTLE, THREE THINGS HAPPENED IN THREE DAYS

Three significant things happened in the queen’s Balmoral residence between Tuesday and Thursday.

First, she met Liz Truss, the new UK Prime Minister, just as she had welcomed Boris Johnson’s resignation in person. This was on Tuesday.

Meeting the Queen is part of the British tradition for every incoming and outgoing prime minister. It is a ceremonial approval of the head of state. But this time, there was a break from tradition. 

The Queen had met a dozen prime ministers at Buckingham during her reign, but she invited both Johnson and Truss to Scotland. Her doctors had already explained that she was having mobility problems.

When Truss met the Queen, the monarch was in high spirits, but she looked frail. Pictures also drew attention to Elizabeth’s blue hand, indicating she was not in the best of health. 

On Wednesday, the Queen cancelled a virtual meeting with the new prime minister and privy council, and on Thursday, she died.

ROYALS SCRAMBLE TO SAY GOODBYE

Buckingham Palace made an announcement that the Queen was under medical supervision shortly before she died on Thursday.

“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 palace said. 

FIJ learnt that doctors shared the news of the Queen’s imminent demise a few hours before she breathed her last, and this caused the royals to rush to be at her side. Sources claim that Charles, Prince of Wales at the time, and Camilla, his wife, alongside Anne, his sister, were only early enough to bid the Queen farewell. Andrew, Edward, William and Harry hurried in vain as she passed before they reached her bedside. 

Buckingham said that doctors had made the Queen “comfortable” but there was nothing else to do. There was no other way to improve her condition.

Media coverage and tension intensified as Elizabeth II’s closest family members flew into Scotland.

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A few hours after Buckingham Palace raised concerns about Elizabeth II’s health, it confirmed her death.