Here’s what we know about Queen’s Elizabeth’s final hours
- Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 on Thursday.
- Hours before her death, Buckingham Palace recommended medical supervision for the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth II died at age 96 on Thursday — concluding her 70-year reign.
The Queen had faced health challenges during the later chunk of her life — having experienced brief hospitalization in October of last year, continuous episodic “mobility issues,” and a case of the coronavirus in February.
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But hours before her death Thursday in the afternoon, Buckingham Palace released a statement: “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 added that she was “comfortable.”
BBC soon stopped their regular programming. By 1:48 p.m. local time, the channel just read, “HM Queen Elizabeth’s health,” The Washington Post reported.
Parliament members and journalists had also changed into black ties to reflect the “somber” news of her illness.
She remained under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, reportedly her favorite place to relax, when she died.
Her family members — including now-King Charles — traveled to the castle on Thursday. Headed to Balmoral included Camilla, now-Queen Consort, and Princess Anne, the Queen’s only daughter. Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, also went to the castle.
Prince Harry also traveled to Balmoral and arrived after Queen Elizabeth died.
Kate, the Dutchess of Cambridge, and Meghan, the Dutchess of Sussex, did not travel to Scotland.
Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle were both surrounded by well-wishers supporting the royal family and mourning the Queen before and after her death.
According to the Washington Post, the Queen’s death was rumored and speculated online around 3 p.m. London time. The prime minister was notified about the Queen’s death at 4:30 p.m. local time, but it wasn’t officially announced until 6:41 p.m. local time by the Palace’s Twitter page: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.”
Since her death, the royal website has been taken down and replaced with a message that reads: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.”
“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and return to London tomorrow,” it added.
