Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, with close family members nearby. Earlier that day, Buckingham Palace had said doctors were concerned about her health, which led relatives to travel quickly to be with her as her condition declined.
When her death was officially announced later that afternoon, the palace did not immediately explain the cause. The statement said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and the Queen consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
The news spread rapidly and had an immediate impact around the world. Tributes poured in from political leaders, public figures, and ordinary people who felt connected to a monarch who had spent her entire adult life serving as Queen.
Reports at the time said Princess Anne and King Charles were at Balmoral when their mother passed away. It was also noted that Charles and Camilla were able to spend roughly an hour with her before she died at the age of 96.
More details emerged a year and a half later through a memo written by her private secretary, Sir Edward Young. The memo described her final hours and mentioned a locked red box of documents found close to her bed.
According to the memo, the box contained two sealed letters. One was addressed to Sir Edward himself, and the other was addressed to her eldest son, Charles, though no details were shared about what either letter contained.
Around that same period, it was reported that Charles attempted to contact Prince Harry to inform him of his grandmother’s death. Harry later explained that he was on a flight and learned the news through a BBC News alert after turning his phone back on.
Speaking publicly after his mother’s death, Charles addressed the nation and said: “To my darling mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I will say this, thank you for your love and your devotion to our family and the family of nations you have served.”
He continued by saying: “I pay tribute to my mother’s memory and I honour her life of service. I know that her death brings great sadness to so many of us, and I share that sense of loss beyond measure with you all.”
Weeks after her passing, the official cause of death was recorded on her death certificate, which was signed by Princess Anne. The document listed the cause simply as old age, without reference to any illness or specific medical condition.
Sir Edward’s memo reinforced that conclusion and described her passing in simple terms. He wrote: “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.”
Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral was held on September 19 at Westminster Abbey, bringing together world leaders and members of the public. The service marked the formal farewell to a reign that had spanned decades and shaped modern British history.
