The first sign that something was amiss arrived discretely: Shortly after lunchtime, when Liz Truss made her first big policy statement as prime minister, the front benches of the House of Commons passed around a note.
Before Sir Kier Starmer spoke from the opposing side, government members’ brows furrowed in concern after receiving a copy. The look of concern was shared. Something monumental was occurring.
The news came minutes later from Buckingham Palace. Doctors who were “concerned for her health” had placed Queen Elizabeth II under “medical surveillance” at her vacation home in Balmoral.
Already in Scotland, where the Queen had been since mid-July, Charles, Camilla, and Princess Anne were on their way to her bedside. Prince William was also on his way, having just dropped off George, Louis, and Charlotte for their first day of school. Kate, always considerate of her family’s needs, chose to remain behind.
There followed hours of pregnant silence, during which nobody spoke what everyone was thinking. The 96-year-old queen, the longest-reigning monarch in this country’s history and the only monarch that the majority of living people have ever known, was undoubtedly dying.
Then, at precisely 6.30pm, the formal announcement was made: the Queen had passed away.
Concerned brows furrow as Nadim Zahawi delivers a memorandum to Liz Truss in the Commons just after midday. The message was presented to Kier Starmer, who was speaking at the moment (bottom left) and he appeared similarly alarmed.
The Queen accepted Boris Johnson’s resignation on Tuesday at Balmoral and invited Liz Truss to form a new administration as her final acts as the nation’s monarch.
Elizabeth had been on duty just two days previously, accepting Boris Johnson’s resignation and invited Ms. Truss to form a new government. She was determined to continue serving the nation she cherished until the end.
Wednesday evening’s virtual meeting of her Privy Council was the only event she was unable to attend, and only because it was canceled on physicians’ orders.
After a “full day” of responsibilities with Johnson and Truss, the Queen was ordered to “relax,” according to the palace. That was her last act as the leader of this nation.
The news of her poor health spread gradually at first, and then abruptly.
Bargain Hunt viewers were among the first to learn of the incident, when regular midday programming was disrupted by the BBC’s transition to continuous news coverage.
The item appeared on the top pages of newspapers from France to the Philippines, and from Spain to Saudi Arabia, after alerts were sent to publications around the globe.
Even Russia’s extremely partisan state media outlets featured sobering reports on ‘concerns’ for Her Majesty’s health.
The volume of the alerts then increased. Royals who are not typically involved in the day-to-day operations of ‘The Firm’ began to travel north of the border.
Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, who is conveniently in the United Kingdom to attend tonight’s Wellchild Awards, were thought to be on their way.
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex were also rumored to be traveling to Balmoral.
Princes William, Andrew, and Edward arrive at Balmoral with Sophie, Countess of Wessex, as they rush to the Queen’s bedside following the announcement of her worsening health.
On Thursday afternoon, William, Andrew, Edward, and Sophie were photographed arriving at Aberdeen airport aboard a private plane as they rushed to the Queen’s bedside.
It was eventually discovered that Meghan, Harry’s wife, was staying in London, although for a time, her whereabouts were uncertain.
She may visit Balmoral “at a later date,” according to reports.
The BBC then canceled all scheduled programming until at least 6 p.m. in order to stay on top of the story as Huw Edwards, the go-to man for both joyous and sorrowful occasions, emerged. Few could have missed his black tie.
Approximately one hour later, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace was canceled – a symbolic moment of disruption in the generally well-oiled Royal household machinery.
Crowds, recognizing the mounting gravity of the situation, began to congregate, some in tears, both in central London and at Windsor, where it was pouring with rain.
A plane carrying Princes William, Andrew, and Edward, along with wife Sophie, arrived in Aberdeen at the same time and in the same torrential downpour. The trio was seen boarding a car for the hour-long ride to Balmoral.
Even though all the indicators of the impending calamity were present, the palace kept mute. According to the BBC’s royal journalist Nicholas Witchell, the fact that Buckingham Palace felt compelled to release a statement and that family members are traveling there speaks volumes.
Since her accession to the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, Elizabeth has been a symbol of stability as Britain has navigated the end of empire, the dawn of the information age, and mass migration that has transformed the country into a multicultural society.
Throughout her reign, the Queen had forged a relationship with the people of Great Britain through a seemingly unending series of public engagements during which she launched libraries, dedicated hospitals, and conferred awards on deserving residents.
Despite the downpour, crowds gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace as concern for the Queen grew.
Despite the fact that the formal announcement would not be made for several hours, some individuals arrived bearing floral tributes, presumably recognizing the severity of the situation.
Elizabeth, who on her 21st birthday famously pledged her “whole life” to the service of Britain and the Commonwealth, had ruled out abdication.
She made a statement on Wednesday following the death of at least ten people in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, saying, “I mourn with all Canadians during this awful moment.”
The death of her husband, Prince Philip, in April of last year, however, served as a reminder that the reign of the only monarch the majority of the British population had ever known was limited.
During a funeral that was restricted to 30 mourners due to Covid, the Queen was obliged to sit alone, concealed under a black face mask, as she mourned the loss of the man who had been by her side for more than seven decades.
This was the undercurrent of the Platinum Jubilee festivities, which were filled with pictures of Elizabeth as she transformed from a dazzling young queen in crown and diamonds to a type of global grandma known for her ever-present purse and fondness for horses and corgis.
Charles was in the spotlight throughout the festivities, representing his mother and demonstrating his readiness to assume her mantle.
On the opening day of the jubilee, he reviewed the troops at the Queen’s Birthday Parade while wearing a traditional scarlet tunic and bearskin headgear.
The following day, he was the last guest to enter St. Paul’s Cathedral and sat in the first row for a thanksgiving service in honor of the queen.
At a star-studded concert in front of Buckingham Palace, he paid tribute to the woman he referred to as “Your Majesty, Mummy”
On Thursday, though, the nation’s focus was solidly on the Queen.
Kristian Ctylok, a 32-year-old London resident, stated, “It’s extremely depressing.” Because she’s been quite frail for a while, I believe that half the country is probably expecting it. But, you know, I suppose nobody anticipated that day would come.
Huw Edwards, the BBC’s go-to man for both joyous and somber occasions, emerged wearing a black tie – a portent of the sad news that would be delivered several hours later.