- Sir Edward Young recorded in a memo that the Queen's death was “very peaceful.”
Queen Elizabeth's final moments were captured by her most senior aide in an extraordinary – and deeply moving – memo, published today for the first time by the Chron.
Sir Edward Young, her devoted Private Secretary, who was at Balmoral when Her Late Majesty died on September 8, 2022, remarked: “Very peaceful.” In his sleep. Slipped away. High age. She wouldn't have known anything. No pain.'
The existence of the historical document, now held in the royal archives, has not yet been made public.
It is part of a remarkable insider's account of the late monarch's courage, hard work and devotion to duty in her final hours, included in a fascinating new biography of the king, “Charles III: New King, New Court.” The Inside Story by the Mail's respected royal writer Robert Hardman.
Queen Elizabeth's final moments were captured by her most senior aide in an extraordinary – and deeply moving – memo, published today for the first time by the Chron
Charles, who wanted to pick mushrooms and clear his head after seeing his mother, received the news that she had died as he was driving back to Balmoral when his most senior member of staff took a call. Above: King Charles, then Prince of Wales, boards a helicopter from Dumfries House to Balmoral on the morning of September 8, 2022
The book will be published exclusively in four days from tomorrow.
The biography also reveals how shortly after Sir Edward wrote his note, a footman brought a locked red box containing paperwork, which was found at the late queen's deathbed.
When it was opened, staff discovered two sealed letters: one to her son and heir, the current King Charles III, and the other to Sir Edward himself.
Although their contents are unlikely to ever be made public, the existence of the letters shows that Elizabeth, 96, quietly recognized that her time on this earth was over.
The box also contained her final papers and her final royal decoration: her selection of candidates for the prestigious Order of Merit for “extraordinarily meritorious service” throughout the Commonwealth.
“Even on her deathbed, there was much to do.” And she had done it,” Hardman writes of her unparalleled devotion to duty.
More stunning revelations revealed in today's excerpt:
Prince William drives Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie, now Duchess of Edinburgh, to Balmoral on the anniversary of the Queen's death
Prince Harry is seen heading to Balmoral on the anniversary of the Queen's death
Catherine, now Princess of Wales, leaves Windsor Castle on the day of the Queen's death. She didn't travel to Balmoral
- Despite fears for her health, the late Queen's death was so sudden that Charles had to fly by helicopter to Balmoral at the last minute to read his London Bridge notes [the long-arranged plan of action following her death] on the way. The staff didn't even have time to prepare their car for the welcome.
- The King and Queen Camilla spent an hour privately with Her Late Majesty before she died.
- Prince Anne and the queen's head dresser and confidante, Angela Kelly, took turns at her bedside, along with the Rev. Kenneth MacKenzie, a longtime vicar at nearby Crathie Kirk, who read the Bible to her.
- Charles personally called his two sons and urged them to travel to Scotland as quickly as possible to say goodbye. At this point he believed the queen had days, not hours, to live
- Charles, who wanted to pick mushrooms and clear his head after seeing his mother, received the news that she had died as he was driving back to Balmoral when his most senior member of staff took a call. Charles stopped and was addressed as “Your Majesty” for the first time before he calmly put the car in gear and drove off.
- When Charles called William over the palace switchboard to tell him the news, he simply had to tell the operator, “It's me,” because he suddenly realized he couldn't yet reveal that he was king.
- The king tried repeatedly to call his younger son to deliver the news in person, but Harry was already in the air and couldn't get through.
Prince William steps off the plane in Aberdeen as members of the royal family gather at Balmoral on the day of her death in September 2022
Sir Edward Young, her devoted Private Secretary, who was at Balmoral when Her Late Majesty died on September 8, 2022, remarked: “Very peaceful.” In his sleep. Slipped away. High age. She wouldn't have known anything. No pain'
Charles III: New king, new court. The inside story comes from the Mail's respected royal writer Robert Hardman
Charles III by Robert Hardman traces the dramatic story of the transition from the top, highlighting the challenges the new king faced in his first year on the throne, including family dramas, political crises and questions about the future of the monarchy.
The book provides unprecedented access to the royal family, their close friends, past and present staff, top politicians and previously unpublished documents in the royal archives.
It also describes the crucial role played by Queen Camilla, the king's relationships with Prince William and Prince Harry, his plans to reform the monarchy and his evolving position on the world stage.