Buckingham Palace, the Queen and Elizabeth II’s health concerns were reported as deteriorating. The 96-year-old monarch was under constant medical supervision at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
“After further examination this morning, the Queen’s doctors expressed concern about Her Majesty’s state of health and advised her to remain under medical supervision,” the statement read on the Buckingham Palace website.
In October 2021, the Queen was admitted to a London hospital for the first time in eight years. She also tested positive for COVID-19 in February, experiencing mild cold symptoms during that period.
Over the past several months, reports about Elizabeth’s health circulated in media briefs from around the world.
On 6 September, the Queen met with former and current British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. For the first time during her reign, she received the newly appointed head of government not at Buckingham Palace. The following day, a Privy Council meeting was planned, but doctors urged rest for the Queen, leading to its postponement.
Professor Sir Hugh Thomas has served as the Queen’s personal physician since 2014. He was knighted the year prior and awarded the Order of the Royal Victorian Order. Thomas previously helped care for Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, when she gave birth to Charlotte in 2015 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington and their youngest child Louis in 2018.
Balmoral has long been a favorite residence, serving as the Queen’s summer home. The estate has been in the family since 1852, purchased by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria. Historically, Elizabeth spent August through October there, and she traveled there on July 21 of this year. The Queen and Prince Philip spent part of their honeymoon at Balmoral, where they lived with their grandchildren William and Harry after Princess Diana’s death in 1997.
“Something serious is going on”
Londoners gathered near Buckingham Palace as the changing of the guard was canceled. A sign reading “No changing of the guard today” appeared in the courtyard.
The BBC adjusted its broadcast schedule, airing an urgent update on the Queen’s health. Host Hugh Edwards appeared in formal attire appropriate for the occasion.
“Maybe something serious is happening,” remarked Richard Sumner, a former BBC Royal correspondent. He noted that the Queen’s body seemed to be resisting the illness, though the full circumstances remained unclear.
Author and journalist Phil Dampier confirmed that the situation at Balmoral felt very serious to observers.
As the news circulated, the Queen’s children and grandchildren either arrived in Balmoral or were en route. Prince Charles, the heir, had already reached the castle. Prince Harry and Meghan were preparing to join a short European tour and would travel to Scotland, while Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, stayed home with the children for the first week of school.
In the financial markets, the London Stock Exchange’s FTSE 100 index fell amid the reports about the monarch’s health.
Several years prior, reports in The Guardian referenced a plan known as “London Bridge” that suggested the Queen might pass away after a brief illness. In that hypothetical scenario, the Queen’s personal secretary would be the first to relay the message to the prime minister with the phrase “London Bridge has collapsed.”
Some Russian outlets circulated claims about Elizabeth’s death citing The Guardian, but there was no corroboration on the British newspaper’s site or social channels, and counterclaims soon spread online.
“Nation Today with the Queen”
The Archbishop of Canterbury posted on social media that people across the country were praying for the monarch: “My prayers, the prayers of the Anglican community and the nation, are with Her Majesty today. May God’s presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those caring for her at Balmoral.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss expressed solidarity with the country, stating that the thoughts of people across the United Kingdom were with Her Majesty and her family during this difficult time.
Former Prime Minister David Cameron conveyed his concern, writing that he was deeply troubled by the news from Buckingham Palace and offered his sincere thoughts and prayers to the Queen and the royal family.
Historian Katherine Pepinster remarked that Britain may be entering a period of significant change and described the situation as potentially traumatic should the reign conclude. Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI, at age 25. She is widely recognized as one of the longest-serving and oldest heads of state in modern history.