Queen Elizabeth II's real cause of death as memo from her private secretary revealed how she died
The queen died on September 8Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, and her cause of death was confirmed weeks later.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, with members of the royal family by her bedside. Buckingham Palace made the announcement in the early evening (6.30pm), and notice was pinned on the gates as the world learned the tragic news about the monarch.
Shockwaves were felt around the world, with famous leaders and royal fans paying tribute to the queen who spent seven decades on the throne.
The National Records of Scotland published Queen Elizabeth II’s entry in the Register of Deaths, revealing the cause of the monarch’s passing.
What was Queen Elizabeth II’s real cause of death
An extract from the queen’s death certificate confirmed she died at Balmoral Castle on September 8 at 3:10pm, and that her cause of death was “old age”.
The document had been signed by Princess Anne – the queen’s daughter.
Around midday, Buckingham Palace had released a statement to say that the queen’s doctors were “concerned” about her health. Members of the royal family had rushed to Balmoral to be by her side.
Read more: Queen’s heartbreaking last words to Prince Philip inside handwritten note at his funeral
After Elizabeth II’s death, a statement from the palace did not reveal the cause: “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.”
It’s believed Princess Anne and King Charles were by their mother’s side when she died.
Other members of the family had travelled up to Balmoral but some failed to make it on time.
Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully after cause of death revealed
It’s said that King Charles and Queen Camilla spent an hour with the queen before she died. They then left to ‘pick mushrooms’ to allow sister Princess Anne time alone with the monarch. Charles reportedly called Prince William and Prince Harry and told them to travel to Scotland as soon as they could to say their goodbyes.
However, the queen passed away while Charles was on his way back to Balmoral.
18 months after her funeral, Robert Hardman penned in his book that Her Majesty had a ‘peaceful’ death.
Her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, reportedly said in a memo that the late queen “slipped away” in her sleep and that her death was “very peaceful”. Hardman wrote the memo said of her passing: “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.”
Buckingham Palace said at the time it would not be commenting on the ‘unauthorised’ biography of Charles, where the information was reported.
It also revealed a locked red box of paperwork containing two sealed letters were found by her deathbed. One letter was addressed to Sir Edward, and another to her first-born son, Charles.
King Charles’ finding out the queen had died
While driving back to Balmoral, Charles pulled over to answer the phone. It’s claimed he found out his mother had died by hearing two words on the other end of the line: “Your Majesty”.
Afterwards, when King Charles called his son William through the palace switchboard to break the news, he had to be careful with his words to not reveal his mother had died. Charles wanted to be the one who tell his sons the news, and no one else.
He told the phone operator on the other end “it’s me”, after working out he couldn’t call himself King Charles, or reveal the Queen Elizabeth II’s cause of death before his family knew.
Charles did try to contact Harry, but he was flying at the time and couldn’t get through.
The Duke of Sussex revealed in his memoir that when he landed and turned his phone back on, he found out the news through a BBC alert
Read more: Longstanding royal rule prevented Prince Philip being called King – but Queen Camilla isn’t affected
The queen’s final resting place
The queen’s state funeral took place on September 19 at Westminster Abbey. Her family were in attendance along with world leaders and MPs.
That evening she was laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel, which is part of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. She was placed alongside her parents, sister Princess Margaret and her late husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
At the time, the palace said: “This evening a Private Burial will take place in The King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor.
“The queen will be laid to rest with her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh, alongside her father King George VI, mother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret.”
Upon his mother’s death, Charles became king and his wife Camilla became Queen Consort.
In a televised address after his mother’s death, Charles 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 also said: “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.”
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