This Wednesday, March 8, marks six months since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. A monarch who died at the age of 96 on September 8, that everyone thought would live forever. Back on the last hours of this monarch adored by the British.
The news had plunged the whole world in a deep sadness. The dreaded announcement was real: Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom, had passed away in Balmoral, Scotland, at the age of 96. It is six months to the day, this Wednesday, March 8, that the monarch so beloved by the British has taken her leave. In the United Kingdom, her death is in everyone’s mind, in everyone’s heart. Two days before her death, Queen Elizabeth II was in good shape in front of the photographers. Despite the blue stains visible on her hands, the monarch seemed to be in good spirits. She had received the outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife on her Scottish soil, before receiving his replacement at 10 Dowing Street, Liz Truss. Then everything accelerated.
On September 8, 2022, the rumour mill had been running all morning. At 12:30 pm, Buckingham Palace issued a statement explaining that the Queen’s health was worrying the doctors. Under medical supervision in her Balmoral Castle, members of the royal family had already started to go to her bedside. The countdown had begun. Very quickly informed, a helicopter had left to pick up Prince Charles at Dumfries House, where he had spent the night. At around 10:30 am, he was at Balmoral. He was immediately joined by his wife Camilla, who was not far from there, at Birkhall Manor. Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II was already there. The whole world was glued to the health bulletins transmitted about the Queen. The United Kingdom is in slow motion. In private, the three of them will be at Elizabeth II’s side as she takes her last breath.
William, Edward, Andrew and Harry were too late…
Princes Andrew and Edward and the wife of the latter, Sophie of Wessex, as well as Prince William arrived in Aberdeen in the afternoon, aboard a Royal Air Force jet, at around 4 pm. An hour later, they arrived by car at Balmoral Castle but Queen Elizabeth II was already dead. When Prince Harry was still in the air to join the Windsors, the official announcement of his death was unveiled by Buckingham Palace at 18:30. Arrived last, without his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke of Sussex did not have dinner with either his father or his brother. Very early the next morning, the Duke of Sussex left first. After many tributes and wakes, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II took place on September 19 in Westminster Abbey in London.
Photo credits: Agency / Bestimage