On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, surrounded by close family members.
Buckingham Palace announced the news at 6:30pm, and a notice was placed on the gates as the world mourned the monarch who had reigned for seven decades. Tributes poured in from global leaders and admirers.
Cause of Death Confirmed
Weeks later, the National Records of Scotland released her official entry in the Register of Deaths. The document, signed by Princess Anne, confirmed the queen died at 3:10pm from “old age.” Earlier that day, Buckingham Palace had issued a rare statement expressing doctors’ concern, prompting senior royals to hurry to Balmoral.
Although the palace initially stated only that “the queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” her daughter Princess Anne and King Charles were believed to be by her side at the end. Other family members traveled north but some did not arrive in time.
Final Hours with Family
Reports later revealed that King Charles and Queen Camilla had spent an hour with the queen before she passed, then left to give Princess Anne private time with her mother. Charles personally called Princes William and Harry urging them to come quickly, though the queen slipped away before he returned.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman later described her death as serene. Her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, wrote in a memo: “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.”
At Balmoral, officials also found a locked red box containing paperwork and two sealed letters—one for her secretary and one for her eldest son.
How King Charles Learned the News
While driving back to Balmoral, Charles reportedly received a phone call that began with two words—“Your Majesty”—which signaled that his mother had died and he was now king. Wanting to personally inform his sons, he carefully worded his calls through the palace switchboard, avoiding any mention of titles or details before speaking directly to William and Harry.
Prince Harry later wrote in his memoir that he learned of his grandmother’s passing via a BBC news alert after his plane landed, as Charles had been unable to reach him mid-flight.
A Historic Farewell
Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral was held on September 19 at Westminster Abbey, attended by world leaders, dignitaries, and her family. That evening, she was laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, beside her parents, sister Princess Margaret, and her beloved husband, Prince Philip.
The palace confirmed: “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.”
King Charles’s Tribute
With his mother’s passing, Charles ascended the throne and Camilla became Queen Consort. In his first televised address, he expressed his grief and gratitude:
“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 added: “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.”