New book reveals Queen Elizabeth II’s last moments

A new book by Robert Hardman has revealed Queen Elizabeth II’s final moments.

The late monarch’s private secretary, who was at Balmoral when she passed, wrote in a memo about the moment Queen Elizabeth died: “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.”

The memo, written by Sir Edward Young, is housed in the Royal Archives and was made public in Robert Hardman’s new book about King Charles III.

Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story also tells how a footman brought a locked red box of paperwork after the Queen’s death where two letters were found to King Charles and Young.

The box also had her choice of candidates for the Order of Merit in what would be her last royal order.

Hardman’s book also details how King Charles had to take a last-minute dash to Balmoral when Queen Elizabeth’s health deteriorated. He and Queen Camilla spent an hour with his mother before she passed, and the King was on his way back to the castle after picking mushrooms when he received the call about Queen Elizabeth’s death.

Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 at the age of 96 after reigning for over 70 years.