ROYAL FAREWELL
Queen Elizabeth’s final moments were painless as she ‘slipped away’ & ‘wasn’t aware of anything’, historic memo reveals
The astonishing biography includes new testimonies of royal staff, friends and senior politicians
QUEEN Elizabeth’s final moments were painless as she “slipped away” and “wasn’t aware of anything”, an historic memo has revealed.
The Queen's most senior staff member Sir Edward Young has described the moment of her death in an extraordinary book.
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The Queen's dedicated private secretary was at Balmoral during the passing of Her Late Majesty on September 8, 2022.
In an extraordinary and deeply poignant memo, he described the hours until she took the last breath.
Devoted Sir Edward Young wrote: "Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn't have been aware of anything. No pain."
The historic document, now stored in the Royal Archives, has been kept confidential until now.
The unseen notes are part of new revelations of the late monarch contained in the new biography of the King "Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story" by royal writer Robert Hardman.
UNPARALLELED DEVOTION TO DUTY
The fascinating biography reveals how a footman brought a locked red box of paperwork by the late Queen after Sir Edward wrote the poignant note.
Inside the box, royal staff unveiled two sealed letters - one for King Charles III and the other for her private secretary.
Although the content of the letters are unknown, royal experts believe their existence shows that the Queen thought her time was coming to an end soon.
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The memo also reveals how the mysterious box contained her final written duty.
It included the choice of candidates for the Order of Merit for "exceptionally meritorious service" across the Commonwealth.
Hardman wrote: "Even on her deathbed, there had been work to do. And she had done it."
THE LAST HOUR
The historic memo claims the Queen's death was so sudden that King Charles had to rush to Balmoral by helicopter.
Upon his arrival staff didn't even have time to get his car ready to greet him, Hardman wrote.
The Queen was accompanied by Charles and Camilla during her last hour privately before she died.
Other people included Princess Anne and the Queen's senior dresser and confidante, Angela Kelly, who alternated at her bedside.
Rev Kenneth MacKenzie, a long-serving minister at nearby Crathie Kirk, read to her from the Bible.
The book also described the moment King Charles realised his beloved mother had died.
Charles called Harry and William personally urging them to dash to Scotland to say their last goodbyes.
On the day she died, Charles believed the Queen still had days to live despite her deteriorating health state.
It was when he was gathering mushrooms outside of the castle to clear his head that he received the heartbreaking news.
When driving back to Balmoral he had to pull over after being addressed for the first time as 'Your Majesty' by his most senior aide.
Despite the official confirmation, King Charles referred to William via the palace switchboard simply as "it's me" as he couldn't reveal he was king yet.
Meanwhile, Harry wasn't told by his dad about his grandmother's death as he was already in a flight on his way to Balmoral.
It comes as Omid Scobie, friend of the Sussexes, made claims in his new book "Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy's Fight for Survival".
Scobie claims Harry sent text messages to William asking how he planned on travelling to Scotland and if they could go together.
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But he allegedly received no response despite there being seats on the private plane used to travel to Scotland.
The author claims William "clearly didn't want to see his brother" and Harry was left having to find his own way to Balmoral.
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