The final diary entry of Queen Elizabeth II, written just two days before her passing, has been unveiled.
Throughout her remarkable 70-year reign, the much-loved monarch—who passed away in September 2022 at the age of 96—maintained a private diary to document key events in her life. This tradition continued up until her final days.
A photo of Queen Elizabeth II at her desk in Windsor Castle shows her reviewing her diary of engagements, with portraits of Charles, Prince of Wales, and George VI displayed in the background.
Renowned royal biographer Robert Hardman uncovered these handwritten entries while researching additional chapters for his book about King Charles.
According to Hardman, the Queen’s last diary entry was penned at Balmoral, where she passed away on September 8. This came just two days after she welcomed the newly appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss.
In her final entry, the Queen noted that her private secretary, Edward Young, had visited her. She also highlighted the arrangements for swearing in new members of the Privy Council.
“Remarkably, she was still writing in her diary at Balmoral two days before her death,” Hardman explained. “Her final entry was as straightforward and matter-of-fact as always.”
“It was as if she were describing another routine working day—‘Edward came to see me’—while noting the preparations her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, had made for the swearing-in of ministers under the new Truss administration,” Hardman added.
The Queen’s diary was a record of her daily activities rather than her personal reflections or emotions. Hardman pointed out that Elizabeth once told society diarist Kenneth Rose, “I don’t have time to record conversations, only events.”
Queen Elizabeth II was not the first monarch to keep a personal journal during her reign. Queen Victoria, who passed in 1901, famously wrote over 60 million words across diaries spanning nearly 70 years.
Elizabeth drew inspiration from her father, King George V, who also kept a detailed diary throughout his life.
Similarly, King Charles has carried on the tradition. Hardman notes that while the King, now 75, no longer keeps extensive narrative diaries as he once did, he continues to jot down his daily thoughts and observations.
A senior courtier revealed to The Telegraph that Charles’ current writing style is less introspective and entertaining than the journals he kept as Prince of Wales. However, he still makes time to reflect and document his experiences.
