Queen Elizabeth’s passing left the world in mourning. Though not everyone supported the monarchy, she was admired by many. Ruling for over 70 years, she now rests alongside her husband, Prince Philip.
Following her death at Balmoral on September 8, 2022, speculation arose regarding the cause. While one insider claimed she had bone cancer, Buckingham Palace never confirmed it. Speaking with The Daily Beast, a close friend shared details about her final days.
After her state funeral at Westminster Abbey, Queen Elizabeth’s coffin traveled through London to Wellington Arch before being taken to Windsor. At St. George’s Chapel, another service was held. During the ceremony, her imperial state crown, Orb, and Sceptre were removed from the coffin and placed on the altar. King Charles then laid his mother’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on the casket before The Lord Chamberlain broke his Wand of Office and placed it down.
As her coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault, the choir sang God Save The King. King Charles appeared visibly emotional. That evening, a private burial took place, attended only by close family.
Queen Elizabeth now rests in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, alongside her parents, sister Princess Margaret, and husband Prince Philip. His coffin, initially placed in the Royal Vault, was later moved to be with her.
The Cost of a Historic Funeral
The Queen’s funeral and lying-in-state cost the UK government an estimated $200 million, marking the country’s first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s in 1965. Before the funeral, hundreds of thousands visited Westminster Hall to pay their respects.
John Glen, the chief secretary to the Treasury, stated, “The government’s priorities were that these events ran smoothly and with the appropriate level of dignity, while at all times ensuring the safety and security of the public.”
Final Moments
For weeks, details surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s passing remained undisclosed. When the cause of death was finally released in late September 2022, it was listed simply as “old age.” The document, signed by her daughter, Princess Anne, confirmed she passed at 3:10 P.M. on September 8 at Balmoral Castle.
King Charles and Camilla were by her side. However, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry were unable to arrive in time. Harry later revealed in an interview that he wasn’t invited to travel with his family to Balmoral. He learned of the Queen’s death through the BBC while his plane was landing.
Upon arrival, Princess Anne greeted him and asked if he wanted to see her. “I thought about it for about five seconds,” Harry shared. “And I was like, ‘You know what? You can do this. You need to say goodbye.’”
Reflecting on the moment, he said, “She had completed life, and her husband was waiting for her.” In his memoir, he recalled whispering to her, “I hoped she was happy and that she was with grandpa.”
Although the official cause of death was listed as old age, royal author Gyles Brandreth suggested she had been battling bone marrow cancer. He noted that her weight loss, fatigue, and mobility issues aligned with symptoms of myeloma, a disease with no cure that primarily affects the elderly.
In her final months, she reportedly suffered from chronic pain and increasing difficulty moving. The Daily Beast revealed that, despite never being publicly seen in a wheelchair, she relied on one privately.
A Declining Queen in Her Last Days
A close friend of the Queen shared that after Prince Philip’s passing in 2021, her health deteriorated rapidly. She reportedly struggled with pain, vision, and hearing loss. Though she appointed Liz Truss as Prime Minister just days before her passing, she was easily confused and unable to concentrate for long periods.
“In the final months, it got much worse,” the friend revealed. “By the time of the Platinum Jubilee, she couldn’t see very much, she couldn’t hear very much, and she was easily confused.”
Her last public appearance, on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the Jubilee, required enormous effort. Despite being in significant discomfort, she insisted on standing unaided for her final salute to the nation.
Queen Elizabeth’s passing marked the end of an era, closing the chapter on one of the longest reigns in British history.
