Queen Elizabeth II’s Peaceful Final Moments at Balmoral Revealed in New Biography

Queen Elizabeth II‘s final moments in Balmoral were described as peaceful and painless in a memo written by her private secretary, Sir Edward Young. According to a new biography titled Charles III: New King, New Court, the Queen slipped away in her sleep, unaware of anything, hence experiencing no pain. The book, currently being serialized in the Daily Mail, also mentions that her son, the King, was picking mushrooms nearby when she passed away.

The full text of Sir Edward’s memo, reportedly found in the Royal Archives, reads, ‘Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.’ Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the unauthorized biography.

The biography also reveals that a locked red box containing sealed letters was discovered at the Queen’s deathbed. One of the letters was addressed to then-Prince Charles, while the other was meant for Sir Edward. The box, brought to the Royal aide after he wrote the memo, also contained the Queen’s choice of recipients for the Order of Merit, awarded for exceptionally meritorious service across the Commonwealth.

Before her passing, the King and Queen Camilla spent an hour with Queen Elizabeth II privately. Princess Anne, a minister from a nearby church, and the Queen’s senior dresser took turns by her bedside. The King, upon learning of his mother’s death while driving back to Balmoral, stopped and was addressed for the first time as “Your Majesty.”

The King made immediate arrangements for his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, to travel to Scotland to bid their final goodbyes. Prince William received the news via a call from the King through the Buckingham Palace switchboard. Wanting to keep the news of his ascension to the throne private, the King simply stated, ‘it’s me.’ Unfortunately, the King could not reach Prince Harry, as he was already en route to Scotland.