Late Queen’s final moments laid bare by aide at her bedside 

Buckingham Palace has chosen not to comment on the “unauthorised” biography, which is currently being serialised in the Daily Mail

The late Queen’s final moments at Balmoral were described as “very peaceful” and devoid of pain, according to a memo written by her private secretary, Sir Edward Young.

The document reveals that she “slipped away” in her sleep and “wouldn’t have been aware of anything.” This poignant account is part of a biography of King Charles III, authored by the Daily Mail’s royal writer, Robert Hardman. Buckingham Palace has chosen not to comment on the “unauthorised” biography, which is currently being serialised in the Daily Mail. According to reports, the King was picking mushrooms nearby when his mother passed away.

The full text of Sir Edward’s memo regarding the Queen’s death on 8 September 2022 reads: “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.” This document is believed to reside in the Royal Archives and forms part of Mr Hardman’s new book, Charles III: New King, New Court: The Inside Story.

The biography also reveals that a locked red box containing paperwork, including two sealed letters—one addressed to then-Prince Charles and the other to Sir Edward—was found at the late Queen’s bedside. This box was brought to the royal aide shortly after he penned the memo and also contained her list of individuals to be awarded the Order of Merit for “exceptionally meritorious service” across the Commonwealth, as reported by the Daily Mail.

In those final hours, King Charles and Queen Camilla spent about an hour with the Queen privately before her passing. Princess Anne, a minister from a nearby church, and the Queen’s senior dresser alternated at her bedside, according to the newspaper. In a testament to his dedication, the King called both of his sons, instructing them to travel to Scotland as soon as possible to say their goodbyes. After gathering mushrooms to clear his head, he received the heartbreaking news of his mother’s death while driving back to Balmoral. The Daily Mail notes that it was during this moment that he was addressed for the first time as “Your Majesty.”

Subsequently, when the King called Prince William via the Buckingham Palace switchboard to break the news, he simply said, “it’s me,” having realised he could not reveal that he had become monarch just yet. He also attempted to contact his younger son, Prince Harry, but was unable to reach him as Harry was already en route to Scotland. The book details these poignant moments that reflect the gravity of the situation and the profound sense of loss experienced by the royal family.