The Queen’s surprising response to rumours about her health, according to royal author

The Queen, the country’s longest-serving monarch, was the picture of health for most of her 70-year reign.

Despite facing mobility issues, she continued riding horses into her 96th year and visited 117 countries during her time on the throne, the equivalent to travelling 42 times around the globe.

Unlike her father, who was a heavy smoker and died of lung cancer at the age of 56, the Queen generally avoided serious health conditions – but that did not stop the rumour mill from spinning. 

In 1986, the former Scottish secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind joined the Queen on the royal yacht for a visit to an isolated lighthouse in Scotland. 

Royal author Valentine Low wrote in his book Power and the Palace that Sir Malcolm got to know the Queen ‘as well as any’ minister ever had.

In August 1986, Rifkind joined the Queen for the weekend on Britannia during her summer cruise round the west and northwest coasts of Scotland.

Low wrote: ‘On Sunday they had a picnic on the small island of Oronsay.

‘That weekend The Sunday Times had a story asking if the Queen had a heart problem because she had been seen visiting a consultant in Harley Street.’

The Queen waves 114ft above the ground from the top of the Ardnamurchan Point lighthouse with the keeper Jim Hardie after her 152-step climb to the top in August 1986

The Queen who famously took the steps at Balmoral two at a time, proves her fitness as she climbs a stairway to meet ballerinas at the Royal Albert Hall in 2004 

He continued: ‘”Oh”, she said crossly. “I knew this would happen.”

‘Philip had suggested she have a precautionary check-up, and now the media had jumped to the wrong conclusion; as the doctor had confirmed, there was nothing wrong with her. 

‘The next day at Ardnamurchan there was a surprisingly full media turnout. 

‘They were all clamouring to see the Queen with her heart condition,’ said Rifkind. 

‘After being greeted by dignitaries, the Queen announced that she wanted to go up the lighthouse. 

‘So the lord lieutenant, the secretary of state and the Queen all climbed to the top of the lighthouse, the only difference being that the Queen went up at top speed while the other two struggled to keep up.

‘”She gets to the top, looks at the journalists, smiles sweetly, waves her hand, said Rifkind. Not another word was said about the Queen’s heart condition.”‘

She put the nation’s heart to rest from the top of the Ardnamurchan Point lighthouse with the keeper Jim Hardie after her 152-step climb.

Valentine Low wrote: ‘The lord lieutenant, the secretary of state and the Queen all climbed to the top of the lighthouse, but the Queen went up at top speed while the other two struggled to keep up.’ The Queen is pictured with lighthouse keeper Jim Hardie

The Queen’s horses, which she rode until well into her 90s, gave her a healthy dose of exercise. She is pictured in 1971

The Queen is pictured confidently walking up the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral on Charles and Diana’s wedding day on July 29, 1981 

When she reached the top of the 114ft tower, she was reportedly not even out of breath.

And this was not the only time the Queen showed off her remarkable fitness.

In 1967, David Montgomery, a young American photographer was commissioned to take photographs of the Queen at Balmoral.

He reportedly asked her: ‘Where do you normally sit when you’re here?’

The next thing he knew, she was on the floor, in front of the fire and when she started to stand up he went over to help but she then apparently smiled and said: ‘I’m not that old yet.’

He said: ‘All of a sudden, I saw her going up the stairs two at a time. I had my camera around my neck and I got a few snaps of her that are slightly blurred, but you can tell it’s her.’

It is believed the Queen was able to age so gracefully because she kept her mind stimulated and body active, right up until her final months.

The monarch spent hours upon hours reading and learning each day and, despite the temptations of a talented team of chefs on constant standby, largely ate the same balanced diet.

The monarch – pictured in 2002 – spent many hours reading and learning each day and, despite the temptations of a talented team of chefs on constant standby, largely ate the same balanced diet

Royal author Valentine Low wrote in his book Power and the Palace that Rifkind got to know the Queen ‘as well as any’ minister ever had

Her beloved corgis, who she walked religiously twice a day until the last year of her life, and horses, which she rode until just weeks before her death, gave her a healthy dose of exercise. 

But it was her sacred sense of duty and inseparable bond with her late husband Prince Philip that undoubtedly gave her the drive to keep going. 

It was only after the Duke of Edinburgh passed away in April 2021 that the Queen’s health began to deteriorate.

Her mother, the Queen Mother, lived to 101, which suggests longevity is part of the family’s make-up. 

Even in her final days the Queen still fulfilled her royal duties, including appointing her 15th Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral.

It seems that for the late Queen, her sharp mind and quick wit helped her maintain a youthful spirit even in her old age.