Her Majesty the Queen passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, and a royal confidant has recently shared insights into her final days, including some of her last conversations with friends.
Gyles Brandreth, who had a close relationship with both the Queen and Prince Philip, detailed these final moments in his book, *Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait*. In one passage, Brandreth describes the weekend of September 3 and 4, when the Queen hosted the Right Reverend Dr. Iain Greenshields at her Scottish retreat in Balmoral.
During this visit, Dr. Greenshields dined with the Queen on Saturday evening, attended church services at Braemar and Crathie Parish on Sunday morning, and enjoyed lunch with her later that day. They discussed various topics, including the Queen’s childhood, her love for horses, church matters, and her concerns about the situation in Ukraine. Dr. Greenshields recalled that the Queen was “so alive and so engaging” during their conversations.
On Tuesday, September 6, the Queen had a phone conversation with Clive Cox, one of her favored racehorse trainers. They talked about her horse, Love Affairs, which was scheduled to race later that day at Goodwood. Cox reported that the Queen was as sharp and lively as ever during their discussion, covering topics such as the race and the performance of another horse in his stable.
Later that same day, the Queen honored her outgoing Communications Secretary with an accolade and spent time with both her 14th and 15th prime ministers. Boris Johnson noted that the Queen was exceptionally kind, sympathetic, and encouraging, displaying her characteristic humor and wisdom.
The Queen’s final photographs were taken on September 6 as she prepared to meet Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister, at Balmoral. Jane Barlow, a Press Association photographer, captured these images, which would become the last public pictures of the Queen. Barlow described the Queen as “frail” yet “in good spirits.” Despite the gloomy weather and thunderstorms on that day, the Queen remained cheerful, and Barlow found it a privilege to photograph her. Among the final images, Barlow particularly cherished the solo portrait of the Queen, which has gained greater significance in hindsight.
This window into the Queen’s final days provides a poignant reminder of her engagement and vitality, even as she neared the end of her remarkable life.