ANNE REVEALS
Princess Anne has offered a deeply moving insight into Queen Elizabeth II’s final days, revealing that her mother had a particular concern about remaining at Balmoral Castle as her health declined. The revelation provides a poignant glimpse into the thoughts of the late monarch shortly before her death in September 2022.
According to Anne, Queen Elizabeth was worried that dying at Balmoral could make matters more difficult. The concern was not simply personal, but connected to the practical responsibilities surrounding the monarchy and the constitutional duties that still had to be carried out.
Balmoral was one of the Queen’s most beloved places, but remaining there during such an important period presented an unusual situation. Traditionally, the monarch received and appointed prime ministers at Buckingham Palace in London. In 2022, however, the Queen’s declining strength meant that traveling south was becoming increasingly difficult.
Anne revealed that members of the family tried to reassure her mother that practical concerns should not determine where she spent her final days. They wanted Elizabeth to feel comfortable and to remain at a place that meant so much to her.
That decision proved significant. On September 6, 2022, Queen Elizabeth received Boris Johnson at Balmoral and formally accepted his resignation before appointing Liz Truss as the new prime minister. The historic meetings took place at the Scottish estate rather than Buckingham Palace.
Those meetings would become the Queen’s final official constitutional duty. Photographs from her audience with Truss became the last public images taken of Elizabeth, showing her carrying out her responsibilities despite her visibly frail condition.
Just two days later, on September 8, Buckingham Palace announced that doctors had become concerned about the Queen’s health and that she was under medical supervision at Balmoral. Members of the Royal Family rushed to Scotland as news of her deteriorating condition spread.
Queen Elizabeth died at Balmoral that afternoon at the age of 96, bringing her extraordinary 70-year reign to an end. Her final hours at the Scottish estate gave special meaning to the place, which had long been associated with family holidays, privacy and treasured memories.
Anne’s recollection is particularly emotional because it shows that even near the end of her life, Queen Elizabeth remained focused on duty and the consequences of her decisions. Her daughter’s reassurance suggests the family wanted her final days to be guided by comfort rather than protocol alone.
The revelation has added another poignant chapter to the story of Queen Elizabeth’s final days. For a monarch who spent seven decades placing duty at the heart of her life, her final decision to remain at Balmoral—and the reassurance she received from Princess Anne—offers a powerful reminder of the person behind the crown.