Both Charles and his sister Anne were in Scotland at the time, having carried out events in the country earlier in the week. It meant that they were able to spend time with their beloved mother before she peacefully passed away.

Heir-to-the-throne Charles was informed of the Queen’s death via telephone. He had briefly stepped away from her bedside to clear his head and had gone out to gather mushrooms. He received the news that she had died as he was driving back to Balmoral when his most senior aide took a call. Charles pulled over and was addressed for the first time as ‘Your Majesty’ – signalling he was now King, Hardman wrote.

It would later transpire in the Queen’s official death certificate that she had passed away at 3:10pm on 8 September. Buckingham Palace announced at 12.50pm that Prince William , Prince Andrew , Prince Edward and Sophie had started to make their way to Scotland at 12:50. Sadly, they were not in time.

They landed at 3:50pm, 40 minutes after her death. With William at the wheel, they drove to Balmoral, arriving at 5.06pm. Prince Harry , meanwhile, left Luton airport onboard a private jet at about 5.30pm. He was still in the air when the announcement of the queen’s death was made at 6.30pm.

Following her passing, a footman discovered a locked red box of paperwork at the late Queen’s deathbed. When it was opened, staff discovered two sealed letters: one to her son and heir, now King Charles III, and the other to Sir Edward Young , her devoted private secretary. “While their contents are unlikely ever to be made public, the existence of the letters shows that Elizabeth, 96, quietly recognised her time on this earth was at an end.”