Queen Elizabeth’s passing was a moment of profound loss felt around the world. While opinions on the monarchy may vary, the late Queen was widely respected and admired. Her remarkable reign spanned over 70 years, and now, she has finally reunited with her beloved husband, Prince Philip.
The Speculation Surrounding Her Passing
Following the Queen’s peaceful death at Balmoral, speculation quickly arose about what led to her passing. Some reports suggested she had been battling bone cancer, though Buckingham Palace never confirmed this. In a conversation with The Daily Beast, a close friend of the Queen shared insights into her final days.
On September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Her State Funeral was held at Westminster Abbey, followed by a grand procession through London, with her coffin transported to Wellington Arch. From there, it made its way to Windsor, where another funeral service took place at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
During the service at St. George’s Chapel, the choir sang solemn hymns. Before the final hymn, her Imperial State Crown, Orb, and Sceptre were carefully removed from the coffin and placed on the altar. In a poignant tribute, King Charles placed the Queen’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards atop her casket, while The Lord Chamberlain symbolically broke his Wand of Office, laying it down as a final gesture.
As the coffin was gently lowered into the Royal Vault, the congregation sang God Save The King. King Charles, visibly moved, struggled to hold back tears. Later that evening, a private burial took place, attended only by close family.
A Final Resting Place
Queen Elizabeth now rests in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, alongside her parents, her sister Princess Margaret, and Prince Philip. After his passing, Philip had initially been interred in the Royal Vault beneath St. George’s Chapel but was later moved to lie beside the Queen.
Weeks after the funeral, details about the cost of the ceremonies were revealed. According to AP, the Queen’s funeral and lying-in-state cost the UK government an estimated $200 million. It was the first state funeral in the UK since Winston Churchill’s in 1965, drawing enormous crowds as thousands lined up to pay their respects at Westminster Hall.
The Cause of Death & Prince Harry’s Last Moments with the Queen
For some time, there was secrecy surrounding the Queen’s cause of death. The Daily Mail reported that Scotland’s government faced criticism for withholding her death certificate. Eventually, in late September 2022, it was officially confirmed that her cause of death was listed as “old age.” The registration, signed by Princess Anne, stated that Her Majesty passed away at 3:10 PM on September 8 at Balmoral Castle.
At the time of her passing, King Charles and Queen Camilla were by her side. Unfortunately, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry did not make it in time. Harry later shared in an interview with 60 Minutes that he was left out of the family’s travel arrangements to Balmoral.
“I asked my brother — I said, ‘What are your plans? How are you and Kate getting up there?’ And then, a couple of hours later, you know, all of the family members that live within the Windsor and Ascot area were jumping on a plane together,” Harry told Anderson Cooper.
By the time Harry landed in Scotland, he had learned of the Queen’s passing via BBC reports. Upon arriving at Balmoral, he was greeted by Princess Anne.
