The announcement comes a day after she cancelled a virtual meeting of her Privy Council
The announcement comes a day after she cancelled a virtual meeting of her Privy Council
Fears grew on Thursday for Queen Elizabeth II after Buckingham Palace said her doctors were “concerned” for her health and recommended that she remain under medical supervision.
The 96-year-old monarch has been dogged by health problems since October last year that left her with difficulties walking and standing.
People shelter under their umbrellas as they gather outside Buckingham Palace, following a statement from the Palace over concerns for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth’s health, in London, on September 8, 2022.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
On Wednesday, she pulled out of a planned meeting with her senior political advisors, after being told to rest. The previous day she held audiences at her Scottish Highlands retreat, Balmoral, with outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and appointed his successor, Liz Truss.
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral,” the palace added. The palace statement about the queen’s health is highly unusual.
Latest updates:
Balmoral Castle
Royals arrive at Balmoral Castle
A fleet of cars carrying Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, have arrived at Balmoral Castle, where Queen Elizabeth II is under medical supervision.
The plane carrying the royal party arrived at Aberdeen Airport just before 4 p.m. local time, and arrived at the queen’s estate about an hour later.
Prince Harry, who was due to appear at a charity awards ceremony in London later Thursday, cancelled that appearance and is making his way to Scotland separately.
London
Crowd gathers outside Buckingham Palace
Crowds of people have begun to gather outside London’s Buckingham Palace as news spreads that Queen Elizabeth II is under medical supervision at her Balmoral estate in Scotland.
More than 100 people, many holding umbrellas amid sometimes heavy downpours, have congregated on stone steps outside the royal residence, and dozens more are standing beside the gates, with many people peering through them.
Brussels
EU chief offers ‘prayers’ for ‘legend’ Queen Elizabeth II
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday hailed Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as a symbol of Europe’s shared history and offered “thoughts and prayers” for the monarch.
“My thoughts and my prayers are with her. And she represents the whole history of the Europe that is our common home, with our British friends,” von der Leyen told a news conference in Rotterdam.
“She has given to all of us in all these years — always — stability, confidence. She has shown an immense amount of courage. She is a legend in my eyes.”– AFP
White House
White House says Biden’s thoughts are with Queen Elizabeth, her family
The White House said on Thursday that President Joe Biden had been briefed about the situation with Britain’s ailing Queen Elizabeth and that his thoughts were with her and her family.
“His and the first lady’s thoughts are solidly and squarely with the queen today and her family,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. — Reuters
London
‘God save the queen’: Londoners and tourists wish monarch well
“Get well soon” was the message from Londoners and tourists on Thursday after doctors said they were concerned about the health of Queen Elizabeth.
“Everybody is really stressed about it, we have had her for 70 years so we need to digest the whole thing because it suddenly happened,” London resident Sharon Gove said outside Buckingham Palace.
“Two days ago she was with the new prime minister then suddenly everybody is concerned about her. So it is not very nice but God save the queen!”
People pose for pictures outside the Palace of Holyroodhouse following a statement from the Buckingham Palace over concerns for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth’s health, in Holyrood, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain on September 8, 2022.
| Photo Credit: Reiters
Members of the royal family rushed to be with the 96-year-old monarch at her Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, where she had appointed Liz Truss as the new British prime minister on Tuesday.
The thoughts of American tourist Lupe Garcia, 60, were also with the family.
“Well I think it is very sad, I hope the recuperates very quickly. I think everybody loves her and respects her and we want what is best for her and her family,” she said.
Some well-wishers were drawn to the palace just to be there after the news that the queen was ailing broke.
“I work close by and I heard on the news about her majesty’s failing health so I was concerned and it led me to come to Buckingham Palace, to be at the heart of the monarchy,” said Alexander Caplan, a 40-year-old who works as a technology entrepreneur.
Others were thinking of the queen and her family elsewhere on the streets of London.
Student Beatriz Cintra, 29, said she hoped the queen recovered and that the royal family could “navigate through this difficult period united and that they find peace in whatever happens”.
Bar tender Albert Laane, 18, summed up the thoughts of many, saying: “Hey Elizabeth, get well soon.” — Reuters
London
Prince Harry going alone, without wife Meghan, to see Queen in Scotland: local media
Britain’s Prince Harry is travelling alone to Scotland, without his wife Meghan, to be with his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, after doctors expressed concern about her health on Thursday, PA Media reported. – AFP
London
Royal family gathers as Queen Elizabeth under ‘medical supervision’
Queen Elizabeth II’s closest family rushed to Scotland on Thursday, after doctors placed the 96-year-old monarch under medical supervision, prompting concern from British political and religious leaders.
Britain’s longest-serving monarch has been dogged by health problems since last October that have left her struggling to walk and stand.
Her children — heir to the throne Prince Charles, 73, Princess Anne, 72, Prince Andrew, 62, and Prince Edward, 58, were either already at or quickly headed to Balmoral after the announcement.
A convoy of vehicles arrives outside the gates of the Balmoral Estate in Ballater, Scotland on September 8, 2022.
| Photo Credit: AFP
They were joined by Prince Charles’s elder son Prince William plus his younger son Prince Harry, who has been on a rare visit to Britain after abandoning royal life to move to the United States. – AFP
London
Liz Truss says ‘whole country concerned’
Moments before, notes were passed to Prime Minister Liz Truss and senior members of her team in parliament, prompting them to leave the chamber.
Ms. Truss tweeted almost immediately afterwards. “The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime,” she wrote.
“My thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”
U.K.
Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer
“Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply worried by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon. My thoughts are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time, and I join everyone across the United Kingdom in hoping for her recovery.”
U.K.
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon
“All of us are feeling profoundly concerned at reports of Her Majesty’s health. My thoughts and wishes are with the Queen and all of the Royal Family at this time.”
U.K.
Archibishop of Canterbury Justin Welby
“My prayers, and the prayers of people across the @churchofengland and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today. May God’s presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral.”
U.K.
Here are some facts about Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
Elizabeth was born at 17 Bruton St, London, on April 21, 1926, and christened on May 29 that year in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace.
She became heir apparent when her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated on Dec. 11, 1936, and her father became King George VI. She was 10 years old.
She married navy lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, a Greek prince, at London’s Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947. They had four children: Prince Charles (born in 1948), Princess Anne (1950), Prince Andrew (1960) and Prince Edward (1964). Philip died in April 2021, aged 99.
She ascended the throne on the death of her father on Feb. 6, 1952, while she was in Kenya on a royal tour. She was crowned on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey, the first ever coronation to be televised.
When she ascended the throne, Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong and Harry Truman were leading the Soviet Union, China and the United States, while Winston Churchill was British prime minister.
She has been served by 15 prime ministers. During her reign, there have been 14 U.S. presidents, all of whom she has met bar Lyndon Johnson.
On Sept. 9, 2015, she surpassed the 63 years, 7 months, 2 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes that her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria spent on the throne to become the country’s longest-reigning monarch in a line dating back to Norman King William the Conqueror in 1066.
Elizabeth remains queen of 15 realms including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tuvalu.
She celebrated her Platinum Jubilee – the 70th anniversary of her accession – on Feb. 6, 2022. – Reuters
