Queen Elizabeth passed away three weeks ago. The monarch, who reigned for 70 years, was buried alongside her husband, Prince Philip, at Windsor, and the state funeral was watched by millions worldwide.
The official mourning period is now over, with the royal family members continuing their duties. At the same time, many have been wondering about the Queen’s cause of death. National Records of Scotland has even been accused of “flouting the law” by blocking legitimate attempts to obtain a copy of the death certificate.
But now, Queen Elizabeth’s death certificate, registered by Princess Anne, reveals the truth.
The funeral for the Queen was held about a week after her passing. It was watched by 28 million viewers in the UK only, and around the world, millions of people followed it as well.
After the State Funeral at Westminister Abbey, her coffin traveled through the streets of London to Wellington Arch in Procession. From Wellington Arch, the coffin went to Windsor, and once there, the hearse continued in Procession to St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, via the Long Walk. At St George’s Chapel, another funeral service was held.
The Choir of St George’s Chapel sang during the funeral service at St George’s Chapel. Then, before the “final Hymn,” Queen Elizabeth’s imperial state crown, the Orb, and the Sceptre was removed from her coffin and placed on the altar.
Next, King Charles put his mother’s Company Camp Colour of the Grenadier Guards on her casket before The Lord Chamberlain broke his Wand of Office and placed it down.
As her Majesty’s coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault – and the guests sang God Save The King, Charles was visibly emotional, fighting back the tears. Later on Monday evening, a small, private burial service was held with only the closest family attending, without any cameras nearby.
The Queen is now resting in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, alongside her parents and sister Princess Margaret. But also alongside her husband.
After his passing, Philip’s coffin was placed in the royal vault below St. George’s Chapel. He has now been relocated and lies with the Queen at the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
It should go without saying that virtually an entire nation is mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth. The day before the funeral, King Charles thanked the public. The monarch said he and Camilla – the Queen Consort – were “moved beyond measure” by everyone paying their respects.
“Over the last 10 days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolences and support we have received from this country and across the world,” he wrote.
“In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough, and Cardiff, we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, the late Queen.
Many other royal family members paid tribute to the Queen shortly after her passing.
Harry put out a touching statement, writing about his grandmother. He said that her “unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life,” and added a personal note.
“Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings — from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my Commander-in-Chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved great-grandchildren,” Harry wrote. “I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over.”
Camilla – the Queen Consort – also paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth, whom she had known for many decades.
“There weren’t women prime ministers or women presidents, she was the only one, so I think she carved her own role,” Camilla said. “She’s been part of our lives forever. I’m 75 now and I can’t remember anyone except the Queen being there,”
Queen Elizabeth II was born in Mayfair, London, on April 21, 1926, the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York – who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
She was christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary at Buckingham Palace on May 29 of the same year. On February 6, 1952, Queen Elizabeth II became Queen. She was crowned on June 2, 1953.
By that point in her life, Queen Elizabeth had already met the love of her life, Prince Philip. He was actually the one breaking the news of the King’s death to the Queen as the couple was on a trip to Kenya.
Elizabeth and Philip are said to have met for the first time while attending the wedding of Prince Philip’s cousin, Princess Marina of Greece, and The Duke of Kent, who was an uncle to Princess Elizabeth. They married on November 20, 1947, in Westminster Abbey, but neither Elizabeth nor her husband thought that she was to become Queen anytime soon. King George VI, Elizabeth’s father, hadn’t even turned 50, and Philip was preparing for a life in the navy.
They welcomed four children, all told. Prince Charles was born in November 1948, with Princess Anne two short years later. Then, in 1960, the couple received Prince Andrew, and in 1964, Prince Edward.
It’s now been three weeks since Queen Elizabeth passed away. She had her health issues over the past few years, and as such was forced to cancel many of her royal engagements.
Yet the Queen was said to have been energetic and happy the week before her death – just two days before she met with new British Prime Minster Liz Truss at Balmoral. However, she experienced notable mobility issues in the final period of her life and was seen often to be using a walking stick.
For weeks, the circumstances surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s cause of death have been kept a secret. The Daily Mail even reported that a Scottish government department was accused of being secretive and blocking legitimate attempts to obtain a copy of Her Majesty’s death certificate, even though it should be a matter of public record.
“Despite MailOnline and other media outlets attempting to obtain the information from the National Records of Scotland (NRS), the public body has blocked its staff from providing any details relating to the Queen’s death on September 8,” the Daily Mail wrote.
Now, though, the registered cause of death has been released, and hows that Queen Elizabeth’s cause of death was “old age,” without adding any further details.
The registrar general for Scotland, Paul Lowe, confirmed that her passing was registered in Aberdeenshire on September 16.
The document – which was signed by the Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne – states that Her Majesty passed away at 3.10 P.M on September 8 at Balmoral Castle. Buckingham Palace, therefore, announced the passing of Queen Elizabeth around three hours after she died.
The time of death also sadly confirms that many of the Royal Family members didn’t make it to Balmoral in time. Prince William arrived at Balmoral at 5 P.M, and Harry just before 8 P.M.
King Charles and Camilla were already in Scotland for royal duties and were therefore at the Queen’s side when she passed.
As stated by The Guardian, old age is an acceptable cause of death if “the doctor certifying death has cared for the patient for a long time, was not aware of any disease or injury that contributed to death and had observed a gradual decline in the person’s general health and functioning.”
The Queen’s death certificate was released on the same day the public could enter Windsor and see her final resting place for the first time.
As reported by BBC, hundreds queued outside Windsor Castle to get into the King George VI memorial chapel, where the stone inscribed with Queen Elizabeth’s name lies. However, visitors are asked not to stop and take photos but to instead walk slowly past the headstone.
Last week, Buckingham Palace released the first picture of the stone, which marks the spot where Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were laid to rest.
The stone reads: “George VI 1895-1952” and “Elizabeth 1900-2002,” followed by a metal Garter Star, and then “Elizabeth II 1926-2022” and “Philip 1921-2021”.