King Charles III was left visibly shaken and in tears after discovering that his belief regarding Queen Elizabeth II’s health was tragically incorrect.
The King, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, had been under the impression that his mother, the late Queen, still had days left, rather than mere hours.
On September 8, 2022, Charles, 75, received devastating news about the Queen’s deteriorating condition. Royal writer Robert Hardman detailed this poignant moment in his book Charles III: New King, New Court: The Inside Story.
According to Hardman, Charles had phoned his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, that morning to update them on the Queen’s status, mistakenly believing that her death was not imminent.
The Queen, who had been in good spirits just two days prior while meeting Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral, passed away on the same day. This sudden and unexpected news shattered Charles's hope that he had more time to spend with his mother.
The Queen’s passing came as a significant shock to the royal family and the nation. Princess Anne, who was already in Scotland, along with Charles and Camilla, spent time at her bedside. Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Sophie arrived in Scotland less than an hour before her death.
Charles was informed of his mother’s death while driving back to Balmoral, receiving the news via telephone from his most senior aide. This heart-wrenching moment marked the end of a deeply personal and emotional period for the King.
Additionally, Hardman’s account reveals a poignant detail from the Queen’s final moments: a red box containing two sealed letters was found at her deathbed.
One letter was addressed to her son and successor, King Charles III, and the other to her private secretary, Sir Edward Young. The contents of these letters are not expected to be made public, but their existence underscores the Queen’s quiet acknowledgment of her impending end.
