September 8th, 2022.
A life of service.
Whilst the House of Commons were debating the cost-of-living crisis and proposals regarding limiting energy prices for the next two years, the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle interrupted the proceedings to make an announcement. “Her Majesty the Queen has been announced to be receiving medical supervision from doctors following “concerns for her health”.” The statement was made this afternoon while Prime Minister Liz Truss was revealing her plans to tackle the energy crisis among other issues facing Britain.
Addressing the house, Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “I know I speak on behalf of the entire House when I say that we send our best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen and that she and the royal family are in our thoughts and prayers at this moment.”
Since then, family members have been making their way to Balmoral, with Prince Charles and Camilla being the first on the way. Shortly afterwards he was joined by the Duke of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cambridge joined them after the school day. The Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex are also on their way with one of the Royal Family’s helicopters having been observed landing in the grounds at lunchtime. Princess Anne is already there having had an engagement in Scotland at the weekend. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have cancelled an engagement in London this evening and are on their way to Balmoral.
Travel details are sketchy, with reports of a flight from Northolt airport to Aberdeen with seven members of the Royal Household on board. The passengers are as yet unconfirmed.
Update 6 pm BST – the family have all arrived at Balmoral except the Duke of Sussex who is on his way and the Queen is said to be comfortable and under 24-hour medical supervision. The Duchess of Sussex is remaining in London.
Without wishing to speculate, things do not look good for Her Majesty, and if matters progress towards her passing then the country will enter a period of mourning and thanksgiving for her service to the nation. During her reign, the Queen has served the nation alongside 15 Prime Ministers, 5 of whom have been born since her accession to the Throne. Her first Prime Minister was Winston Churchill.
To bring matters back to earth with a bump, this sad event (if it happens soon), combined with the national cost of living and energy crisis, and economic and political difficulties will be a test of leadership for Liz Truss, and also Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge.
It will be a test of the relationship between Liz Truss and Prince Charles, with his environmental views being in sharp contrast with the pragmatic energy policies being developed by the government. Charles will need to reign in many of his green views or run the risk of placing the Royal Family at odds with the majority of the citizens who will be suffering economic hardship that could be alleviated by the reversing of many green policies. Delicate diplomacy will be the order of the day.
As news of the Queen’s health becomes more widely known a trickle of people started to arrive at Buckingham Palace.
The nation is literally in a daze with the realisation that the Queen is mortal and part of the fabric that holds the country together may be fading away.
Just as I was about to send this letter, it was announced at 6-30 pm BST that her majesty had passed away.
Her Majesty The Queen has died, Buckingham Palace has announced. In a statement, the palace said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
She will be sadly missed, and I will not be penning a tribute to her, as people more erudite than me will write a better epitaph than I could ever produce. My fears now are for the country, the Commonwealth and the Union that is the United Kingdom. She helped to hold the country together and was a wise council to many politicians and world leaders. I leave the last word to King Charles III.
