What is the Queen’s health condition? Doctors concerned about Elizabeth II’s health
Earlier this year the monarch celebrated 70 years on the throne but the Palace has confirmed that doctors are concerned about her condition.
Royal officials have announced that Queen Elizabeth II is under close medical supervision after a deterioration in her health forced a postponement of a scheduled Privy Council meeting on Wednesday.
The decision to cancel the appointment came a day before a Palace statement confirmed that royal doctors are “concerned for Her Majesty’s health,” with the 96-year-old told to rest at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The statement from the palace says that the Queen is “comfortable” and will remain at the home where she spent the summer.
In response new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss said: “The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime.”
“My thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty the Queen and her family at this time,” she added.
Following the release of the Palace statement, multiple sources have reported that her son Prince Charles and grandson Prince William are travelling to Balmoral to be with her.
How unwell is the Queen?
Earlier this week Truss met with the Queen at Balmoral to ask for her permission to form a government, a formality of the British system. However this meeting would normally take place at Buckingham Palace in London, rather than the Queen’s Scotland holiday home.
The decision for Truss to travel up to Balmoral sparked some concern for the Queen’s health, although at that stage no official word had been released regarding her condition.
The full statement released on Thursday reads:
“Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.
“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
Speculation about the Queen’s deteriorating health has been present for much of 2022, despite the national celebrations earlier this year to mark Elizabeth II’s 70th year on the throne. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee saw her become the first British monarch to reach that anniversary.
The Palace is typically very reluctant to share details regarding the Queen’s health and gives little fuel for such speculation. Throughout history the announcement of a royal death has almost always been characterised by stoicism and brevity.
The final notice provided by Lord Dawson, doctor of King George V, simply read: “The King’s life is moving peacefully towards its close.”
The death of Elizabeth’s predecessor, George VI, was conveyed with the code word, “Hyde Park Corner”, to ensure that the royal’s family were the first to find out. This time, numerous reports state that the phrase “London Bridge is down” will be spoken on secure lines to inform officials of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.