Queen Elizabeth II under medical supervision amid ‘concern’ for her health
According to Buckingham Palace, the 96-year-old monarch ‘remains comfortable and at Balmoral’ castle, as her family rush to be by her side
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.” With this brief statement, Buckingham Palace set off the alarm across the United Kingdom on Thursday.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle. All the queen’s children are either at, or are traveling to the castle in Aberdeen that is her summer residence.
The 96-year-old last appeared in public on Tuesday, when she met with the new British prime minister, Liz Truss, to formally ask her to form a new government. On Wednesday, however, the queen was forced to cancel a planned virtual meeting with the Privy Council, which meets weekly to discuss matters of state.
The monarch has been suffering from what Buckingham Palace has called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year, which have forced her to cut back on engagements since then and reduce her public appearances. For the first time in the 70 years of her reign, the queen received the new prime minister at Balmoral, and not at Buckingham Palace in London.
The statement issued Thursday by Buckingham Palace said: “The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.” News of the queen’s condition has been met with widespread concern.
“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,” said Truss in a message on Twitter.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby – the second-most important figure in the Church of England after Queen Elizabeth – also shared a message on Twitter. “My prayers, and the prayers of people across the Church of England 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,” he said.
Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, arrived at Balmoral Castle with his wife Camilla Parker-Bowles on Thursday. His son Prince William, the duke of Cambridge, is traveling to the residence. Charles’ other son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, who reside in the United States, were in Germany on Thursday. Harry is traveling to Balmoral while the Duchess of Sussex, who was originally said to be going with him, remained behind, The Guardian reported.
The queen’s other children – Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew – are either already at or on their way to the residence. Video footage at approximately 4.30pm local time showed Prince William and Prince Andrew landing at Aberdeen airport. Prince William’s wife, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, has stayed behind at Windsor as their three children have already started school.
This summer, Prince Charles had been paying more visits to the queen at Balmoral, which fueled speculations in the British media over the monarch’s state of health.