On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, surrounded by close family members.

Buckingham Palace announced the news at 6:30pm, and a notice was placed on the gates as the world mourned the monarch who had reigned for seven decades. Tributes poured in from global leaders and admirers.

Cause of Death Confirmed

Weeks later, the National Records of Scotland released her official entry in the Register of Deaths. The document, signed by Princess Anne, confirmed the queen died at 3:10pm from “old age.” Earlier that day, Buckingham Palace had issued a rare statement expressing doctors’ concern, prompting senior royals to hurry to Balmoral.

Although the palace initially stated only that “the queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” her daughter Princess Anne and King Charles were believed to be by her side at the end. Other family members traveled north but some did not arrive in time.

Final Hours with Family

Reports later revealed that King Charles and Queen Camilla had spent an hour with the queen before she passed, then left to give Princess Anne private time with her mother. Charles personally called Princes William and Harry urging them to come quickly, though the queen slipped away before he returned.

Royal biographer Robert Hardman later described her death as serene. Her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, wrote in a memo: “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.”