Queen prepared to hold final Privy Council meeting from Balmoral bedroom
The Queen was prepared to hold a final Privy Council meeting from her Balmoral bedroom, with her staff setting up an audio-only link to protect her dignity, according to a new book.
Like her father, who held a Privy Council meeting in his Sandringham bedroom hours before his death in 1936, the late Queen had hoped to perform one final duty.
Aides set up an audio-only connection from Balmoral to Downing Street, where politicians had gathered in person on Sept 7, according to a new biography.
Robert Hardman, author of Charles III, claims the call was cancelled with minutes to spare, with the then prime minister Liz Truss realising “This isn’t good news”.
Elizabeth II died of old age the following day.
“Palace officials made arrangements for an audio-only connection, in case the Queen wished to remain in her bedroom and conduct the meeting from there,” writes Hardman.
“Down in London, the connection to Balmoral was up and running with all those Privy Counsellors involved lined up outside the designated Cobra conference room beneath Downing Street.
“At which point, with minutes to go, they were told that the Queen would be cancelling ‘on medical advice’.”
Penny Mourdant, the then Lord President of the Council, said of the decision: “For me, that was testament to the depth of her devotion to her duty and us: the day before she passed, she was still trying to fulfil her obligations as sovereign, which I find incredible.”
