ELIZABETH II. Buckingham Palace issued a statement midday Thursday saying doctors were “worried” about Elizabeth II’s health. What is it?
The essential
- The state of health of Queen Elizabeth II seems very clearly to deteriorate. His doctors say they are “worried” for his state of form, according to a press release published this Thursday, September 8 at midday.
- Currently at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II remains under medical supervision.
- Princes Charles and Harry go to the bedside of the Queen.
- Is this news the beginning of bad news? The death of the sovereign seems clearly feared across the Channel.
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2:35 p.m. – Publish a press release on the Queen’s health, an unusual process… and therefore worrying
Queen Elizabeth II’s health is one of the kingdom’s best-kept secrets. So, when the decision is made to make a medical report public, it is because concern is in order. “The Palace does not normally issue bulletins on the Queen’s health, unless it is significant,” explains the BBC Robert Hardman, former journalist in charge of monitoring the royal family for the Daily Telegraph and the DailyMail. The last bulletin published was linked to a positive Covid diagnosis last February. So, “on the whole, the view is that if she’s not undergoing some kind of hospital medical procedure, that’s a private matter…So it’s clear that the fact that the Palace saw fit to issue a statement is cause for concern.”
14:31 – Reasons for doctors’ concern not known
It should be noted that the brief press release published on the Buckingham site does not detail the reasons for the doctors’ concern. This is what Sean Coughlan, in charge of monitoring the royal family for the BBC, recalls. The statement said the Queen is “comfortable” at Balmoral and that it could, for example, be just a fall. Especially since Tuesday, during the reception of Liz Truss, she appeared standing and smiling. However, given his age and the cancellation of a meeting at the last minute on Wednesday, the concern that his health could deteriorate due to his age is very real.
2:25 p.m. – For Stéphane Bern, “we are preparing public opinion for the Queen’s funeral”
Culture and history specialist, Stéphane Bern quickly reacted to the royal press release on the state of health of Queen Elizabeth II. According to him, “I believe that we are preparing British public opinion for what is called ‘London Bridge’, the funeral of the Queen”, he indicated on BFM-TV.
14:23 – The Queen under surveillance at Balmoral
Queen Elizabeth II currently resides at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, one of her royal residences. This is where she usually spends all her summers. But given her state of health, her stay seems to be prolonged so as not to tire her more.
2:20 p.m. – Elizabeth II: doctors “worried” about her state of health
A press release published at midday by Buckingham does not give reassuring news from Queen Elizabeth II. “Following a further assessment this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended that she remain under medical supervision.”
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Is Queen Elizabeth II’s health deteriorating? Her Majesty’s doctors said they were “worried” about the sovereign’s state of form and “recommended that she be placed under medical supervision”, according to a press release published by Buckingham Palace on Thursday, September 8. 2022. Britain’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, who met her on Tuesday, said “the whole country is deeply concerned about the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime.” Princes Charles and Harry, members of the royal family, will go to Balmoral Castle, the current residence of Elizabeth II located in Scotland. For Stéphane Bern, the star host of France 2 cultural and historical content, “I believe that we are preparing British public opinion for what is called ‘London Bridge’, the funeral of the Queen”, he explained on BFM TV.
For several months, the Queen of England, aged 96 years old, seems to have more and more difficulty moving normally. As recently as Wednesday, his doctors advised him to postpone a meeting scheduled on his agenda, the day after the reception of Liz Truss, his new head of government.
Since October 2021, she has been regularly spotted moving around leaning on a cane, raising concerns among Britons about her health. His public appearances are rare and Her Majesty is regularly forced to cancel her participation in events due to recommendations from her doctors to rest. In June 2022, on the occasion of the festivities linked to his platinum jubileethe queen also canceled her presence on several occasions but delighted the British people by appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
According to various British media, she would occasionally move around in a wheelchair in her private apartments. Although Elizabeth II is increasingly restricted in her movements, Buckingham says that the sovereign’s morale is stronger than ever and that she remains in good shape for her age. But its communication team is especially careful, through its press releases, to temporize the concern of the British about the health of the queen. The death of the Queen will send shock waves through the country and open a new chapter in the history of the UK.
In recent months, Elizabeth II has been very regularly replaced by members of the royal family. the Prince Charles, his successor, accompanied by Camilla increasingly ensure his representation, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton. Already in May, the state of health of the Queen of England prevented her from holding her traditional Speech from the Throne before the British Parliament. At the age of 96, her weakening forced her to be represented by her son, Prince Charles, heir to the crown. The opening speech of the parliamentary session is however an essential event incumbent on the holder of the British crown. It is the same during this Jubilee where Prince Charles and Prince William are called upon to play a major role in representing the Queen in several events honoring her long reign.
For almost a year, and the death of Prince Philippe, her husband, Elizabeth II seems to have more and more difficulty in moving normally. The Queen, who is now closer to 100 than 90, is facing “episodic mobility issues” according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. This forced her to cancel her traditional speech from the throne in May 2022 before the British Parliament. She now uses a cane to walk, no longer able to use her left leg as she herself announced, and car trips to the Palace of Westminster have replaced her appearances in a horse-drawn carriage to make this journey. According to various British media, she would occasionally move around in a wheelchair in her private apartments. Although she is increasingly restricted in her movements, Buckingham says that the sovereign’s morale is stronger than ever and that she remains in good shape for her age. But its communication team is especially careful, through its press releases, to temporize the concern of the British about the health of the queen.
On February 20, the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, was infected with the coronavirus. Buckingham Palace has announced that the British monarch has “slight symptoms” of the disease, “comparable to those of a cold”. In Windsor, she then carried out only “light tasks”, during her period of contamination. Richard Fitzwilliams, royal commentator, confirmed with AFP that the queen is “very stoic” and that she has “always been very positive”. The Guardian also indicated that many doctors, including Sir Huw Thomas, the head of the royal medical team and doctor to Elizabeth II, were at his bedside during this period. It seems that she contracted Covid-19 from contact with her son, Prince Charles, just two days before he tested positive. The announcement of the Queen’s contamination had revived the concerns of Her Majesty’s subjects… Although triply vaccinated, the monarch is elderly, and seems more and more limited, in her mobility, for a few months.