Plans for the death of Queen Elizabeth II were meticulously prepared and regularly updated, and on 8 September they were executed flawlessly. However, not everything could be anticipated. Balmoral Castle, intimate compared with Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, meant few were unaware of the momentous events unfolding as the queen's life quietly ebbed.
Two days earlier, the queen had appointed her 15th and final British prime minister, Liz Truss. But an announcement just after 6pm on 7 September that she was postponing a virtual privy council meeting on doctors' advice was concerning. The imminent death of a sovereign is a major constitutional matter, and No 10 was alerted immediately about her deteriorating condition.
Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, and Sir Edward Young, the queen's private secretary, served as pivotal liaisons. Case informed Truss that the queen's condition might worsen rapidly. As Truss worked late on her energy statement, she had in mind that it might all be overshadowed. The departure of the queen's helicopter from Windsor Castle shortly before 7am to take the Prince of Wales to Balmoral alerted staff to the seriousness of the situation.
Charles arrived at Balmoral shortly before 10.30am, joined by the Duchess of Cornwall. The Princess Royal was already there. In No 10, Case was categorical that bad news was on its way, perhaps within hours. Truss had not packed all her clothes for her move into Downing Street, and aides were sent to her Greenwich home to locate black clothing.
Truss was still mid-reshuffle when the palace started to inform key people through its planned 'cascade' system. One minister recalled being told without ceremony that they had a meeting in 30 minutes, where officials said they expected the queen's death was imminent and that the minister's first job would be a briefing on the London Bridge plans. 'That was like a baptism of fire for me,' the minister said.
Indications to the public came in the House of Commons. Truss was listening to Sir Keir Starmer when Nadhim Zahawi slipped in and handed her a note. MPs picked up the frisson immediately. Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, read a note passed from outside the chamber, which said: 'The queen is unwell, and Keir needs to leave the chamber as soon as possible to be briefed.' At 12.32pm, a statement from Buckingham Palace announced: 'The queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health.'
