King Charles was only informed about the mother’s declining health by a royal editor when he heard his father’s footsteps running down the hallway at Dumfries House.
It was the bad news that the Queen was in serious health. Senior royals raced to get to the bedside of the Queen last Thursday.
Now Newsweek’s Chief Royal Correspondent Jack Royston has revealed how the King heard the news while at his Scottish home of Dumfries House with his wife Camilla.
Speaking to The Royal Beat, he said that King Charles was only told about the downturn in his mother’s health shortly before the news became public.
King Charles was only informed about the mother’s declining health by his father hours before the general public. He heard footsteps running down the hallway at Dumfries House. This is what a royal editor claimed.
Due to news of her declining health, senior royals rushed to Queen Elizabeth’s bedside on Thursday. Sources previously stated that only Charles and Princess Anne were able make it to her royal estate.
He said, “Charles and Camilla were at Dumfries house.” Camilla actually was recording an interview for Jenna Bush Hager. Camilla said that she had heard footsteps in the corridor.
“Charles answered a call. Everything was quiet, so they were instructed to remain silent. Next thing, she realized that Charles and Camilla had landed in a helicopter.
“And that was at 12.30 [on Thursday 8th September]It was at the exact same time as what we had been told.
They didn’t wait for Charles, and didn’t even give him an hour. [before telling the public].’
Jack Royston, Newsweek’s Chief Royal correspondent, stated that King Charles only was informed about his mother’s decline in health about a few minutes before The Royal Beat published the story.
Royal editor has shared the details of how King Charles heard about the news at Dumfries House in Scotland with Camilla (pictured).
After Charles raced across to Balmoral to be by his mother’s bedside, his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall – now Queen Consort, as Elizabeth II requested earlier this year – was driven over by car to join him.
It is understood that the Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, was already with her mother as she had been undertaking engagements in the area.
Staff hurriedly arranged for a jet to collect the Queen’s other children – Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York – as well as the Countess of Wessex, whom the Queen adores and treats like a second daughter – and bring them up to Aberdeen.
Prince William, Prince William’s grandson, joined them. Kate, his wife, remained at their side. They have just started a new school.
They arrived in Scotland around 4 pm and made their way through Balmoral with a Range Rover driven to them by William. Buckingham Palace did not confirm the death time, but it seems that they could not see their beloved matriarch.
By coincidence the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – now sadly estranged from most family members – were in Britain from their home in California and due to undertake a charity engagement in London before flying back home to their children.
It was a surprise that their spokesperson initially stated Harry and Meghan would be flying up to Balmoral for the event. That surprised because spouses are not likely to travel with close family during personal grieving.
But it was later confirmed that Harry would travel alone and he finally arrived at his grandmother’s home at 7.52pm. When the news of his death broke, he was still on the ground.
The Queen’s death was finally announced at 6.32pm in a short black-edged statement from Buckingham Palace which read simply: ‘The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
‘The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.’
After the Queen’s death, Charles paid tribute to ‘cherished Sovereign and much-loved Mother’ Queen Elizabeth II in a movement statement.
Just half an hour later, the announcement of ‘from His Majesty the King’ was made.
He stated that the death of Her Majesty, my beloved Mother was a time of great sadness.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Sovereign, and much-loved mother.
“I am certain that her loss will be felt by the entire country, the Realms, and the Commonwealth as well as many people all around the globe.
“In this difficult time, I know that my family is held in deep respect.
Jack made these comments after Jenna, the interviewer, opened up to Jack about her dinner with Prince Charles on the night prior to him becoming King Charles III following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
The Today host, Camilla, was last week in Ayrshire (Scotland) to talk with Camilla about The Reading Room online book club.
Bush Hager had planned to meet with her Wednesday morning ahead of the sit down. But Charles was able to take her place following a delay on her British Airways flight.
She said, “It was delicious,” to Hoda Kotb & Craig Melvin Monday morning on Today. He said that his darling wife had been so unhappy when he first spoke. [not to make it].’ And that’s what I love. [that].’
Bush Hager stated that she looked at Henry Hager who was also present and asked her: “Will you name me “darling spouse” now?”
Charles also told her that Camilla ‘can’t wait to sit down with you tomorrow.’
The former first-daughter added, “We had a magical evening filled with laughter and conversation.”
When she looks back on the dinner, it is clear that the Queen Elizabeth health concerns the following morning were an unexpected surprise.
Bush Hager had worked for the Camilla interview about a decade. She explained how she was also surprised by the unexpected turn of events.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth last Thursday, King Charles (and his wife Camilla) have had to endure a difficult schedule for public mourning.
Yesterday marked Queen Elizabeth II’s sixth official day in mourning. And King Charles was on a full schedule, starting just hours before the 8th September death of his mother.
The next day, he addressed the nation in a speech. He held back his tears and thanked his ‘darling Mama’. Elizabeth II was hailed as an inspiration and an example for him and all of my family.
The King gave a touching speech at St Paul’s Cathedral’s service of reflection and prayer. He also spoke about a time of change in his family’s life.
In a historic ceremony held at St James’s Palace, King Charles and Prince William were officially made monarchs on Saturday.
This week, the King walked with his mother’s coffin from Edinburgh to St Giles Cathedral, where it would rest. He then headed to Hillsborough Castle, Belfast and returned to London, where he was part of the cortege that brought the Queen back to Westminster Hall.
At 4.30 PM on Wednesday, the royal couple was seen arriving at Camilla’s Estate in Reybridge, Wiltshire. They were spotted landing alongside Ray Mill House, Queen Consort, in a field.
And today, King Charles III will be greeted with cannon-fire as he sets foot on Welsh soil for the first time as monarch today and Cardiff welcomes the former Prince of Wales – its longest-serving in history.
Today’s arrival of the queen consort and monarch will be by helicopter from Highgrove. Highgrove is where Her Majesty’s son in mourning has spent the previous 24 hours.
Expect thousands to flock to Cardiff Castle and Llandaff Cathedral to welcome the King. The King was Prince of Wales for more 53 years. Queen Elizabeth will be buried in her Welsh-gold wedding ring. She wanted to ‘always bring a bit of Wales’.
Protests will ensue when the royal couple arrives at Owain Glandwr, the day celebrating Owain Glyndwr, the celebration of Owain Welshman Prince of Wales. He was a respected and revered native Welshman who lost his title in the battle for independence in 1415.
According to organizers, there will be an unannounced silent demonstration at Cardiff Castle beginning at noon. First Minister Mark Drakeford however believes that the protest won’t interfere with the official visit. He claims it will just serve as a ‘footnote’ to the proceedings. He added that protests are legitimate and people can express their opinions. The South Wales Police was also requested to respect free speech and deal with protests in a fair manner.
As part of a national moment of reflection, millions of Brits are being asked to remain silent during Monday’s Queen’s Funeral.
The silence of two minutes will take place on Monday at 11.55am, as part of Her Majesty’s final chapter in her state funeral. It echos the short tribute given the night before at 8.
Buckingham Palace confirmed additional details about the Queen’s funeral, which will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11:00am.
The Queen’s coffin lies in state in Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster. There is a queue of approximately 4.2 miles and a wait of about 9 hours.
The King’s guards will keep a constant vigil over Her Majesty’s coffin until the time of her funeral at 6.30 am.
Today’s Vigil of Princes will be held at 7.30 p.m. The King, Princess Royal, Duke of York, Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal will perform the same ceremony in Edinburgh as they did just days earlier in St Giles Cathedral.
Senior royals will likely replicate the ceremony they did in Edinburgh where they “took guard” of their mother’s coffin.
Each stood on one of the four corners of the oak coffin with their heads bowed as part of the royal cortège known as the ‘Vigil of the Princes’.
The ban on Prince Andrew being dressed in a military uniform has been lifted. This is an exception to the London final vigil.
The Gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh. June 30, 2022.
Charles sat on an antique, polished desk in Buckingham Palace’s Blue Drawing Room. It was one of many grand rooms where the Queen used to film her Christmas broadcasts. A framed photo of Charles’ late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was to his left. It featured her smiling wide and she was wearing a vibrant blue coat with matching hat and red flowers.