Britain’s royal family rushed to be with Queen Elizabeth II Thursday as Buckingham Palace admitted that the 96-year-old monarch’s doctors are “concerned for Her Majesty’s health.”
“Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” the palace said in an alarming update.
The palace insisted, however, that “the Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
Heir apparent Prince Charles, 76, had already traveled to see his mother in her Scottish estate, and second in line Prince William, 40, was on his way, too, royal officials confirmed.
The queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne, 72, had already been in Scotland and was with her mother, her spokesman confirmed to The Telegraph.
Her other two children — Prince Andrew, 62, and Prince Edward, 58 — were also heading to Balmoral to be by their mother’s side, their representatives told the outlet.
Prince Harry is scheduled to speak at the WellChild Awards in London Wednesday night while on a European trip with his wife Meghan Markle, but it’s unclear if his grandmother’s health changed his plans, the paper reported.
The queen’s condition is grave enough that Lisay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, interrupted parliament to say he sent his best wishes to the monarch.
New Prime Minister Liz Truss — who met the queen on Tuesday — was briefed on the news as she delivered a statement in the House of Commons.
“The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime,” she tweeted.
“My thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”
Opposition leader Keir Starmer also said that his “thoughts are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”
“Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply worried by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” he tweeted.
The head of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, said his prayers “are with Her Majesty The Queen today.”
“May God’s presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral,” he tweeted.
Queen’s ‘blue hand’ sparks royal health fears in photo with new PM Liz Truss
“My thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time,” she said on Twitter.
The queen — the oldest and longest-serving UK monarch in history — has been suffering from what Buckingham Palace has called “episodic mobility problems” since the end of last year.
She was last seen meeting Truss on Tuesday to formally approve her appointment as UK leader.
Despite smiling widely in official photos, she sparked further fears for her health, however, as Her Majesty needed a cane and had dark blue bruising on her right hand.
The next day, she canceled a meeting of her Privy Council and was told to rest.
While confirming that the queen’s immediate family had all been alerted to the doctors’ fears, a palace source downplayed speculation that the queen had suffered a fall.
Elizabeth has been the queen of Britain and more than a dozen other countries since 1952, and earlier this year celebrated her 70th year on the throne.
Source: New York Post
