When Charles told Harry: ‘Granny’s health has taken a turn,’ he texted William to ask if he and Kate were flying to Scotland. There was no reply
Her fourteenth prime minister, Boris Johnson, visits the Queen at Balmoral to formally tender his resignation. The Queen stands to greet him. They talk about the political situation, and laugh and joke. Johnson finds her ‘full of characteristic humour and wisdom’.
When Johnson has left, the Queen is told that Liz Truss’s arrival at Aberdeen airport has been delayed. She seizes the opportunity to phone her racehorse trainer Clive Cox. She wants to hear what he thinks the chances are of her two-year-old filly Love Affairs winning the 3.05 race at Goodwood that afternoon. Cox finds the Queen ‘as sharp as a tack’.
12.10pm: Liz Truss is escorted into the drawing room at Balmoral. She curtsies to the Queen in front of a roaring fire. Photographs are taken of the two of them together. These are the last ever taken of the Queen.
During their 20-minute conversation, the Queen warns Liz Truss that being prime minister can be ‘incredibly ageing’. She also offers her two words of advice: ‘pace yourself’. The Queen bids goodbye to Truss, saying, ‘We’ll meet again’.
In the afternoon, the Queen’s horse, Love Affairs, wins the Fillies’ Nursery Handicap at Goodwood by one and a half lengths.
Wednesday, Sept 7
The Queen tells her staff that she will remain in bed for the day. Princess Anne, who is staying at Balmoral, sends for the local GP, Dr Douglas Glass.
That night, the new team at Downing Street are discreetly advised to keep black ties in their desks over the coming days.
Thursday, Sept 8
8am: Princess Anne is worried and passes on her concerns to her elder brother.
9.30am: The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Birkhall, their home on the Balmoral estate. They spend an hour at the Queen’s bedside. Douglas Glass reports that she is stable, but weak: she has a day or two, rather than an hour or two.
12 noon: Prince Charles phones Prince Harry, who is in London with his wife for an award ceremony. The number comes up on Harry’s mobile as ‘Unknown’. His father tells him: ‘Granny’s health has taken a turn.’
Harry immediately texts his brother William asking whether he and Kate are flying up to Scotland. ‘If so, when? And how?’ There is no response. Harry and Meghan investigate the various flight options.
The BBC’s senior news presenter, Huw Edwards, is on his way to a hairdresser in central London. His mobile phone was stolen last night, so he is unaware of the crisis, or that the BBC is trying to get hold of him.
On social media, word spreads that the Queen is dying, or perhaps dead: no one is sure.
At her home in Spitalfields, the feminist author Jeanette Winterson changes into black and awaits the official announcement. ‘As an adopted person, she has been the one and only stable female in my life,’ she writes.
12.50pm: Buckingham Palace announces that the Queen’s sons Andrew and Edward, her grandson William and her daughter-in-law Sophie are all on their way to Balmoral.
1pm: Huw Edwards arrives at his hairdresser, where he is passed a message from his son: ‘Get to work immediately.’
1.52pm: Harry and Meghan issue a statement that they will both be flying to Scotland and will therefore be unable to attend a charity event in London.
Huw Edwards has by now arrived at the BBC. He appears on screen, wearing a black suit and very dark blue tie.
2.15pm: Prince Charles calls Harry and asks him not to bring Meghan to Balmoral. Harry finds the reason given ‘nonsensical and disrespectful’.
Charles stammers an apology, explaining that he doesn’t want too many people around and that none of the wives is coming: Kate is remaining in London. ‘Then that’s all you needed to say,’ replies Harry.
2.39pm: Prince William, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie and Prince Andrew set off from RAF Northolt. At Luton airport, Prince Harry manages to charter a private Cessna jet for himself.
