Selfless to the End: Queen Elizabeth II Feared 'Dying at Balmoral' Since It Could Have Become a Logistical Burden to the Nation
Princess Anne said that Queen Elizabeth II feared 'dying at Balmoral' since it could become a burden for the nation.
The late Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral on September 19, 2022, was a spectacle for the ages. Despite this, the monarch had reservations about the location of her death and how that would become a burden for many.
"I think there was a moment when she felt that it would be more difficult if she died at Balmoral," the late Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne, shared in a new royal documentary.
"I think we did try to persuade her that shouldn't be part of the decision-making process," the Princess Royal added before saying that she "rather weirdly felt a sense of relief — that's it, finished," regarding her mother's long life and record-breaking reign at the time of Elizabeth II's passing on September 8, 2022.
She continued: "That responsibility being moved on."
After referring to her brother King Charles III's immediate accession to the throne at the moment of the late Queen's death, Anne showered praise on Queen Camilla for her role as the King's consort. "I've known her a long time, off and on. Her understanding of the role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding," she said.
"This role is not something that she'd be a natural for, but she does it really well. She provides that change of speed and tone, that's equally important," Her Royal Highness concluded.
The documentary, Charles III: The Coronation Year, airs on the night of December 26 in Britain and is the first major non-fiction program to chart the King's reign. The film covers Elizabeth II's passing, the accession ceremonies for King Charles, the lead-up and rehearsals for his coronation on May 6, and features behind-the-scenes moments in Westminster Abbey.
The monarch can be seen in his full robes of estate jokingly stating, "I can fly," about the long, thick gowns he had to wear throughout the ritual. He also later amusingly talks to his heir, Prince William, about his "sausage fingers," which many have claimed could be a form of edema that makes His Majesty's fingers swell up.
Charles III, at 73, became the oldest sovereign in the 1,200-year history of the British monarchy to ascend the throne. This was due to his being only three years old when his mother inherited the crown at the age of 25 in 1952. Elizabeth II reigned for over 70.5 years, besting Queen Victoria's previous tally of nearly 64 years as monarch.
His Majesty's crowning was the first in 70 years, and unlike the Hollywood-like spectacle of his mother's enthronement in 1953, King Charles opted to tone down some of the pomp and pageantry of the event. Some analysts claim this was due to his advanced age and the cost of living crisis that was gripping the nation.
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GBN reported on Anne's remarks.
