The BBC's Royal editor Nicholas Witchell has explained why Buckingham Palace's recent statement on the Queen's health is so significant. On Thursday, September 8 Buckingham Palace confirmed that concerns have been raised about the Queen's health.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: "Following further evaluation this morning The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision."
It added that the Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral. The Queen's immediate family members have been informed with the latest announcement escalating fears for the 96-year-old monarch's health. The head of state pulled out of a virtual Privy Council on Wednesday after doctors ordered her to rest.
Read more: Queen’s doctors are concerned for her health says Buckingham Palace - updates
Prime Minister Liz Truss said "the whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime" adding "my thoughts - and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom - are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time".
The nation's longest-reigning monarch has ongoing mobility issues and looked bright but frail and used a walking stick during Tuesday's historic audience with Ms Truss, which followed a visit from outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson as he tendered his resignation.
The BBC are running a rolling special news programme running till at least 6pm on Thursday to provide updates on the Queen's condition.
Speaking to BBC One giving an insight into her condition BBC's Royal editor Nicholas Witchell said: "I think this is clearly a very significant moment. For all of the reasons that we have been saying over the last hour or so.
"The fact that the palace, which doesn’t usually comment on the state of her health or the progression of her wellbeing. The fact that it is saying that the doctors are concerned, though they say she remains comfortable at Balmoral. The fact that immediate family members are gathering at Balmoral. Prince Charles who is of course staying at the Balmoral estate at Birkhall, he’s traveling over and has been regularly going to see his mother while he’s been staying there.
"The fact that I think says the most is the fact that Prince William is flying up to Balmoral from the south. So I think, all in all, this is a very sombre moment.
"I think as politicians are saying there is a profound concern. I think it was Nicola Sturgeon who used that phrase and I think that is absolutely right and other politicians echoing that sentiment. Hoping for the best but, let's be completely candid now, braced for the worst."
In a later update on the BBC's rolling news coverage, he described a "deep concern among members of the Royal Family". And he referred to rumours the Queen had suffered from cancers.
He said: "I think we must assume that there are reasons for concern. There has been this gradual deterioration in the Queen's health. Over the past months, there has been no sharp and sudden deterioration. But I think clearly over the past 24 to 48 hours, the doctors have become rather more concerned.
"It comes back to this issue that we were just discussing a moment ago as to whether it is merely this mobility issue, or whether there is and has been something else and you know, I think we can be candid, there have been rumours of cancers but no, of course, confirmation and one wouldn't expect that to be because there is an insistence by members of the royal family which is reflected by royal officials, that these matters are private. It doesn't matter who you are, you are still entitled to private patient confidentiality."
Mr Witchell also referred to the Queen's treatment in hospital.
He said: "We do know that she has been into hospital. There have been brief visits into hospital. We don't know what was the reason for that. There was the overnight stay in hospital back in October on the night of October the 20th. That was the moment when this all changed. The previous day she had been at a reception at Windsor Castle, quite quite quite normal, you know, full of energy, speaking to people. But then the following day, the visit to Northern Ireland was cancelled a very short notice officials had already gone to Northern Ireland.
"And I think what happened then was that there had been a fall and she was brought into the hospital. The palace tried to do it privately and secretly. She stayed overnight and we were told that there were preliminary investigations taking place. Ever since that moment. It is clear that the health of the Queen had taken a new direction. She was asked by her doctors to undertake only light duties. She missed Remembrance Sunday."
Mr Witchell added that the Queen had been to the Royal Windsor horse show in early in May and seemed "quite good" health wise. He said: "I talked to people who were close by her then and she was very much enjoyed it" and more recently she opened the Elizabeth Line in London, much to the surprise of many.
But she has since missed several engagements including the state opening of Parliament. He said that despite the health concerns, the decision had been made for her to go to Balmoral as usual for the summer.
He said: "I'm sure that the royal medical household will have made arrangements and she will have been assured that they would be able to manage whatever the situation was.
"I think at this stage, there is no suggestion of moving her to hospital it would be the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and that, of course, is a journey of 45 miles. It could be done by helicopter but... one might suppose that she would prefer to stay at home, stay at Balmoral in these cherished surroundings that she has known since she was a child, where she is very much relaxed. It is a tranquil setting, she will be in her room. She will have a family around her. She will have whatever medical attention is necessary."
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