A palliative care doctor says the world witnessed the Queen live through "ordinary dying" - the physical process of the body slowing down - over the last two years. Dr Kathryn Mannix, 63, has specialised in palliative and end-of-life care for 30 years and said we have seen the Queen going through the stages of ordinary dying - which is where the body gradually slows down before coming to a halt.
She says this is when a person experiences weariness, becomes sleepier, drifts in and out of consciousness and their breathing slows until they eventually pass away. As someone experiences an ordinary death they may anticipate it by preparing family, putting in place plans and sometimes "hanging on" - living longer than expected to see someone special, celebrate an occasion or hear longed-for news.
Dr Kathryn, from Northumberland, said: "We have been watching the Queen dying for two years and it has never been mentioned. Looking back we can see how she delegated some tasks, this was a shock for us all as it has never happened before.
"We had the briefings about the Queen's mobility issues and how she had to rest but she probably couldn't do anything but rest."
Dr Kathryn - who is now retired - said she experience several "lightbulb moments" which made her realise Her Majesty was in the final stages of her life. She said: "After Prince Philip died she was noticeably more tired, her public appearances less frequent and her energy less reliable.
"The Queen appeared to be losing weight, walking with a stick and changing month-by-month - a stage that usually indicates life expectancy can be measured in months. The Queen also began to make clear her wishes.
"Charles' wife, Camilla, to be Queen Consort. The second in line, William, to move to Windsor. Her dresser and special friend, Angela Kelly, joined the Royal household as her daily companion."
Dr Kathryn hopes that the Queen's passing will make the UK "think differently" about the process of death. She said: "Dying is inevitable, recognisable, describable, and we can prepare for it. The Queen had clearly planned ahead.
"At the edge of life, we can still enjoy love, and peace, and companions. We need to get familiar with dying."
Dr Kathryn said when the Queen announced she would be remaining in Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and Prime Minister Liz Truss was going to her to be sworn in, it indicated she "didn't have the energy to travel".
She said: "It became very obvious that we would be anticipating the end of the Queen's life. Strength fading, she has tasks to complete. She was able to join in some, but not all, of the long-awaited Jubilee celebrations.
"The country waited for a new Prime Minister to be appointed by her, with weeks to wait for that election - she hung on. Many people do this, live longer than expected in order to see somebody special, celebrate a last important occasion or to hear longed-for news.
"Something held her, something important to her own heart, waiting."
Dr Kathryn said that with constitutional duties complete, arrangements within the family in place, the Queen's energy was spent and that she demonstrated the phases of ordinary dying to us all. She said: "In the end, we can all plan ahead, address the unfinished business in our lives, and die with symptoms well-managed, even in our own bed if circumstances permit.
"Dying in plain sight, camouflaged by briefings about 'mobility issues' and medical advice to 'rest'. Because like anyone else, the Queen was entitled to some privacy about her health, and to die away from the public gaze.
"We all saw the process."
For more information about the process of ordinary dying search 'advance care planning'.
