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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
David Kent & Saffron Otter

The Queen's final days - 'full of fun', Liz Truss meeting and 'frail' time before death

Queen Elizabeth's cortege has arrived at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh - as the body of the longest British monarch will lay in rest overnight.

The Royal Family leader died on Thursday aged 96 at her Scottish home of Balmoral Castle, after being placed under medical supervision that morning.

The newly crowned King Charles III, his wife Camilla Parker-Bowles and the Queen's daughter Princess Anne were at her side when she passed away.

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People watch the hearse carrying the coffin of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at The Royal Mile in Edinburgh. (Reuters)

A statement by the Palace was later released at 6.30pm confirming her death, resulting in a national period of mourning.

Her funeral has been set for September 19.

But thanks to reports from our colleagues in the Mirror UK, we now know how Elizabeth spent her final days:

Balmoral Holiday

The Queen spent many a summer in her Scottish home of Balmoral Castle, located in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire.

She flew out by private helicopter on July 21 - and has in the past been pictured boarding the jet with her clan of corgis - and was expected to remain there for a few months until October to enjoy some time away from royal duties.

The Queen resided in the comfortable seven-bedroom Craigowan Lodge on Royal Deeside, before moving to live in Balmoral Castle, just a mile away, on August 9.

She was joined by a handful of committed staff, including Page of the Backstairs Paul Whybrew and her Serjeant-at-Arms Barry Mitford, who were with her until the very end.

The two men were said to have brought her the Racing Post each morning and accompanied her in watching television.

On Saturday, September 3, the Queen missed the Braemar Gathering - the popular Highland Games event that she usually attends every year.

It is understood the decision was taken for the comfort of the head of state and King Charles attended in her absence.

Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields - Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly - joined her, and in the days leading up to her death, he told The Times: "It was a fantastic visit.

"Her memory was absolutely amazing and she was really full of fun.

"This frail lady came in but there was still that sense of who she was and that real sense of making you feel immediately at ease, engaging with you immediately in conversation, a nice bright smile, everything you would expect of your monarch."

Meeting with Liz Truss

Outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson arriving at Balmoral Castle. (REUTERS)

On Tuesday, September 6, the Queen hosted a historic audience with new Prime Minister Liz Truss in Balmoral.

Usually, the Royal leader meets any new Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace, but a decision was made to have new Conservative leader Truss travel to Scotland.

The pair chatted for around 30 minutes before the Queen was visited by the outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who tendered his resignation.

During the proceedings, Ms Truss would have taken her oath as First Lord of the Treasury and new cabinet ministers would have been sworn into their roles, and also made privy counsellors if not already appointed as one in past.

Spending time with family

The Queen's last summer at Balmoral was said to be one of her happiest - where she could take comfort in the fond memories made at the Aberdeenshire estate following hardships and controversies surrounding the royal family in recent times.

Each summer, members of the family are invited to Scotland to spend time with the Queen, taking in the fresh air across the 50,000-acre estate with country walks with the corgis, horse riding, and fishing, among other activities.

Her son, now King Charles, had been making regular morning visits to check in on his mother amid her health worries, along with his wife the Queen Consort.

The Queen with the late Prince Philip at Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2017 (AFP via Getty Images)

A stream of other family members had been to see her over the summer, and most recently the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, now the Cornwalls, had a trip there with their three children before they started their new school in September.

Her Majesty also had regular visits from her son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, along with her late sister Princess Margaret's two children, Lady Sarah Chatto, and the Earl of Snowdon.

In her final hours, it is understood that her daughter Prince Anne was already by her side, as she had been undertaking engagements in the area, along with King Charles III.

While jets collected her other children and grandchildren, Her Majesty died before Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex arrived at Balmoral.

By coincidence, Prince Harry was in Britain for a charity engagement scheduled that evening, however he was still in the air when the death was confirmed.

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