Statement from Buckingham Palace

Published 8 September 2022

Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.

The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.

Queen under medical supervision at Balmoral

By Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent
1 minute ago



The Queen was seen on Tuesday when she appointed Liz Truss as prime minister at Balmoral

The Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health, Buckingham Palace has said.

All the Queen's children are either at, or are travelling to, her Scottish estate near Aberdeen.

"Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision," a statement said.

The Queen is comfortable, it added.

Prince Charles has travelled there with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Duke of York and the Count and Countess of Wessex are travelling to the Scottish estate, about 40 miles (64km) west of Aberdeen.

The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, was already in Scotland undertaking engagements.

The Duke of Cambridge is also on his way.

The announcement comes after the Queen, 96, pulled out of a meeting of her Privy Council on Wednesday, with doctors advising her to rest.

There are clearly pressing concerns for the Queen's health - much more explicitly put than before and without any reference to this only being about difficulties with mobility.

There are also warnings against unfounded speculation, such as that she might have had a fall. And on Tuesday she was on her feet and photographed smiling as she appointed the new prime minister.

But from the last-minute cancellation of what would only have been a virtual meeting of the Privy Council - of senior ministers - there is no mistaking the fragility of the Queen's health.

'Deeply concerned'

Prime Minister Liz Truss said the "whole country" would be "deeply concerned" by the news.

"My thoughts - and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom - are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time," she added.

The Queen appointed Ms Truss as prime minister at Balmoral, instead of travelling to London for the event.

During her 70-year reign the Queen has typically had an audience with her new prime minister at Buckingham Palace.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: "My prayers, and the prayers of people across the [Church of England] and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today.

"May God's presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral."

News of the Queen's ill-health came as MPs heard details of the government's new plan to help households and businesses with energy costs in the House of Commons.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was "deeply worried", while Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon sent her thoughts and wishes to the Queen.

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford sent his best wishes on behalf of the people of Wales.

The monarch has been on a summer break at her Scottish home since July.

Queen under medical supervision as doctors are concerned for her health

Prince Charles and Prince William are among senior royals currently travelling to Balmoral to be by the Queen's side.

Thursday 8 September 2022 14:34, UK

The Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health, Buckingham Palace has said.

Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, are travelling to Balmoral to be with Her Majesty, who Buckingham Palace said "remains comfortable".

Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also travelling to be by the Queen's side.

Princess Anne is already with Her Majesty at her Scottish residence.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.

"The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral."

The Duchess of Cambridge has remained in Windsor as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis start their first full day at their new school.

Her Majesty postponed her Privy Council meeting on Wednesday night after being advised by doctors to rest.

On Tuesday, the Queen, 96, met outgoing PM Boris Johnson before appointing the new prime minister, Liz Truss, at Balmoral for the first time in her 70-year reign, in a break from tradition.

Immediate family members have been told of the doctor's decision, Mills said.

They are said to be very keen there is no further speculation - amid suggestions the Queen had suffered a fall, which are believed to be incorrect.

Mills said: "Of course, there undoubtedly is going to be concern about the Queen.

"It was only last night at six o'clock that we were informed by Buckingham Palace that the Queen had to pull out of conducting a Privy Council meeting which had been pencilled in yesterday evening.

"Last night, they said that after a full day on Tuesday, Her Majesty had accepted the doctor's advice to rest, which had meant the Privy Council meeting that she was due to be conducting, albeit remotely from Balmoral, wasn't able to go ahead."

The Queen had been due to hold the Privy Council meeting of senior government advisers virtually on Wednesday evening but it was decided it would be rearranged.

Ms Truss said the whole country would be "deeply concerned" by the news, adding her thoughts were with the monarch and her family.

Commons debate interrupted for update on Queen's health

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle interrupted a debate on energy bills in the House of Commons to update MPs about the Queen's health.

He cut short SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford's speech to say: "I know I speak on behalf of the entire House when I say that we send our best wishes to Her Majesty the Queen and that she and the royal family are in our thoughts and prayers at this moment."

Other key figures including the Archbishop of Canterbury, opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer and former PM David Cameron have expressed their concerns for the Queen.

The royal family website appeared to crash after the news of the Queen's health concern emerged.

An error message appeared on screen reading: "Gateway time-out".

Episodic mobility issues

The Queen has faced ongoing "episodic mobility problems" since last autumn and has been relying on a walking stick.

Her Majesty used a walking stick for the first time at a major engagement during a service at Westminster Abbey last October.

She missed the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years in May - with Charles reading her speech instead.

The monarch was also forced to miss some celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee in June, including a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral after experiencing discomfort one day earlier.

Her role was formally re-written by Buckingham Palace to scale back her "official duties" in July, for the first time in more than a decade.

She arrived at Balmoral for her traditional summer break on 21 July.

A week later, Charles attended the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on her behalf, reading a message from the Queen.

Last Saturday, 3 September, Buckingham Palace announced the Queen would not attend the annual Highland Games Braemar Gathering in Scotland.

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https://www.royal.uk/statement-buckingham-palace