How did she decline so rapidly?

[Maggiethecat]

Not really trying to know the cause of the queen’s death although I have wondered but can’t get my head round that picture of her greeting Liz Truss to her death 2 days later.

Initially thought it must have been something acute like a stroke or heart but then it seems like she has been ailing (haven’t really taken note, other than palace statements of mobility issues).

Perhaps she had been bedridden for weeks and made a huge effort on Monday to fulfil her last duty but I’m inclined to think had that been the case more of her family would have been near.

Whether she wanted it or not, there comes a point where the HoS will not be physically or mentally capable of fulfilling the role and it's unethical to dress her up for a photo op when she's clearly on her last legs.

Are you saying she had reached that point? That she was "dressed up for a photo OP"?

I don't think she was "clearly on her last legs" .

And obviously the people advising Edward and Andrew, didn't think so either.

My 93 year old aunt had us round for birthday drinks, was out in the garden in the sunshine with us, playing with my toddlers. Then the neighbour (and friend) found her tucked up in bed the next day having died in her sleep. Best way in my mind.

There was a live video on the BBC news of the same meeting; I don't think they could have photoshopped that.

There comes a point where she should have been stopped.

Sorry but you have NO Idea if the Queen had reached that point.

There have been countless stories on her of old people being mentally capable right until a sudden death.

Given that she was anything but her normal colour and had the telltale bruising on her hand from a cannula in the elderly - and she passed less than 48 hours later - I don't think it's particularly controversial to suggest she was in her last days and that it perhaps would be better from the level of human decency if she had been free to spend those last monents as she wished rather than having to do a pointless photo op with Boris and Liz.

Harry and Meghan were not scheduled to visit the Queen during this trip to Europe. I don't believe that if the Queen's health was known to be rapidly failing or she had any medical condition (eg cancer) at end-stage that Harry would've missed the opportunity to see her as part of his trip (with or without Meghan). So whatever medical issues she may have been enduring I think the end was relatively sudden. However frail she looked in that final photo she also looked very jolly, she was in her favourite place, in a kilt, fully made up and about to do what she had dedicated her life to doing, her duty, There was a photographer there to capture it by default and the photo wouldn't have been released without approval. She was 96, didn't need an excuse or an explanation to leave and was an absolute class act until the end.

Given that she was anything but her normal colour and had the telltale bruising on her hand from a cannula in the elderly - and she passed less than 48 hours later - I don't think it's particularly controversial to suggest she was in her last days and that it perhaps would be better from the level of human decency if she had been free to spend those last monents as she wished rather than having to do a pointless photo op with Boris and Liz.

Whilst everyone could see she was 96 and very frail I don't think it's controversial to suggest anybody knew then, that her death was so imminent. So imminent that 2 of her children did not reach her before she died.

It's interesting that you don't think she was "doing as she wished". She had prioritised duty her entire life. I don't think wild horses would have kept her away from seeing in a new prime minister whilst she had any capacity to do so.

Seriously my very able but elderly Nan always had bruises like that. It was the dogs jumping up and catching her very fragile hands as she fed them treats. Sounds like something the queen would do!

Exactly! The recommended temperature for an elderly person’s living room is 21°.

This is correct, notices were sent out last Friday by various agencies adding alerts for a significant event, we waited on pins for a few days and then saw the Queen with Truss on Tuesday and dismissed it. I mentioned this on another thread and got called a liar. Unfortunately when agencies run on contractors they need to workforce-plan for significant events and that involves telling people why you need to double their contracted hours at short notice, the alert was not explicit, but the task requested was very specifically linked to the demise of the Head of the Commonwealth.

She went quickly and peacefully hopefully, with the dignity she has always maintained throughout her life.

How or why she died is a personal matter though but it would seem that it was anticipated.

As far as I can tell by news reports today, only Charles and Anne were at the bedside when she passed. All of the others (yes, including Harry) missed it. So I think something serious and quick occurred - stroke, heart attack. Maybe something related to something else she was being treated for as her hand was very bruised when she met Liz Truss, like she’d had a cannula in.

@jennakong ”tartan skirt and woolly cardigan” were very much her Balmoral “uniform”.

If I had my ac on at 21 Degrees I’d be sitting with my teeth chattering. It’s really chilly even when your only in your 60’s and well padded. In fact when I lost about 12 kilos through I’ll health 18 months ago I didn't even sleep with my ac on some nights despite the temp being in the high 30’s outside.

DH Nan just passed away in her sleep at 89. Was fine apart from normal old age decline but just didn’t wake up one morning

It can happen. My 87 year old grandad came home from hospital on a Thursday, seemingly ok, and then passed on the Saturday. He had a known terminal illness but it just came on so fast! Seven weeks exactly after the day my nan died - he just couldn’t live without her.

But it would be perfectly legal to record the cause of death as only renal failure.

That isn't true. A doctor who wrote a death certificate with just "renal failure" on it would have that certificate rejected by the registrar of births and deaths as it is an unacceptable cause of death unless supported by an acceptable cause. It would be ok to write:

1a. Renal failure
1b (type of) cancer.

tartan skirt and woolly cardigan” were very much her Balmoral “uniform”.

Too right 😁

*I would imagine if they wanted to hide something like cancer on the death certificate then they could.

Technically, my sister died of renal failure caused by cancer. But it would be perfectly legal to record the cause of death as only renal failure.*

Can I ask why you think "they" would want to hide "something like cancer".

God alive. Haven't we got past that?

Given that she was anything but her normal colour and had the telltale bruising on her hand from a cannula in the elderly

There is no evidence at all that she'd had a cannula.

The 'bruising' on her hands has been comented on for a looooong time.

Someone earlier in this thread gave the medical name for it- something like senile purpurea.

If you look back at photos of her- going back 10 years- she has had red hands and fat fingers for years (as has Charles and he says people call him 'Porky' because of his hands.)

Me too.

Those posters going on about the cannula 'effect'. Google senile purpura. You will find a photo /example of the Queen's hands.

That amount of long term purple skin does not happen with a cannula.

My dad has those bruises he is on blood thinners you literally tap him and it happens

My great granny just sat down in her chair one night, gave a sigh and was gone. No
cause, no illness, no sudden stroke or
whatever, her heart just stopped beating.

my Grandad was 92, still had all his faculties, went to the pub every night for a pint, came home one night, poured himself a whisky and fell asleep in his armchair. He never woke up, the doctor said he had died in his sleep.

obviously I miss him very much but I am so happy that he had a long happy life and died so peacefully. You can’t really ask for more than that, can you?

Anyone can die suddenly. My 85 year old father in law was doing his shopping in the supermarket and dropped dead in the aisle.

Well, basically people are alive until they die aren't they? Not everyone has a long decline and has to take to their bed. My great grandma was grilling a pork chop for her dinner, must've decided to sit down at the table while it was cooking and died - she was up and about and feeling ok (although frail) til she wasn't.

It can be hard to get your head round, especially with someone younger, but the Queen was 96. Death isn't unexpected at that age.