Do you think they knew the Queen was about to die last week?

[Goldfishmountainclimber]

Do you think that they knew that the Queen was about to die last week? It seems that they probably did on the actual day because there was some decline and Charles and Anne hurried to be with her. But they were both in Scotland at the time so reasonable handy.

But the rest of the family were not there and didn’t make it there until after her death. But maybe that was the plan so that she could die quietly and only Charles and Anne would be present, so that it didn’t draw attention and turn into a media circus.

I know it doesn’t matter, but I just wondered if it was a carefully crafted plan to give the Queen some peace at the end, or if it actually came as a bit of a surprise last week?

Wrong thread???

@Wisteriaroundthedoor

people.com/celebrity/olivia-newton-john-breast-cancer-totally-confident/

You will find your '3 days before she died' picture on this article from 2017. 5 whole years ago.

Because it tends to do more damage, can be hard / impossible to get back upright.

Ernest Hemingway famous quote has parallels:

“How do you go bankrupt?

Two ways - gradually and then suddenly.”

Her husband begs to differ..

I was briefed on Operation London Bridge in my last job. In our briefing we were told the Queen's preference was to pass away at Balmoral, should she have any choice. I'm so pleased she got her wish. What an incredible, extraordinary lady. We are so lucky to have had her as our Queen. ❤️

I agree, can’t we all just be thankful on her behalf that she died in her own home and didn’t have to suffer the indignity of a slow decline into senility and incapacity.

I agree, can’t we all just be thankful on her behalf that she died in her own home and didn’t have to suffer the indignity of a slow decline into senility and incapacity.

i'm not ghoulish and I'm not even massively bothered. I don't have any conspiracy theories. But I do think it's absolutely fine to discuss the life and death of a national figure.

Also very pleased that she appears to have a good quick death in the place she loved.

Charles was at hand partly because he is often at Balmoral at this time of year and partly so he could help with red box stuff. Anne has been at her mothers side a lot over the past few months and has likely bourne the brunt of HM's physical deterioration. Had anyone thought it was going to happen so quickly there is no way Andrew would not have been in Scotland - Edward and WIlliam had children going back to school but Andrew had no particular reason not to be on hand had it been expected.

My Nan's last year or so was like this, steady but managed decline of some illness and conditions, weight loss, mobility decline etc.
She then collapsed and was taken to hospital with a stroke that she would not have recovered from and treatment was withdrawn and she died peacefully in bed (we didn't get there in time - she died around 24 hours after collapse, we had left for a shower and change of clothes and were on our way back).
I was glad she went that way rather than the continued decline of old age and the illnesses she had, she looked a lot like the Queen for a while before her death, but yes it was a shock as such because although elderly and becoming more frail, none of the conditions diagnosed were 'bad' enough to have caused the death themselves at that point, but the stroke itself and especially combined with those was.
I'm glad the Queen was spared the slow decline with all the associated issues that many others aren't, I'm glad of that for any person.
It is sad and devastating for any family to lose someone who is part of the family, no matter how old, I suspect like us they were all waiting for that call, for a while now, but it's still hard to process when it does happen, whoever you are.

Death certificates are public, so I presume we'll find out in due course.

So what does it say on Prince Philip's?

I think it's a shame that the palace remains coy about causes of death.
People cared for HM and it'sonly natural they want to know .

They made public what happened to Princess Margaret.
They apear to have been honest about the Queen Mother, although supposedly the fact she had bowel cancer (and recovered) was only made known after her death.
Going back a few decades, we did learn of the illness of the Queen's father, although at the time, the palace played down his cancer.

I don't for a moment think they should give graphic accounts of every illness and hospital visits. That is private stuff.

But given the response to the Queen's death I think some indication would be welcome.

I definitely think she had some health issues hut obviously declined quickly towards the end. I remember watching her stand on the balcony for the royal jubilee and I remember just watching her taking it all in like this was her last time standing on that balcony.

@My2pence

Really, that's so touching..I'm glad she got her wish because let's face it, so much in her life she had no choice over.

Sometimes it is hard to know though at that age the exact cause - the main cause on my 89 year old Nans is fragility of old age, then a handful of other things. She was in hospital for 3 weeks after a fall and a lot of those barely conscious and they just didnt really know why other than age.

I think the fact she had slowly withdrawn over the past 11 months and hadnt left Balmoral meant she was aware (and I think you are at that age) it was coming.

My 98 year old Nan has fought off bowel cancer, sepsis, removal of Gallbladder and MRSA over the last 30 years. She is quite clear that she simply doesnt have the strength to fight anymore she is ready to go to her husband (who died 21 years ago) the next time God wills it so and she will simply let go.

I think the Queen had done all she wanted to do, the Platinum Jubilee since through the change of PM (which she would have felt it important to do) so then was ready to go

Private Eye put out a story last week that the Queens personal staff were frustrated because she was really failing yet the media team 500 miles away in London continued to put out almost misleading info.

My thoughts exactly. Her one choice.

@JuneBrowning

It says old age.

Charles had been visiting every day

Of course they did earlier on in the day

At work we were pretty much told a few hours before she passed as we had planned media investment which needed to be redistributed

I think they knew she was really unwell and didn’t have long but I don’t think they realised it was only days.

No. They would have been staying more locally to her if they knew.

Very old people, especially those with mobility issues, often die of pneumonia. Having underlying health issues will make pneumonia more likely and recovery from it more unlikely. In my father's case he had a terminal health issue but died of pneumonia, and no treatment was given except to keep him comfortable. It is a peaceful death, pneumonia is known as the 'old person's friend' for this reason. Given the Queen's great age and her public position, end of life strategies, such as DNR, withdrawal of treatment etc will have been discussed with her and her family.