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- Doctors say that the queen, 96 years old, under medical supervision
- The heir to the throne, Prince Charles, is with the Queen
- The family members head to Balmoral Castle
BALMORAL, Scotland, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Britain’s royal family rushed to be with Queen Elizabeth after doctors said on Thursday they were concerned about the 96-year-old monarch’s health and said she should remain under medical supervision
The Queen, Britain’s longest-serving sovereign and the world’s longest-serving monarch, has been suffering from what Buckingham Palace has called “episodic mobility problems” since late last year.
“Following further assessment this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned about Her Majesty’s health and have recommended that she remain under medical supervision,” the palace said in a statement.
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“The Queen is staying comfortable and at Balmoral.”
His eldest son and heir Prince Charles and his wife Camilla traveled to their Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, where he is staying with his eldest son Prince William, authorities said. His other children, Anne, Andrew and Edward, were also at the castle.
A spokesman said Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, in Britain for various events, will also travel to Scotland.
Such a family gathering, outside of festive events such as Christmas or Easter or important public events, is extremely rare.
The BBC interrupted its normal schedule to switch to constant coverage of the Queen.
“My prayers and the prayers of the people of @churchofengland and the nation are with Her Majesty the Queen today,” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said on Twitter. Read more
Last October, Elizabeth spent a night in hospital and has since been forced to cut back on public engagements. On Wednesday, he canceled a virtual meeting with senior ministers after his doctors advised him to rest.
The day before he had been photographed appointing Liz Truss as the country’s new prime minister at Balmoral, the 15th prime minister of his record-breaking reign.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth waits in the Hall before receiving Liz Truss for an audience, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government, at Balmoral Castle, Scotland Britain September 6, 2022. Jane Barlow/Pool via REUTERS
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A palace source played down speculation the monarch had suffered a fall.
REMEMBER REIGN
Elizabeth has been queen of Britain and more than a dozen countries since 1952, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and earlier this year marked her 70th year on the throne with four days of national celebrations in June
“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and kinship that have been so evident in recent days, and I hope that this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come,” he said at the time.
Elizabeth came to the throne after the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952, when she was just 25 years old.
She was crowned in June of the following year. The first televised coronation was a preview of a new world in which the lives of royals were to be increasingly scrutinized by the media.
He became monarch at a time when Great Britain retained much of its empire. It was emerging from the ravages of World War II, with food rationing still in place and class and privilege still dominant in society.
Winston Churchill was the first Prime Minister to serve during his reign, Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union, the Korean War was being waged.
The Prime Minister said: “My thoughts, and the thoughts of the people of our United Kingdom, are with Her Majesty the Queen and her family at this time.”
Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, interrupted an energetic debate in parliament to say she sent her best wishes to the monarch.
“Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” said opposition Labor leader Keir Starmer.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter: “We are all deeply concerned by the reports about Her Majesty’s health. My thoughts and wishes are with the Queen and the entire Royal Family at this time.”
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Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton and Janet Lawrence
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