Fears for Queen Elizabeth II grew on Thursday after Buckingham Palace said her doctors were “concerned” for her health and recommended she remain under medical supervision.
The 96-year-old head of state – Britain’s longest-serving monarch – has been plagued by health problems since last October that have left her with difficulty walking and standing.
On Wednesday, she pulled out of a scheduled meeting with her senior political advisers after being told to rest.
The day before, she held audiences with outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson at her Scottish Highland retreat, Balmoral, and appointed his successor, Liz Truss.
“Following further examinations this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended that she remain under medical supervision,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“The Queen remains comfortable and in Balmoral,” the palace added.
The palace’s statement on the Queen’s health is highly unusual and comes after she has appeared visibly frail and had a series of pullbacks from public engagements in recent months.
She has taken up walking with the help of a cane and was also spotted at the Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year, touring the grounds in a motorized buggy.
In February, she was struck down by a bout of Covid, which she later admitted was “exhausted”.
– ‘Deeply Concerned’ –
The Queen’s eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, 73, and his eldest son Prince William, 40, were en route to Scotland, according to their offices at Clarence House and Kensington Palace.
Officially, the palace has only said that the Queen is suffering from “episodic mobility problems” but gave no further details.
She spent an unscheduled night in hospital in central London in October 2021 and was advised to slow down.
Shortly before Thursday’s announcement, Truss and senior members of her team were handed notes in Parliament urging them to leave the chamber.
Truss tweeted almost immediately afterwards: “The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” she added.
“My thoughts – and the thoughts of the people of our UK – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the most senior Church of England cleric to preside over the Queen, said the Queen is in his prayers.
“May God’s presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family and those caring for her at Balmoral,” he tweeted.
The Queen is in her Platinum Jubilee year, the 70th anniversary since she succeeded her father, King George VI, in 1952.
Public events were held for four days to celebrate the record, but she only performed twice to appreciate the huge crowds in central London.
