What Was The Queen Doing In The Days Leading Up To Her Death?

The queen was surrounded by love in her final weeks. Over the summer, visitors included her son Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who was widely known as “the queen’s favorite,” according to The Sunday Times. Her late sister, Princess Margaret’s children also spent time with her — as noted by the Daily Mail — as did the future king, William, Prince of Wales, his wife Catherine Middleton (now the Princess of Wales), and their three children, People explained. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, opted not to visit (via Cosmopolitan).

The weekend of September 2, 2022, would be the queen’s last, but it was a special time. Page Six reported she spent that Saturday having lunch with her son Prince Charles — now King Charles III — daughter Princess Anne, and the Reverend Iain Greenshields, a Church of Scotland minister. Rev. Greenshields describes the queen as being “full of fun” and “the life and soul of things.” 

While her mobility may have been limited, the queen’s mind most certainly was not. Rev. Greenshields recalls that she chatted readily about everything from the war in Ukraine to horses she’d owned decades earlier. The previous week, another minister visited and echoed those sentiments. “She was absolutely switched on about everything, current affairs and historical memories,” said minister Martin Fair (via Page Six). “It was absolutely lovely to see her smile, and there was still that part of her that enjoys some fun.”