The passing of Queen Elizabeth II not only broke the hearts of the royal family but also the hearts of the nation. When the news was made public that the late monarch had died at Balmoral in Scotland on September 8th, 2022, the country entered a period of mourning.
This year, on the second anniversary of her death, the royal family is honoring the former monarch in their own way. The Royal Family’s official account shared a photograph of her smiling at a Buckingham Palace summer party in 2019, with the caption, "Remembering Queen Elizabeth II 1926 to 2022."
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, had previously led their own heartfelt tribute during a small service in Wales at St. David's Cathedral. After her passing, her grandson, Prince William, paid a poignant tribute to his grandmother, saying, "While I grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I've had the benefit of the Queen's wisdom and assurance into my fifth decade as heir to the throne."
William spent a lot of time with the late Queen, who was able to pass on her wise advice thanks to her incredible 70-year reign. According to a book, the Prince was able to spend time with his grandmother in her final months, a move fully supported by his wife, Catherine. The princess understood that for her husband, as a future king, it was important for him to be geographically closer to the late Queen during her final months, when he was required to support both her and his father. It made a real difference that they were in regular contact, seeing each other in person and speaking on the phone several times a week.
Meanwhile, King Charles was seen attending church near Balmoral, offering prayers and reflecting on the memory of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on the second anniversary of her passing. He was accompanied by Queen Camilla as they arrived at Crathie Kirk, a small granite church in the Royal Deeside, where the late Queen was a devout worshipper. The day also marked two years since Charles's ascension to the throne. According to a source, "The King misses his mummy terribly and is keen to mark her passing with a trip for private reflection and prayer." No other formal remembrance plans were in place for the day, following royal convention.
In Robert Hardman's recent biography, the author shared how Charles was first addressed as "Your Majesty" over the phone while he was driving back to Balmoral to be with his mother. The King stopped his car and took a call from his late mother’s private secretary, Sir Edward Young, who informed him of her passing.
While the past year has been turbulent for the royal family, with two cancer diagnoses and continued challenges from the Sussexes, the Monarch has continued to lead a slimmed-down monarchy. Amid reports suggesting that Prince Harry wishes to return to the UK, there are suggestions that the public would not welcome him back due to how he treated his grandmother in her final years.
It was said that Queen Elizabeth felt emotional after Harry’s decision to leave the royal family following the Sandringham Summit in 2020. At that time, the late Queen released a statement informing the public about the "constructive progress" being made in response to Harry’s wishes.
When reflecting on the Queen’s final years, it becomes evident that she was unable to have the peace she needed. Reports have suggested that the monarch was suffering from bone cancer during her last years, which were partly dominated by the fallout from Harry and Meghan's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021. Despite this, it is believed that Harry remained close to his grandmother at the time of her death, regardless of the family rifts, including with his brother, Prince William. Harry attended her bedside just hours after her passing on September 8th, 2022.
