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How the day Charles became King played out following Elizabeth II’s death

Two years ago on Sunday, members of the royal family dashed to be with the late Queen as she was placed under medical supervision at Balmoral.

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The King acceded to the throne two years ago, immediately upon the death of the late Queen.

Here are the minute-by-minute developments of the historic day, which marked the end of Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign and the loss of the royal family’s much loved matriarch:

– Thursday September 8 2022: Rumours begin to reach newsrooms early in the morning that the Queen has taken ill at Balmoral Castle, and possibly had a fall.

Queen Elizabeth II in her cardigan and tartan skirt, using a walking stick, stands in front of a roaring fire as she waits in the Drawing Room before receiving Liz Truss for an audience at Balmoral Castle, Scotland on September 6 2022
Queen Elizabeth II waiting in the Drawing Room before receiving Liz Truss for an audience at Balmoral Castle (Jane Barlow/PA)

But she looked frail in photographs and postponed a Privy Council meeting on the Wednesday after being ordered by doctors to rest.

– 10.30am: Behind the scenes, the then-Prince of Wales makes a 120-mile dash by helicopter from Dumfries House to Balmoral after being alerted to the Queen’s worsening condition.

The Duchess of Cornwall cancels a not-yet publicly announced official visit to a cancer centre in Lanarkshire and travels by road from Birkhall.

Anne and Camilla stand either side of Charles, who wear a kilt, at the Braemar Gathering highland games
Anne, Charles and Camilla were already in Scotland, attending the Braemar Gathering a few days before (Jane Barlow/PA)

Charles visits his mother and later goes foraging for mushrooms on the estate as he contemplates his accession and imminent duty as king.

– 12.12pm: Initial indications that something is afoot are seen in the House of Commons.

Then then-chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Nadhim Zahawi, sits down next to PM Liz Truss and begins whispering to her while she listens to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s response to her energy statement.

Liz Truss stands as she addressed MPs sitting in the House of Commons
Liz Truss speaking in the House of Commons on energy bills before she was alerted to concerns for the Queen’s health (House of Commons/PA)

Sir Keir, too, is passed a note by his deputy Angela Rayner, with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also being handed a piece of paper updating him about the developing situation.

Ms Rayner later reveals the note read: “The Queen is unwell and Keir needs to leave the Chamber as soon as possible to be briefed.”

A uniformed armed police officer stands guard at the iron gates of Balmoral Castle
An armed police officer at the gates to Balmoral while the Queen was under medical supervision (Andrew Milligan/PA)

– 12.32pm: Buckingham Palace issues a statement, confirming the Queen is under medical supervision.

It reads: “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.

“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”

Close family have been informed, the Palace says.

A florist van from the firm The Secret Garden arrives at the gates of Balmoral
A florist van arrives at the gates, which are guarded by an armed police officer after the Palace announces the Queen is under medical supervision (Andrew Milligan/PA)

– 12.46pm: Clarence House confirms Charles and Camilla have travelled to Balmoral, and a minute later Kensington Palace say William, the then-Duke of Cambridge, is to head north.

The Duchess of Cambridge remains in Windsor where her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are starting at a new school.

– 1.38pm: Palace sources say the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex are also on their way to the Queen’s Scottish home.

A private plane carrying the Duke of Sussex arrives at Aberdeen Airport as he travels to Balmoral
A plane carrying the Duke of Sussex arrives at Aberdeen Airport as he travels to Balmoral (Paul Campbell/PA)

Harry texts William to ask whether he and Kate are flying up, but receives no reply.

Behind the scenes, Charles calls Harry again to ask him not to bring Meghan.

Meghan looks at Harry as they sit and applaud during a One Young World Summit in Manchester
Harry and Meghan, who had attended the One Young World summit days before, were staying in Windsor (Peter Byrne/PA)

Charles says only immediate family will be there, and not Kate.

– 2.39pm: A Royal Air Force flight takes off from RAF Northolt in South Ruislip, west London, carrying William, Andrew, Edward and Sophie.

– 3.10pm: Elizabeth II – the nation’s longest reigning monarch – dies at the age of 96 in her bedroom in the castle, with Anne at her bedside. Also there is the Queen’s doctor, GP Douglas Glass.

The Queen’s death – the cause of which is listed on her death certificate as old age – brings an end to the Second Elizabethan age which has spanned 70 years.

The Queen wearing a hat decorated with flowers smiles during a military visit
Queen Elizabeth II reigned as monarch for 70 years (Steve Parsons/PA)

He pulls over to take the phone call, confirming the news, in which he is addressed as “Your Majesty” for the first time.

He receives condolences from Camilla, the new Queen, and others accompanying them. He puts the car into gear and continues the drive to Balmoral.

A memo from the late Queen’s private secretary Sir Edward Young records of her final moments: “Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn’t have been aware of anything. No pain.”

– 3.50pm: The royals on the RAF plane, a Dassault Falcon, land at Aberdeen airport, too late to say their final farewells.

– 4.30pm: Prime Minister Liz Truss is informed of the Queen’s death by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

-4.38pm: Sources close to Harry and Meghan say Harry is now travelling alone. He charters a private flight from Luton.

The Duke of Cambridge drives a car carrying the Duke of York, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex into Balmoral
The Duke of Cambridge drives a car carrying the Duke of York, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex into Balmoral (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Andrew is in the passenger seat and Edward and Sophie are in the back.

– 5.50pm: A double rainbow appears over Buckingham Palace after a heavy downpour as members of the public gather outside.

A double rainbow is seen, as members of the public who are carrying union flag umbrellas gather outside Buckingham Palace
A double rainbow is seen, as members of the public gather outside Buckingham Palace (Victoria Jones/PA)

A Buckingham Palace statement reads: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

The two sentence announcement Buckingham Palace's Royal Communications confirming the death of the Queen
The announcement confirming the death of the Queen (Buckingham Palace/PA)

The union flag at Buckingham Palace is lowered to half mast. A death notice is placed on the gates of the Palace as is the custom.

– 7.04pm: Charles issues his first statement as King, and describes his mother’s death as “a moment of the greatest sadness”.

The Union Flag above Buckingham Palace is flown at half mast
The Union Flag above Buckingham Palace is flown at half mast following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II (Yui Mok/PA)

“I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”

– 7.07pm: Prime Minister Liz Truss, dressed in black, addresses the nation outside No 10, and confirms Charles will be known as Charles III.

Prime Minister Liz Truss, dressed in black, reads a statement outside 10 Downing Street following the death of the Queen
Prime Minister Liz Truss reads a statement outside 10 Downing Street following the death of the Queen (Dominic/PA)

– Around 8pm: Harry arrives at Balmoral. He is in the air when the announcement of the Queen’s death is made.

When he lands at Aberdeen airport, he receives a text from Meghan telling him to call, but learns the news after checking the BBC’s website on his phone.

Harry seen through a car window as he arrives at Balmoral
Harry arriving at Balmoral in Scotland (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Charles, William and Camilla – the new Queen – have already left for Birkhall.

Harry visits the late Queen’s body to pay his respects, whispering that he hopes she is happy and “with Grandpa”.

Behind the scenes, the long-held London Bridge plans for the Queen’s death are rapidly put into action, setting out the next 11 days according to a strict timetable which feature a lying in state and then the solemnity and grandeur of a state funeral.

A grieving Charles and Camilla dine with William at Birkhall.

Huge crowds, carrying umbrellas in the rain, gather outside Buckingham Palace as dusk fell on the day the Queen died
Members of the public gather outside Buckingham Palace on the day the Queen died (Victoria Jones/PA)

Charles, who has not yet been seen publicly as monarch, and Camilla prepare to return to London on Friday morning, with the King due to address the nation on television.

The King’s historic Accession Council is set for Saturday September 10.

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