Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II’s family are traveling to Balmoral Castle in Scotland after the monarch’s doctors announced on Thursday they were “concerned” for her health.
In a rare statement on the Queen’s health, Buckingham Palace said Thursday the monarch was advised to remain under medical supervision because of the doctors’ concerns.
“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral (Castle),” the statement added.
The announcement came just hours after Buckingham Palace announced the Queen, 96, had postponed a virtual meeting of her Privy Council on Wednesday after being advised by doctors to rest.
The monarch was scheduled to attend the gathering after formally appointing Liz Truss as the new UK Prime Minister. Truss is the 15th prime minister appointed by the Queen during her 70-year reign.
The Queen’s four children have traveled to, or are already at, Balmoral. Prince Charles, the Queen’s oldest son and the heir apparent to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived at Balmoral earlier on Thursday, according to a statement from Clarence House.
The Queen’s daughter, Princess Anne, known as the Princess Royal, was already at the Scottish castle, a royal source told CNN. The source added that Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son, and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, were traveling to Balmoral. A source close to Prince Andrew said the Duke of York was also heading there.
Kensington Palace said Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line for the throne, was en route, while his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, has remained at Windsor, where their three children are at their first day at a new school.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, were also on their way to Balmoral, a spokesperson for the couple said.
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Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
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Elizabeth was born April 21, 1926, in London. She is held here by her mother, also named Elizabeth. Her father would later become King George VI.
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Princess Elizabeth poses for a photo at her London home in 1928.
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Princess Elizabeth is seen with her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, during a visit to Balmoral, Scotland, in September 1933. He would go on to become King Edward VIII in 1936. But when he abdicated later that year, Elizabeth’s father became King and she became heir presumptive.
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From left, Princess Elizabeth, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret wave to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 22, 1939.
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Elizabeth rides a horse in Windsor, England, in 1940. Her love of horses has been well documented.
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A 14-year-old Elizabeth, right, sits next to her sister for a radio broadcast on October 13, 1940. On the broadcast, her first, she said that England’s children were full of cheerfulness and courage.
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Princess Elizabeth shakes hands with an officer of the Grenadier Guards on May 29, 1942. King George VI made Elizabeth an honorary colonel in the Royal Army regiment.
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Elizabeth, right, and Princess Margaret wear summer dresses circa 1942. Margaret is Elizabeth’s only sibling.
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With the Drakensberg Mountains behind her, Princess Elizabeth sits in South Africa’s Natal National Park on April 21, 1947. It was her 21st birthday.
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On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth wed Prince Philip, a lieutenant in the British Navy who had been born into the royal families of Greece and Denmark. After becoming a British citizen and renouncing his Greek title, Philip became His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His wife became the Duchess of Edinburgh.
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Princess Elizabeth arrives at a state banquet in London in March 1950.
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Elizabeth ascended to the throne in February 1952, when her father died of lung cancer at the age of 56. Here, she walks to the altar during her coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953.
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Queen Elizabeth II is photographed on the balcony of Melbourne’s Government House during her tour of Australia in March 1954.
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From left, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother visit Epsom Downs Racecourse in June 1958.
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The Queen holds her son Prince Andrew while his sister, Princess Anne, watches during a family holiday at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle in September 1960. The Queen has four children, including sons Charles and Edward.
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Queen Elizabeth II is seen during the state opening of Parliament in April 1966.
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Queen Elizabeth II with her oldest son, Prince Charles, in 1969. Charles is next in line for the throne.
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Prince Charles adjusts his coronet during his investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales in 1969.
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The Queen and Prince Philip wave from a plane ramp shortly before taking off from Tokyo in May 1975.
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The Queen takes a portrait at Windsor Castle for her 50th birthday on April 21, 1976.
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The Queen meets the crowds during her royal tour of New Zealand in 1977.
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Elizabeth walks with some of her corgis at the Windsor Horse Trials in May 1980.
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The Queen stands next to Prince Charles as he kisses his new bride, Princess Diana, on July 29, 1981.
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Elizabeth takes pictures of her husband during a horse show in Windsor in May 1982.
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Elizabeth drives her Land Rover during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 1992.
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While at Buckingham Palace, the Queen and Prince Philip view the floral tributes to Princess Diana after her tragic death in 1997.
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The Queen addresses the nation on the night before Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997.
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Prince Charles looks back at his mother after wedding Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in April 2005.
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The Queen, second from right, greets a crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011. Her grandson Prince William, third from left, had just married Catherine Middleton.
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The Queen’s signature is seen in the visitors book at Aras An Uachtarain, the Irish President’s official residence in Dublin in May 2011.
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Madame Tussauds London reveals a wax figure of the Queen in May 2012.
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Prince Charles kisses his mother’s hand on stage as singer Paul McCartney, far right, looks on at the Diamond Jubilee concert in June 2012. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations marked Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary as Queen.
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The Queen tours the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London in December 2012.
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A boy in Belfast, Northern Ireland, takes a selfie in front of the Queen in June 2014.
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The Queen enters the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle after attending a commemorative service for the Scottish National War Memorial in July 2014.
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The Queen waits to give her speech during the state opening of Parliament in May 2015.
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Elizabeth listens to her great-grandson, Prince George, outside a church where George’s sister, Charlotte, was being christened in July 2015. George and Charlotte are the children of Prince William, left, and Duchess Catherine.
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The Queen takes a photo with five of her great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren in April 2016.
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The Queen poses with four of her dogs on the private grounds of Windsor Castle in April 2016.
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The Queen and Prince Philip wave to guests in London who were attending celebrations for her 90th birthday in 2016.
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Elizabeth speaks to Evie Mills, 14, at a hospital in Manchester, England, in May 2017. Evie was injured in a bombing that took place as people left an Ariana Grande concert.
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The Queen sits at a desk in Buckingham Palace after recording her Christmas Day broadcast in 2017.
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The Queen arrives for the wedding of her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018.
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The Queen laughs with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during a bridge-opening ceremony in Halton, England, in June 2018. It was Meghan’s first royal outing without her husband, Prince Harry, by her side.
Trump’s visit to Windsor Castle in July 2018.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”2095″/>
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her new great-grandchild, Archie, in May 2019. Archie is the first child of Prince Harry, second from left, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Prince Philip is on the far left. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, is next to her at right.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”3000″/>
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The Queen looks at her new great-grandchild, Archie, in May 2019. Archie is the first child of Prince Harry, second from left, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Prince Philip is on the far left. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, is next to her at right.
won the UK’s Conservative Party leadership contest and replaced Theresa May, who was forced into resigning after members of her Cabinet lost confidence in her inability to secure the UK’s departure from the European Union.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”2002″/>
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The Queen welcomes Boris Johnson at Buckingham Palace, where she formally invited him to become prime minister in July 2019. Johnson won the UK’s Conservative Party leadership contest and replaced Theresa May, who was forced into resigning after members of her Cabinet lost confidence in her inability to secure the UK’s departure from the European Union.
special address to the nation in April 2020.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”1996″/>
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rides a horse in Windsor, England, in May 2020. It was her first public appearance since the coronavirus lockdown began in the United Kingdom.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”1149″/>
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The Queen rides a horse in Windsor, England, in May 2020. It was her first public appearance since the coronavirus lockdown began in the United Kingdom.
Prince Philip pose for a photo in June 2020, ahead of Philip’s 99th birthday.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”3610″/>
The Queen and Prince Philip pose for a photo in June 2020, ahead of Philip’s 99th birthday.
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The Queen and Prince Philip look at a homemade anniversary card that was given to them by their great-grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in November 2020.
Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021. The ceremony was limited to 30 people, in line with England’s coronavirus restrictions.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”1009″/>
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The Queen takes her seat alone at Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021. The ceremony was limited to 30 people, in line with England’s coronavirus restrictions.
her first major engagement since her husband’s death.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”1704″/>
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The Queen receives a Duke of Edinburgh rose from Keith Weed, president of the Royal Horticultural Society, in June 2021. The newly bred rose was officially named in honor of Prince Philip.
meets with US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden in the Grand Corridor of Windsor Castle in June 2021.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”2847″/>
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The Queen drives her Range Rover as she attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, England, in July 2021.
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The Queen attends the Royal Windsor Cup polo match and a carriage-driving display by the British Driving Society in July 2021.
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The Queen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greet guests during a Windsor Castle reception for international business and investment leaders in October 2021.
Platinum Jubilee in February 2022. It has been 70 years since the Queen took the throne in 1952.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”1333″/>
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tested positive for Covid-19.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”2003″/>
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The Queen meets with Rear Admiral James Macleod, the outgoing Defence Services secretary, and Macleod’s successor, Major General Eldon Millar, at Windsor Castle in February 2022. It was a few days before Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen tested positive for Covid-19.
the opening ceremony of the long-awaited Elizabeth line at the Paddington station in west London in May 2022. She had recently been suffering from mobility issues, canceling several appearances.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”1643″/>
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Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. She is the first British sovereign to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne. “I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee,” the Queen said in a released statement. “While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.”” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”1664″/>
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The Queen watches the Trooping the Colour parade in London during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. She is the first British sovereign to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne. “I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee,” the Queen said in a released statement. “While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all; and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.”
Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, formally inviting her to be the new prime minister in September 2022. The meeting would traditionally have taken place at London’s Buckingham Palace, but the monarch has significantly reduced her duties and travel in recent months because of her mobility issues.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”1333″/>
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The Queen welcomes Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, formally inviting her to be the new prime minister in September 2022. The meeting would traditionally have taken place at London’s Buckingham Palace, but the monarch has significantly reduced her duties and travel in recent months because of her mobility issues.
There have been concerns over the Queen’s health ever since a brief hospital stay last October. The monarch has experienced episodic mobility issues, which have at times caused her to withdraw from official engagements.
The Queen’s meeting with Truss would traditionally have taken place at London’s Buckingham Palace, but the monarch has significantly reduced her duties and travel in recent months because of the mobility issues. Instead, the new prime minister traveled to Scotland for her audience with the Queen.
Truss tweeted Thursday that “the whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime.”
“My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time,” Truss added.
Appointing a new prime minister is one of the Queen’s core ceremonial responsibilities as Head of State – with others being the State Opening of Parliament and the signing of parliamentary bills into law.
In May, the Queen missed the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years. The palace cited the monarch’s “episodic mobility problems” but declined to divulge further details citing patient confidentiality.
Instead, Princes Charles and William took center stage at the event, with the heir to the throne reading the government’s legislative agenda for the year ahead on his mother’s behalf.
It is extremely unusual for Buckingham Palace to comment publicly on the Queen’s health and the announcement on Thursdaysparked a flood of messages expressing concern and well wishes from across the UK and around the world.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby extended his prayers to the Queen, saying: “May God’s presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family, and those who are caring for her at Balmoral.”
“My prayers, and the prayers of people across the Church of England and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today,” Welby said on Twitter.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said in a statement: “On behalf of every nation and citizen of the Commonwealth family, I send my best wishes to Her Majesty and the Royal Family. She will remain in my prayers.”
The Commonwealth is an association of 56 countries. Its roots go back to the British Empire but any country can join the modern Commonwealth.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that her thoughts and wishes were with the Queen, while First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford said he was “concerned” to hear the news from Buckingham Palace, and sent “best wishes” to the monarch.
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer said he was “deeply worried” by the news from the palace.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a tweet that “the thoughts of Canadians across the country, are with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at this time. We’re wishing her well, and sending our best to the Royal Family.” The Queen is the head of state of Canada.