Her last appearance. Queen Elizabeth II‘s final royal engagement came just days before her death when she appointed new Prime Minister Liz TrussTuesday, September 6.
For the first time in her 70-year reign, the monarch welcomed the new leader of the British government in Scotland, where she’d been staying at Balmoral Castle. In the past, the late sovereign had appointed prime ministers from Buckingham Palace in London, but officials made the change so that Truss, 47, wouldn’t have to alter her travel plans if Elizabeth’s mobility issues made it difficult for her to leave Scotland.
The Queen met briefly with the outgoing Prime Minister shortly before the appointment of the Conservative Party leader. Boris JohnsonFollowing a series of scandals, he resigned as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury in July. “The Right Honourable Boris Johnson MP had an Audience of The Queen this morning and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, which Her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept,” Buckingham Palace said in a press release on Tuesday.
Truss, who took office on Monday, Sept. 5, became the 15th prime minster to serve under Elizabeth. Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1952. When the monarch succeeded her father, King George VI, Winston Churchill was the leader of the United Kingdom’s government. She worked with Margaret Thatcher for 70 years, during which she remained on the throne. Tony Blair, David CameronMore.
Elizabeth died at age 96 on Thursday, September 8, hours after Buckingham Palace announced that she was “under medical supervision” after opting out of several public engagements.
“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the palace confirmed in a statement on Thursday. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
After meeting with Truss Tuesday, the palace announced the queen would not preside over the Privy Council meeting set for Wednesday, September 7. “After a full day yesterday, Her Majesty has this afternoon accepted doctors’ advice to rest,” the palace said in a statement. “This means that the Privy Council meeting that had been due to take place this evening will be rearranged.”
The royal matriarch also missed Saturday’s Highland Games, September 3. Elizabeth was often a regular at the event’s Braemar Gathering, which features pipe bands, a tug-of-war, hill races and more. Her son — and heir to the throne — Prince CharlesShe was present at the ceremony.
Keep scrolling for more photos of Elizabeth’s final royal engagement.
