King Charles was left devastated upon hearing of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing on September 8, 2022. Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla, rushed from Ayrshire to Balmoral, traveling by helicopter and driving the last stretch himself. Despite his urgency, he was not present at her final moments, as his sister Princess Anne remained by the Queen’s bedside.
After briefly stepping away to gather his thoughts, Charles received the heartbreaking news while on his way back to Balmoral. In Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, author Robert Hardman reveals that, after being called “Your Majesty” for the first time, Charles simply replied, “We’re nearly there,” before continuing to the castle.
At Balmoral, Charles began informing his family, reaching Prince William and then Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Prince Harry, however, could not be reached immediately, as he was still en route. The new King later formally shared the news with Parliament and prepared to assume his role in the face of profound loss.
