While the Palace initially chose not to disclose further details, more information emerged months later. Eighteen months after the funeral, the Queen’s former private secretary, Sir Edward Young, shared insights in a private memo that shed light on her last hours. According to Sir Edward, the Queen passed away calmly in her sleep, with no signs of distress.
He also revealed that a locked red box was discovered near her bedside, containing two sealed letters. One was addressed to him, and the other to her eldest son, King Charles. These letters have never been made public, adding a quiet sense of intimacy to her final arrangements.
Sir Edward’s memo described her passing in simple terms, stating that she slipped away peacefully, was unaware of anything around her, and felt no pain. Her official cause of death, later confirmed in the death certificate signed by Princess Anne, was recorded as old age.
How the family learned the news
