Dr. Douglas Glass Reflects on the Somber Last Moments of the Late Queen
In his recent book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, author Robert Hardman offers insights into Queen Elizabeth II's final hours, including a heartfelt account from her personal doctor, Dr. Douglas Glass.
Dr. Glass, a trusted general practitioner responsible for her care, observed during his last visit that although the Queen remained steady, her time was visibly nearing its close. According to an official, there was an expectation she might have "a day or two, not an hour or two" remaining, a sentiment that illustrates the unforeseen rapidity of her decline.
At midday on the day of her passing, Buckingham Palace issued a public statement confirming medical concerns over the Queen's health, announcing she was under medical supervision but comfortable at Balmoral. Shortly afterward, senior royals, including her close family members, were en route to Scotland, indicating the seriousness of her condition.
At 2:00 p.m., it was also announced that Harry and Meghan, in the UK at the time, were traveling to Scotland as well. By 3:10 p.m., Queen Elizabeth II had passed, her cause of death later confirmed as "old age." Dr. Glass, her long-time apothecary at Balmoral since 1988, was the one to formally pronounce her deceased.
In a biography by Gyles Brandreth, Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait, Dr. Glass reveals that her declining health had been a concern for months, a gradual process that he and those close to her were fully aware of.
