22 December 2023 , 11:06
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Balmoral was long believed to be where the Queen felt at her most at ease and the castle’s walls made her feel “at peace” in the days leading to her death, it has been claimed.
The monarch died aged 96 in September last year in the Scottish Highlands retreat. Months before, millions of people around the world had joined in celebrations for her platinum jubilee as she was cemented as the second-longest reigning monarch in the world. In the weeks afterwards however the Queen’s health began to deteriorate. As the end approached however, her majesty was said to be “very much at peace” and had no regrets for her life of service she had lived, according to Right Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields, then Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
He said at the time: “It was her Platinum Jubilee year and so she was looking back. She had no regrets and was very much at peace. At one point she went to the window and said, 'Who would not want to be here?'. She was in a very peaceful, private place. She also mentioned her father - George VI - and the great influence his faith had on her.”
He added to BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme she was in "great form”, adding She was in really good spirits - obviously frail, you can see that, but absolutely on the ball. She was talking about her past, her love for Balmoral, her father, her mother, Prince Philip, horses, very much very engaged with what was happening in the church and what was happening in the nation too.
"This frail lady came in but there was still that sense of who she was and that real sense of making you feel immediately at ease, engaging with you immediately in conversation, a nice bright smile, everything you would expect of your monarch."
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As usual, the Queen had chosen to spend the summer in her private Scottish residence in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire. She flew out by private helicopter on July 21 and was expected to remain there for a few months until October to enjoy some time away from royal duties. The Queen resided in the comfortable seven-bedroom Craigowan Lodge on Royal Deeside, before moving to live in Balmoral Castle, just a mile away, on August 9.
She was joined by a handful of committed staff, including Page of the Backstairs Paul Whybrew and her Serjeant-at-Arms Barry Mitford, who were with her until the very end. The two men were said to have brought her the Racing Post each morning and accompanied her in watching television. Her righthand woman, Angela Kelly, who worked as the Queen's personal assistant and dresser, was also there to ensure the Queen was comfortable and didn't overexert herself.
The treasured Balmoral retreat has been handed down through generations of the Royal Family after being first occupied by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, who described Balmoral as her "heaven on earth".