Princess Anne reveals what ‘worried’ Queen in her final days
In a rare interview, Princess Anne has given a revealing insight into what concerned Queen Elizabeth on her death bed while also praising “outstanding” Queen Camilla.
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In a rare interview, Princess Anne has revealed the late Queen Elizabeth had worried about dying at Balmoral because she was “worried” it would make it more difficult to organise her funeral.
“I think there was a moment when she felt that it would be more difficult if she died at Balmoral,” Princess Anne said in an intimate documentary which follows King Charles in his Coronation year and features behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews with family and senior royals.
“I think we did try to persuade her that shouldn’t be part of the decision-making process.”
The Queen’s only daughter also spoke about how she felt when she saw the Imperial State Crown taken off the Queen’s coffin for the last time at St George’s Chapel at Windsor at the end of her funeral.
“I rather weirdly felt a sense of relief – that’s it, finished,” she said. “That responsibility being moved on.”
Elsewhere in the documentary, she also praised Queen Camilla, saying the her sister-in-law had been “outstanding” for King Charles.
“I’ve known her a long time off and on. Her understanding of the role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding,” Princess Anne said.
“This role is not something that she’d be a natural for but she does it really well. She provides that change of speed and tone, that’s equally important.”
In the intimate documentary, Queen Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, described the couple as “yin and yang”.
“She is his rock, and I can’t actually emphasise that enough,” Mrs Elliot, who was one of her sister’s two Ladies in Attendance at the Coronation, said.
“She’s somebody who is completely loyal and she isn’t somebody who has huge highs and lows.”
Mrs Elliot also spoke about what the King does for Queen Camilla. “He brings to her everything. I’m not talking about all of this [she said, referring to Buckingham Palace], but... he has such a knowledge and interest in so many different things, which she wouldn’t really have been open to if she hadn’t met him,” Mrs Elliot said.
“They are yin and yang, really. They really are polar opposites. But I think it works brilliantly. Most of us as we get to this sort of age are thinking yes, quiet times. But theirs is just going to go like that.”
UNUSUAL DETAILS IN KING’S SPEECH
It comes as King Charles thanked the people of Britain and the Commonwealth for their support in his coronation year in his Christmas address, saying “my heart has been warmed”.
In line with the coronation theme, “Called to Serve”, King Charles III heralded those who have served their communities and who continue to protect the earth for the sake of future generations, dismissing concerns he would deliver a political message about climate change.
“My wife and I were delighted when hundreds of representatives of that selfless army of people – volunteers who serve their communities in so many ways and with such distinction- were able to join us in Westminster Abbey for the Coronation earlier this year,” he said.
“They are an essential backbone of our society. Their presence meant so much to us both and emphasised the meaning of Coronation itself: above all, a call to us all to serve one another; to love and care for all.
“Over this past year my heart has been warmed by the countless and imaginative ways people have been caring for one another, going the extra mile to help one another because it is the right thing to do.
“During my lifetime I have been so pleased to see a growing awareness of how we must protect the Earth and our natural world as the one home which we all share.
“I find great inspiration now from the way so many people recognise this – as does the Christmas Story, which tells us that Angels brought the message of hope first to shepherds.
“Because out of God’s providence we are blessed with much, and it is incumbent on us to use this wisely. Service to others is but one way of honouring the whole of Creation which, after all, is a manifestation of the Divine.
“This is a belief shared by all religions. To care for this Creation is a responsibility owned by people of all faiths and of none. We care for the Earth for the sake of our children’s children.”
The king’s address, broadcast to the UK, the other 14 Realms where he remains Head of State and the countries of the Commonwealth, was filmed at Buckingham Palace’s Centre Room and featured a living Christmas tree for the first time rather than the usual cut tree.
The tree will be replanted after the broadcast.
King Charles also decided to move the location for the traditional royal broadcast to the headquarters of the monarchy, after filming his first one at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2022, where his mother had been buried just a few months earlier.
He was not surrounded by family photographs and was standing for the Christmas address at the palace, where members of the Royal Family traditionally amass ahead of their palace balcony appearances for major moments in the monarchy’s calendar.
Reflecting on the year which included a major food waste project and an environmental speech to world leaders at Cop28, the King used the message to highlight his personal commitment to other religious faiths reflecting a diverse Britain.
“Many of the festivals of the great religions of the world are celebrated with a special meal, a chance for family and friends to come together across generations; the act of sharing food adding to conviviality and togetherness,” he said.
“For some, faith will be uppermost in their hearts. For others, it will be the joy of fellowship and the giving of presents.”
Pleading for world peace, the King said: “At a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the World, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other. “The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘do to others as you would have them do to you.”
In a nod to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II who died last September, and father Prince Philip, he said Christmas was a time to remember those who are “no longer with us and think also of those whose work of caring for others continues, even on this special day.”
“This care and compassion we show to others is one of the themes of the Christmas Story, especially when Mary and Joseph were offered shelter in their hour of need by strangers, as they waited for Jesus to be born,” he said.
King Charles acknowledged the cost of living crisis an urged people to look after one another.
“Throughout the year, my Family have witnessed how people of all ages are making a difference to their communities. This is all the more important at a time of real hardship for many, when we need to build on existing ways to
support others less fortunate than ourselves,” he said.
On Christmas Day, His Majesty attended the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas Day church service for the second time leading the parade since the death of his mother.
The 75-year-old and the Queen Consort, 76, were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children – Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis, who greeted wellwishers in the biting Norfolk cold.
Also in the walking group were the Duke of York walking awkwardly alone and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
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