Elizabeth II was a beloved and dedicated Monarch who carried out numerous engagements until the final days of her life. Her commitment to public service remained unwavering, and her last appearances reflected both her enduring sense of duty and the affection she held for her people. We’ve taken a look at some of her final engagements and the lasting impact she made…
Queen Elizabeth II and members of the Royal Family at Trooping the Colour on day one of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Starting with the celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee, the event was a time of joy, pageantry, and national pride. The Queen made her first public appearance during the Trooping the Colour celebrations, where she appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside working members of the Royal Family.
Due to ongoing mobility issues, she was unable to join the carriage procession or watch the parade in person. However, she followed the events via television from Buckingham Palace. During her balcony appearance, royal fans witnessed a touching moment between Prince Louis and his great-grandmother, which quickly became a cherished memory from the occasion. For the event, Elizabeth II wore her signature Guards Badge brooch.
Image Licensed to i-Images Picture Agency. 02/06/2022. London, United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II and UK Royals at Trooping the Colour on day one of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Picture by Pool / i-Images
Later that day, the Queen returned to Windsor Castle, where she made her second appearance. From Windsor, she remotely triggered the lighting of the Principal Beacon at Buckingham Palace, symbolising the planting of over one million trees as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. The beacon, illuminated with 3,500 festoon lights, was a spectacular tribute to her 70-year reign. During this moment, the Queen wore a newly designed brooch, fittingly named ‘The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee brooch‘.
The Queen lights a Platinum Jubilee Beacon at Windsor Castle, on the first day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Concluding the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the Queen made a surprise appearance following the Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Crowds gathered to sing the national anthem, “God Save The Queen,” marking the final time it was performed at an official royal event before the change to “God Save The King.”
Following the Jubilee, the Queen resumed her duties with a face-to-face audience with the then-Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. During the meeting, she received the Canterbury Cross, a special award recognising her exceptional contribution to the Church of England throughout her seven-decade reign.
The Queen was shown the Canterbury Cross. (Archbishop of Canterbury).
At the end of June, the Queen carried out a series of engagements to mark Holyrood Week, an annual celebration in Scotland. She began the week by attending the Ceremony of the Keys at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, accompanied by members of her family, including the then-Earl and Countess of Wessex.
The Queen returned to Edinburgh today, attending the Ceremony of the Keys at Holyroodhouse (Royal Family)
On the second day of Holyrood Week, she attended the Act of Loyalty Parade, a ceremonial event celebrating her Platinum Jubilee and reaffirming Scotland’s allegiance to the Crown. During this engagement, she met three senior representatives from the armed forces, along with three cadets representing the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force.
On the third day, the Queen held private audiences with key Scottish political figures, including the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, Alison Johnstone, and the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. These meetings underscored her role in state affairs.
Additionally, Elizabeth II presented Her Majesty’s Medal for Music for 2021 to John Wallace CBE, recognising his outstanding contributions to the arts.
Elizabeth II and the then-Prince of Wales at the Reddendo Parade during 2022’s Holyrood Week. (Royal Family)
The Queen’s final engagement for Holyrood Week was a surprise appearance during the Reddendo parade. She was presented with a striking glass sculpture as a symbolic gift, which she described as “lovely.”
On 12th July, Elizabeth II, accompanied by the then-Prince of Wales, presented the NHS with the George Cross in recognition of its decades of service, including its extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony took place at Windsor Castle, which had become her permanent residence since the onset of the pandemic.
The Queen presented the George Cross to the NHS at Windsor Castle. (Royal Family).
Later that month, the Queen carried out what would be her last public engagement. Accompanied by The Princess Royal, she visited Thames Hospice, where the royal pair officially opened a new hospice building. During the visit, they spoke with staff, patients, and trustees, highlighting the importance of palliative care. The Queen unveiled a commemorative plaque and was seen smiling and laughing with the staff.
The Queen and Princess Anne make a surprise visit to Maidenhead to open up Thames Hospice. The Queen, clearly in a good mood, can be seen smiling and talking to staff and hospice patients. pic.twitter.com/FvbNj2E3DR
— The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) July 15, 2022
A particularly memorable moment from this engagement occurred when she met Graham White and his wife Pat, who was receiving end-of-life care for stage 4 cancer. When Mr. White’s phone rang unexpectedly, he hurriedly tried to silence it. The Queen, quick-witted as ever, remarked, “Typical, a phone goes off immediately!” prompting laughter. Mrs. White playfully responded, “I could have killed him! People think the Queen is all stiff upper lip, but she has a sense of humour.”
Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss, the new British Prime Minister, during an audience at Balmoral, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to form a government in September 2022.
The Queen’s final official engagement took place on 6th September, just two days before her passing. In a historic moment at Balmoral Castle, she welcomed the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, making her the 15th Prime Minister to take office during her reign.
These last engagements serve as a testament to Queen Elizabeth II’s dedication to her people, her sense of humour, and her steadfast leadership until the very end of her historic reign.
