Queen Elizabeth’s family rush to the side of an ailing monarch

BALMORAL, Scotland, September 8 (Reuters) – Britain’s royal family has rushed to be with Queen Elizabeth after doctors expressed concern for the 96-year-old monarch’s health on Thursday and said she should remain under medical supervision.

The Queen, Britain’s longest-serving sovereign and the world’s longest-serving monarch, has suffered from what Buckingham Palace called “episodic mobility issues” since late last year.

“Following a further assessment this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended that she remains under medical supervision,” the palace said in a statement.

“The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”

Her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, and his wife Camilla have traveled to his Scottish home, Balmoral Castle, where she is staying, with her eldest son, Prince William, officials said. His other children – Anne, Andrew and Edward – were also at the castle.

A spokesperson said Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, in Britain for a number of events, would also visit Scotland.

Such a family reunion, outside of holiday events like Christmas or Easter or major public events, is extremely rare.

The BBC interrupted its normal schedule to switch to constant coverage of the Queen.

“My prayers, and the prayers of people across the @churchofengland and the nation, are with Her Majesty The Queen today,” Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said on Twitter. Read more

Last October, Elizabeth spent a night in hospital and she has been forced to cut back on her public engagements since then. On Wednesday, she canceled a virtual meeting with senior ministers after being advised to rest by her doctors.

The day before, she had been pictured appointing Liz Truss as the country’s new prime minister at Balmoral, the 15th prime minister of her record reign.

A palace source played down speculation that the monarch suffered a fall.

A RECORD REIGN

Elizabeth has been Queen of Britain and more than a dozen other countries since 1952, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and earlier this year marked her 70th anniversary on the throne with four days of national celebrations in June.

“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy and relatedness that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope that this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come,” she said. at the time.

Elizabeth ascended the throne after the death of her father, King George VI, on February 6, 1952, when she was just 25 years old.

She is crowned in June of the following year. The first televised coronation was a taste of a new world in which the lives of members of the royal family were to come under increasing media scrutiny.

She became monarch at a time when Britain retained much of her empire. It was emerging from the ravages of World War II, with food rationing still in place and class and privilege still dominant in society.

Winston Churchill was the first Prime Minister to serve during his reign, Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union, the Korean War was raging.

The Prime Minister said: “My thoughts – and the thoughts of people across our UK – are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time.”

Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, interrupted an energy debate in parliament to say he sent his best wishes to the monarch.

“Like the rest of the country, I am deeply concerned about the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” said Labor opposition leader Keir Starmer.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter: “We are all deeply concerned about the news about Her Majesty’s health. My thoughts and best wishes are with the Queen and all the Royal Family at this time.”

Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton and Janet Lawrence

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