In a surprising revelation, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson disclosed that Queen Elizabeth had been battling bone cancer for over a year before her death in 2022.
In his memoir Unleashed, Johnson, who visited the Queen at Balmoral, Scotland, on September 6, 2022—just two days before her passing—shares insights into the monarch’s health during her final days. He recounts that her private secretary, Edward Young, had prepared him for the severity of the Queen’s condition, revealing that she had been suffering from bone cancer. Despite this, her doctors were concerned that her health could rapidly decline at any moment.
Johnson reflected on the Queen’s resilience during their meeting, noting that although her health had visibly deteriorated, her mental faculties remained sharp. He praised her for still managing to flash her iconic, uplifting smile, despite the painful condition she endured.
Queen Elizabeth passed away on September 8, 2022, with her death certificate listing the cause as “old age.” Buckingham Palace has not provided further details about her health, but Johnson’s comments offer a rare glimpse into the struggles she faced in her final years.
As per tradition, the Queen spent her last days at Balmoral, a place of great personal significance. Her eldest son, King Charles III, expressed that Scotland had always been a cherished part of their family’s history, and it was where the Queen chose to spend her final moments.
Princess Anne, the Queen’s daughter, revealed in a 2023 BBC documentary that while the family tried to persuade her to consider other options, the Queen remained resolute in her wish to be at Balmoral. “I hope she felt that that was right in the end,” Anne said.
The nation mourned the loss of their longest-serving monarch, and Queen Elizabeth remains an iconic figure whose legacy will continue to influence the United Kingdom for generations to come.
