Queen Swore to Serve until Her Last Breath — Final Appearance Showed Death Was Close, Claims Doctor

When Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne after her father, King George VI died, she swore to serve her country until her last breath. Seventy years later, she remained true to her word and served her people until the day before she died. Her final public appearance showed signs of death.

September 8, 2022, was a sad day for Britons and the world at large, after the Queen, who has been in power since assuming the throne in 1952, died at her Scottish estate, where she spent much of the summer.

Having been UK's longest-serving monarch, the Queen's reign has effected many enormous social changes and spanned 15 prime ministers starting with Winston Churchill.

Many consider her the rock on which modern British was built, with the newly appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss saying the monarch had provided the Britons with the stability and strength they needed.

She remained devoted to her work and served her people till her last breath. A day before her demise, she had a meeting with the prime minister, and even though she maintained her wry sense of humor, she appeared frail, and the doctors admitted that she, indeed, showed signs that death was close.

Buckingham Palace declared the passing of the Queen at 6:30 on Thursday, September 8 evening with King Charles III, declaring that her loss would be deeply felt worldwide. Speaking shortly after his mother's demise, he said:

"I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."

On Tuesday, she had her final royal appointment, the only one ever held at her summer retreat, with all others happening at Buckingham palace. The ceremony, known as "kissing hands" was done in Scotland due to the Queen's mobility problems, to ensure schedule certainty.

Elizabeth’s Powerful Speech in her 20s

On then-princess Elizabeth's 21st birthday, on April 21, 1947, she, her sister, and her parents were on a tour of South Africa when she made her first vow to serve her people always. The Princess dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth, during the speech which was broadcasted on the radio from Cape Town.

She began her speech by addressing all the British Commonwealth and empire, wherever they lived, whatever race they came from, and whatever language they spoke. She continued:

“I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.”

She thanked everyone who had sent her goodwill birthday messages, declaring that while it was a happy day for her, it also brought serious thoughts of the life looming ahead with its challenges and opportunities.

She confessed that she would not have the strength to carry out the resolution to lead her country alone and said she counted on everyone's support. She ended the speech with:

"God help me to make good my vow."

After King George VI's death on February 6, 1952, at Sandringham Estate, United Kingdom,then-Princess Elizabeth took over the throne, becoming Queen.

On June 2, the following year, she was crowned in a coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey before setting out on a tour of the Commonwealth, visiting places including Bermuda, Fiji, Tonga, Australia, and Gibraltar.

Following her coronation, the Queen made a broadcast that evening, thanking the public for their support and promising, once again, to serve the nation.

She shared that, all day, she had been uplifted and sustained by the knowledge that her people's thoughts and prayers were with her. She declared that the coronation was not a symbol of power but a declaration of the people's hopes for the future. She added:

"And for the years, I may, by God's Grace and Mercy, be given to reign and serve you as your Queen."

The Queen’s Appearance A Day Before Death

For the past 70 years, the Queen has kept her promise, serving her people relentlessly until her last day. On Wednesday, September 7, she met with her newly appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss and later with the outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

As she appointed Truss, doctors say she had mottled hands and a frail appearance, a sign that she would meet her death in the next few days.

Photos of the Queen as she posed next to Truss showed a possible sign of declining health, Dr. Deb Cohen-Jones explained, adding that there was possible evidence of peripheral vascular disease. The disease is a circulation disorder that causes the blood vessels outside the heart and brain to narrow, block, or spasm.

It often leads to heart failure because other organs are not receiving a good supply of blood. "It can be a sign of multi-organ failure." He said.

Some of the symptoms she may have been experiencing as a result of the condition leading to "mottled" hands would be pins and needles, numbness, "coldness" of the affected area, muscle cramps and fatigue, and intermittent pain.

Dr. Deb disclosed that if in fact, the Queen had the disorder, she must have been in a lot of pain, even as she carried out her final appointment, yet she still managed her signature smile. There's no telling how long the Queen has had the condition, as her hands were often covered in gloves.

NBC News senior medical correspondent Dr. John Torres gave a different opinion, observing that the skin and connective tissue underneath become fragile and can be easily bruised due to age.

The condition, known as solar purpura, is common among elderly folks and occurs on arms where the sun hits, especially after a patient has had blood drawn or an intravenous line inserted.

More speculations had been making rounds in the past few months concerning the Queen's health, especially because she has steered off the public since arriving at the estate on July 21 for her summer holiday.

Journalist Nicholas Witchell conjectured that the Queen had suffered from cancer, a fall, gout, and a cannula in her hand, opinions that Anita Singh, Member of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, said were "grossly intrusive."