Late Queen’s diary reveals a simple but poignant record kept until her final days at Balmoral Castle.
Queen Elizabeth, who passed away on September 8, 2022, was known for her habit of maintaining a daily diary right up until her last days. Now, two years after her passing, a glimpse of her final diary entry has been revealed, including a brief note about an ‘Edward.’
In the updated edition of Robert Hardman’s biography Charles III: New King, New Court, the author discloses that Elizabeth continued her diary tradition during her stay at Balmoral Castle. The excerpt reveals, “Her last entry was as factual and practical as ever. It could have been describing another normal working day — ‘Edward came to see me’ — referring to arrangements made by her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, for the swearing-in of new ministers in the Truss administration.”
The late Queen once admitted that her diary was much simpler compared to that of her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. “I keep a diary, but not like Queen Victoria’s,” Elizabeth remarked. “It’s quite small.”
In a conversation with diarist Kenneth Rose, Elizabeth explained that her busy schedule limited her ability to record detailed accounts, saying, “I have no time to record conversations, only events.”
The final entry offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the Queen’s everyday life, even as she approached her final moments.
