Queen Elizabeth II’s final diary entry has been revealed in the biography of King Charles III. Throughout her life and lengthy reign, the late monarch maintained a personal journal, writing up until just two days before her passing at age 96 on September 8, 2022.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman uncovered the Queen’s personal diary while updating the chapters for his book about King Charles, as reported by Town and Country Magazine. He shared that the late monarch, who reigned for a remarkable 70 years, had written, “Edward came to see me,” referring to Sir Edward Young, her private secretary, and also noted the swearing-in of new Privy Council members.
She made the diary entry at Balmoral, Scotland, where she had her final audience with then-Prime Minister Liz Truss, just two days before her passing, Hardman revealed.
“It turns out she was still writing in it at Balmoral just two days before her death,” he wrote, as shared in an excerpt from The Telegraph. “Her last entry was as factual and practical as ever.”
“It could have been describing another ordinary working day, starting in the usual way – ‘Edward came to see me’ – as she noted the arrangements made by her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, for the swearing-in of the new ministers in the Truss administration,” he added.
The late Queen’s journal was not a space for personal thoughts or emotions, but rather a meticulous record of the events that shaped her busy, working life. It’s likely she documented everything to keep track of daily occurrences and to assist future historians in understanding the significance of those moments.
She once told society diarist Kenneth Rose, “I have no time to record conversations, only events,” as cited by the publication.
The late Queen was not the only monarch to keep a diary during her reign. Queen Victoria famously wrote over 60 million words in her diaries, which she kept for nearly 70 years, from the age of 13 until her death at 81 in 1901.
Elizabeth’s father, King George V, also kept a journal, documenting personal details such as his emotions on the day of his coronation on June 22, 1911.
It has been revealed that King Charles, now 75, has followed in his mother’s footsteps by maintaining his own practical diaries since ascending the throne. A senior courtier told The Telegraph that while “[King Charles] doesn’t write great narrative diaries like he used to,” he “scribbles down his recollections and reflections” about each day.
