Boris Johnson has recalled his final meeting with the Queen which came just two days before her death was announced. The former Prime Minister has told how the Queen had been “absolutely on it” despite appearing ill.
The MP had his final audience with the Queen in Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 6 as he made way for Liz Truss to succeed him in Downing Street. Mr Johnson, who was the 14th prime minister of the monarch’s 70-year reign, said he was moved by her “sense of duty” during their meeting.
He said the monarch, who celebrated 70 years on the throne in June, remained “actively focused” on both world and UK politics when he formally tendered his resignation as prime minister to her, but said she was “clearly not well”.
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Buckingham Palace confirmed the sad news of the Queen's 'peaceful' passing, aged 96, at around 6.30pm on Thursday, September 8, in a short statement after confirming earlier that afternoon that she was under medical supervision as doctors were concerned for her health. The Prince of Wales is now King, having acceded to the throne immediately on the death of his mother before making his declaration to the accession council over the weekend.
Mr Johnson has told the BBC: "One of the reasons it was so shocking on the eighth to hear about her death was because in that audience she had been absolutely on it. Just two days before her death. She was actively focused on geopolitics, on UK politics, quoting statesmen from the 50s, it was quite extraordinary.
"She seemed very bright, very focused. Look, she was clearly not well, I think that was the thing I found so moving when we all heard about her death two days later. I just thought how incredible that her sense of duty had kept her going in the way that it had, given how ill she obviously was, how amazing that she should be so bright and so focussed. So it was a pretty emotional time."
The Conservative backbencher, who was forced to resign after a series of scandals, including partygate, has been prominent among the politicians paying tribute to the Queen after her death.
Despite being forced to issue an apology to the Queen after it was revealed Covid lockdown-busting parties had been held in Downing Street on the eve of the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, the former PM insisted the issue 'never came up' during his weekly audiences with the Queen.
"Because of her great sense of constitutional function she never got into that sort of conversation," he said. "She was really absolutely focused on what she saw as the important issues. It's a very trusting environment, the audience with Her Majesty. So that never came up."
Mr Johnson also described how he and the late monarch discussed 'just about everything under the sun' during their weekly talks. He added the audiences were "a fantastic break from everything else" and "a wonderful moment of tranquillity".
The country's former leader was seen as Charles was officially made King on Saturday as the former Prince of Wales made his declaration to the accession council. On Monday, King Charles III traveled to Edinburgh, where alongside the Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, and Duke of Wessex, he walked in procession behind his mother's coffin for a service at St Giles' Catherdral.
The Queen's state funeral will take place next Monday, September 19, at Westminster Abbey following four days of her lying in state in Westminster Hall. Mourners have been warned they face waiting up to 30 hours to pay their final respects to the late monarch.
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