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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Laura Sharman

Princess Anne was with 'dearest mother' the Queen for her final 24 hours

Princess Anne has remained by the side of her "dearest mother" the Queen's for her final 24 hours at Balmoral.

The Princess Royal said it was both an honour and a privilege to be a part of Her Majesty's last remaining journeys before she passed away on Thursday.

Despite failing health, Queen Elizabeth II remained fiercely loyal to her official duties which she continued right up until the end.

The last public images of the monarch showed her walking with a cane and meeting new prime minister Liz Truss, two days before her death.

In a touching statement, Princess Anne said "I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest mother's life" and recalled the unique memories we all share with the monarch.

Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence leaving St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images)

"It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys," she continued.

"Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.

"We will all share unique memories. I offer my thanks to each and every one who share our sense of loss.

"We may have been reminded how much of her presence and contribution to our national identity we took for granted."

Princess Anne and her late mother the Queen watching the racing from the Royal Box at Royal Ascot in 2007 (Getty Images)

The Princess Royal also gave thanks to her older brother King Charles III, who automatically became monarch when the Queen died.

She said: "I am also so grateful for the support and understanding offered to my dear brother Charles as he accepts the added responsibilities of The Monarch."

In her final comments, she gave one last tribute and said: "To my mother, The Queen, thank you."

The Princess Royal visited the flowers placed outside Balmoral Castle in Ballater two days after the Queen's death (AFP via Getty Images)

Princess Anne was absolutely there, dutifully and resolutely as she was by her mother’s deathbed on Thursday, alongside her husband Sir Timothy Laurence.

She was the first to sound the family alarm, as she was marching with her siblings behind the hearse in Scotland on Monday.

The Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne also accompanied her mother's coffin on its flight from Edinburgh to RAF Northolt in west London on Tuesday evening.

The Princess Royal during a service at Crathie Kirk, in Balmoral on September 10, two days after Queen's death (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

After gaining the reputation as a stoic daughter who once admitted she was not “everyone’s idea of a fairytale princess”, Princess Anne was later known as the hardest working royal - carrying out over 20,000 engagements, characteristically without fanfare or fuss.

She will follow her mum's coffin by car during the royal procession on Wednesday when the late monarch's will make the journey from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster.

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