Queen Elizabeth’s family rushes to the sick king’s side

BALMOREL, Scotland, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Britain’s royal family rushed to be with Queen Elizabeth after doctors said they were worried about the 96-year-old monarch’s health and that she should remain under medical observation.

The Queen, Britain’s longest-serving sovereign and the world’s oldest monarch, has been suffering from what Buckingham Palace called “episodic mobility problems” since late last year.

“Following further assessment this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned about Her Majesty’s condition and have recommended that she remain under medical supervision,” the palace said in a statement.

“The Queen is comfortable and at Balmoral.

Her eldest son and heir Prince Charles and his wife Camilla accompanied her eldest son Prince William to Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home where she is staying, officials said. His other children – Anne, Andrew and Edward – were also at the castle.

Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will travel to Scotland, a spokesman said.

Such family gatherings are rare outside of holiday events such as Christmas or Easter or major public events.

The BBC interrupted its regular schedule to switch to standard coverage of the Queen.

“My prayers and those of @churchofengland and people across the nation are with Her Majesty the Queen today,” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said on Twitter. read more

Last October, Elizabeth spent a night in hospital and has since been forced to cut back on public engagements. On Wednesday he canceled a virtual meeting with senior ministers after his doctors advised him to rest.

Earlier in the day he was pictured appointing Liz Truss as the country’s new prime minister at Balmoral, the 15th prime minister of his record-breaking reign.

A palace source dismissed speculation that the monarch had fallen.

A record-breaking reign

Elizabeth has been queen of Britain and a dozen other countries since 1952, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and earlier this year marked her 70th year on the throne with four days of national celebrations in June.

“I am moved by the grace, joy and relationship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of unity will be felt for years to come,” he said at the time.

Elizabeth came to the throne on February 6, 1952, aged 25, after the death of her father, King George VI.

He was crowned in June the following year. The first televised coronation was a harbinger of a new world in which the lives of royals were increasingly scrutinized by the media.

He became king at a time when Britain retained most of its empire. It was emerging from the ravages of World War II, food rationing was still in place and society was still dominated by class and privilege.

Winston Churchill served as the first prime minister during his reign, Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union, and the Korean War escalated.

The Prime Minister said: “My thoughts – and those of people across our United Kingdom – are with Her Majesty the Queen and her family at this time.”

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsey Hoyle, interrupted the energy debate in Parliament to say he had sent his congratulations to the monarch.

“Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” Opposition Leader Keir Starmer said.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter: “We are all deeply concerned by the reports about Her Majesty’s health. My thoughts and wishes are with the Queen and all the Royal Family.”

Report by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holden and Janet Lawrence

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