A ROYAL FAREWELL

Insiders reveal exclusive details about Queen Elizabeth Il's emotional final hours and what's to come for her grieving family 

- JAIME HARKIN

0n the evening of Sept. 8, minutes after the royal family announced Queen Elizabeth II had died "peacefully" at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, bells began to toll around the world. At St. Paul's Cathedral in London, the bell rang out 96 times to mark each year of the long-reigning monarch's life. And as mourners started to gather outside of Buckingham Palace to leave flowers and pay their respects, the British flag was lowered to half-mast in her honor. It was a somber day. Most significantly for members of the queen's family, many of whom had rushed to be at her bedside. One source tells Us her eldest son, 73-year-old Charles, was the first to receive a call saying the queen's health was declining fast. "He went into a state of disbelief," says the source, pointing out that just two days prior, the queen had made a public appearance to appoint Liz Truss the new British Prime Minister.

Hours after the Palace revealed the queen was under "medical supervision" at Balmoral, a solemn Prince William was seen arriving with his uncles Prince Edward and Prince Andrew, where they joined Charles and his sister, Princess Anne. Prince Harry arrived alone later that evening.

 

▶HER FINAL HOURS

According to the first source, Anne and Charles were the only ones who had the chance to say a proper goodbye. "Anne arrived just in time," shares the source, adding that Andrew, Edward and William were "heartbroken that they didn't get to say a final farewell." The source adds Charles was able to have an emotional heart-to heart with his mother just before she passed. "He was holding her hand when she told him, I'm proud of you," says the source. "It was a tearful moment and one that Charles will never forget."