Princess Anne’s powerful last tribute to Elizabeth II brought many to tears

When Queen Elizabeth II died, after a 70-year reign, at her beloved Balmoral estate, she did so in the comfort of a family home away from prying eyes and in the company of her family. With her for the last 24 hours of her life was Princess Anne, and she spent the next couple of days with her mother as Queen Elizabeth II made her final journey back to London for one of the largest state funerals in history.

The United Kingdom’s longest-reign monarch passed away on 8 September 2022 in the midst of her Platinum Jubilee year at the age of 96.

Queen Elizabeth II left Balmoral Castle for the last time on the morning of 11 September draped in the Scottish Royal Standard and a wreath of dahlias, sweet peas, white heather, phlox and pine fur picked from the castle’s gardens.

Inside the car with her was Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.

As the first part of a long-planned funeral procession, Queen Elizabeth II’s cortege was driven through Scotland, passing through the towns and cities of Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen, Angus, Dundee, Perth, Fife and Kinross, before arriving at the Palace of Holyroodhouse later that afternoon.

Upon arrival, Princess Anne exited the car and joined her siblings as pallbearers carried their mother inside. Princess Anne dropped into a deep curtsey as her mother passed her, one last sign of respect from the dutiful daughter accompanying her on her last journey.

The following day, Queen Elizabeth II was accorded a funeral procession down the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral where a Scottish service of thanksgiving was held. Princess Anne walked behind her mother’s coffin alongside her siblings and joined them at the ceremony.

That evening, Princess Anne joined a ‘Vigil of the Princes’ with her brothers, becoming the first royal princess to partake in the funereal vigil ceremony.

The next day, 13 September, Queen Elizabeth II was driven to Edinburgh Airport, again accompanied by Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence, and flown to RAF Northolt. Upon arrival in London, Queen Elizabeth II was taken via hearse through the streets of London to Buckingham Palace where the wider British Royal Family—including King Charles III and Queen Camilla—were waiting to welcome her home.

Over the ensuing days, Princess Anne was at the forefront of family events. She walked the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where Queen Elizabeth II lay in state for several days; and on 19 September, she joined in the processions from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch before the coffin was taken to Windsor Castle for a committal service.

“I was fortunate to share the last 24 hours of my dearest Mother’s life,” Princess Anne wrote in a statement released on 13 September. “It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys. Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.”

She ended her statement simply: “To my mother, The Queen, thank you.”

In a documentary, Charles III: A Coronation Year, released in December 2023, Princess Anne commented on the logistics of her mother’s final journey. She revealed that Queen Elizabeth II had been worried about passing away in Scotland, though the family talked her down.

“There was a moment when she felt it would be more difficult if she died at Balmoral,” Princess Anne said. “I think we did try to persuade her that that shouldn’t be part of the decision-making process. So I hope she felt that was right in the end, because we did.”