Queen Elizabeth II’s passing marked a new era for the royal family. King Charles finally became the king, and Prince William and Kate Middleton were “upgraded” to new roles as the Prince and Princess of Wales. Meanwhile, the royal children – including Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – are growing up. But luckily, they were able to spend some time with their beloved great-grandmother before she passed.

George, Charlotte, and Louis weren’t at Balmoral when the family gathered the day Queen Elizabeth died. They stayed behind with their mother, Kate, and when the day of the funeral came, Prince Louis was too young to attend. 

Even though he was only four at the time – and realizing that her death might have been hard – Louis still was having some thoughts about his great-grandmother’s passing. His words were heartbreaking, but lovely at the same time.

After reigning for over 70 years, Queen Elizabeth died on September 8, 2022, aged 96. The Queen now rests in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle, alongside her parents, her sister, Princess Margaret, and her husband, Phillip.

Before the funeral, hundreds of thousands of people visited London’s Westminster Hall to see Queen Elizabeth lying in state and to pay their respects.

Queen Elizabeth – cause of death

For weeks after the funeral, circumstances surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s cause of death were kept a secret. The Daily Mail reported that a Scottish government department had been accused of being secretive and blocking legitimate attempts to obtain a copy of Her Majesty’s death certificate – despite the fact many believed it should be a matter of public record.

“Despite MailOnline and other media outlets attempting to obtain the information from the National Records of Scotland (NRS), the public body has blocked its staff from providing any details relating to the Queen’s death on September 8,” the Daily Mail wrote.

In late September, the registered cause of death was released. Queen Elizabeth’s cause of death was listed as “old age,” with no further details added. The National Records of Scotland’s Chief Executive, Paul Lowe, confirmed that her passing was registered in Aberdeenshire on September 16.

Queen Elizabeth’s official cause of death is documented as old age. According to Express sources, she withdrew from more public events in her final year because of mobility issues and increased pain.

The Daily Beast reported that although Queen Elizabeth was never photographed using a wheelchair, she used one to get around in private.

According to royal expert and author Robert Jobson, the Platinum Jubilee planning at Buckingham Palace was extraordinary.

“On her insistence, a military-style exercise was put in place so that no one could see she was having to use a wheelchair,” Jobson wrote. “In considerable discomfort, Her Majesty was taken by wheelchair to the helicopter pad at Windsor.”

“At the Palace, she was wheeled right up to the balcony doors, then helped to her feet so that she could stand – with the aid of a walking stick – alongside Charles and Camilla, plus William and his family.”

“After a firework display, the Queen smiled with delight. It was her last salute to her people,” he concluded.

Queen Elizabeth was “easily confused” and had difficulties seeing in her final days

Palace aides were said to have been instructed not to let anyone see the Queen in a wheelchair, most notably because the Queen remembered a “haunting image” of her sister, Princess Margaret, in a wheelchair taken just months before her passing.

However, a friend of Queen Elizabeth has now decided to speak out about the late monarch’s final years, revealing that she was in “a lot of pain.”

Moreover, the source revealed that the Queen’s sight and hearing had deteriorated considerably in the weeks leading to her death.

Although Queen Elizabeth appointed Liz Truss as Prime Minister just days before her death, the friend concludes that the monarch also had difficulty concentrating for an extended period.

“For the last years of her life, certainly from when her husband died [in April 2021], the Queen was in a lot of pain,” the source close to the late Queen’s friend told The Daily Beast:

“In the final months, of course, it got very much worse; by the time of the Platinum Jubilee, she couldn’t see very much, she couldn’t hear very much, and she was easily confused,” the friend of Queen Elizabeth added.

“She barely moved from her apartments in Windsor Castle. Appearing on the balcony at Windsor Castle for the Jubilee required a titanic effort.”

King Charles and Camilla were at the Queen’s side when she passed. Unfortunately, Prince William and Prince Harry didn’t make it to Balmoral to say their goodbyes before she died.

Prince Louis’ heartbreaking words after Queen Elizabeth’s passing

While the now-Prince of Wales traveled to Balmoral to be with his family, Kate Middleton stayed behind in London to pick up their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, from school and tell them what had happened.

Shortly after the Queen died, Kate Middleton revealed how her children reacted to the devastating news of their great-grandmother’s passing.

According to Australia’s Governor-General, David Hurley, who was at a reception alongside Kate Middleton held for Commonwealth dignitaries, the loss greatly affected the royal children. As Kate told Hurley that George is “sort of now realizing how important his great-grandmother was and what is going on.”

Meanwhile, Kate reportedly said that Princess Charlotte understood the Queen’s death “less so” than George. But the same didn’t go for Louis.

As the Evening Standard reported, Louis had many questions and struggled to understand what was going on. The then four-year-old prince wondered if there still would be a traditional summertime vacation at Balmoral, just as they always had done.

“The younger one is now asking questions like, ‘do you think we can still play these games when we go to Balmoral’ and things like that, because she’s not going to be there?” Hurley explained.

Another well-wisher told the Daily Mail, “My daughter asked her how the children were doing, and Kate thanked her and said yes, they were doing well and they were being looked after at school, so that was a nice exchange.”

Days after Queen Elizabeth’s passing, on September 10, Kate and other royals greeted supporters outside Windsor Castle. The mother-of-three spoke to many who wanted to give them their condolences.

“At least Grannie is with Great Grandpa now”

While speaking to a group of children, Kate shared Prince Louis’ heartbreaking – but beautiful – words about the Queen after he found out she had passed.

“An emotional Princess of Wales told a group children that Prince Louis said of [Queen Elizabeth], ‘At least Grannie is with Great Grandpa now’ while another well-wisher said ‘It was really nice’ to see William, Harry, Kate, and Meghan together,” royal expert and Sunday Times editor Roya Nikkhah wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Queen Elizabeth’s funeral became an incredible gathering, with thousands of people lining the streets of London to say their last goodbyes. While Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended their great-grandmother’s funeral, Prince Louis was nowhere to be seen. Reportedly, he was too young.

“As parents, they have, of course, thought long and hard about whether their children should accompany them,” a source told the Daily Mail at the time.

“Of course, little Louis is too young, but they think George and Charlotte are up to it.”

The Platinum Jubilee celebration last year was not only an excellent way of celebrating the Queen’s many years on the throne. Moreover, it was one of those few occasions when the public got to see the entire royal family gathered, everyone from the Queen herself to the youngest member of the family, Prince Louis.

The young prince has made headlines for several years due to his behavior at royal outings, not least because of his many funny faces and excitable demeanor (which isn’t unlike any other child, royal or not). A royal expert has stated that there might be a backside to the “cute” media coverage the young royal is getting.

Prince Louis and Queen Elizabeth’s wonderful conversation

The picture, where the young prince is holding his hands over his ears because of the jet plane’s flyby, is somewhat already a classic. And during the short appearance on the Buckingham Balcony, the Queen and Prince Louis engaged in a charming conversation.

According to lipreading expert Jeremy Freeman, just before the planes arrived over their heads, Louis asked: “Are the Red Arrows coming?”

The Queen gladly replied: “I hope so.”

When the planes blasted by, painting the sky red, Louis excitedly lit up, exclaiming: “Yes, yes, yes.”

“There it is,” Queen Elizabeth said, with Louis adding: “Oh Red Arrows – whoa.”

Not only did Louis’ performance during the Trooping the Colors have thousands of royal fans overjoyed. Moreover, body language expert Judi James says it brought out a “childlike excitement” in Queen Elizabeth.

“We were treated to the strength of the bonds between the Queen and little Louis. His body language was the most spontaneous, and at one point, he even moved in front of the Queen, she told the Mirror.

“The Queen looked over at him with an indulgent facial expression though, chatting to her great-grandson as well as Kate. By the time the Lancaster flew over, it looked as though Louis’ excitement had also brought out some childlike excitement in the Queen.”

The body language expert concluded, “She clearly loved the roar of the engines, and as Louis literally jumped up and down at the sight of the Red Arrows, the Queen smiled and chatted as though sharing the moment.”

Photo of Prince Louis and Queen Elizabeth could win award

Queen Elizabeth will forever be remembered as one of history’s most significant – if not the greatest – monarchs. And now, with Prince Louis, the two might become the main characters in a prestigious competition.

The picture of Prince Louis yelling on the Buckingham Palace balcony beside Queen Elizabeth during Trooping the Colour last year has become a finalist for IMAGO Photograph of the Year, an award presented in partnership with the U.K. Picture Editors’ Guild Awards.

Getty photographer Samir Hussein, who took one of the finalists’ photos, wrote on X, “Really happy to have my photo of the Queen & Prince Louis nominated for Photo of the Year at the Picture Editor Awards. A real honour to be recognised amongst such stunning images.”

If the photo wins, we’re sure Queen Elizabeth will high-five her great-grandson from the heavens.