Last known photo taken of Queen Elizabeth II before her death

  • 09/09/2022

One of the last photos taken of Queen Elizabeth II shows she was working and serving her country right until the very end. 

The photo was taken just two days before her death at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 6, when she was meeting with UK's new Prime Minister Liz Truss. 

Truss flew to the royal family's Scottish home on Tuesday (local time) to be asked by Queen Elizabeth to form a Government. 

The photo was taken by PA photographer Jane Barlow, showing the moment the Queen appointed the fifteenth Prime Minister of her reign. 

The last known photo of Queen Elizabeth.
The last known photo of Queen Elizabeth. Photo credit: Getty Images

The Queen broke with tradition to appoint Britain's new Prime Minister at her Balmoral Castle residence in Scotland, rather than at Buckingham Palace in London, due to mobility issues.

Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday (local time) that the Queen died aged 96 at her home in Balmoral.

Queen Elizabeth meeting Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle.
Queen Elizabeth meeting Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle. Photo credit: Getty Images

"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon," the family said. "The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

Shortly after the news broke, Truss paid tribute to the Queen outside Downing Street in London saying, "The death of Her Majesty the Queen is a huge shock to the nation and the world". 

"Through thick and thin Queen Elizabeth II provided us with the stability and the strength that we needed. She was the very spirit of Great Britain and that spirit will endure."