A look back at the times Queen Elizabeth had to step away from royal duties due to health issues
Before her death, Queen Elizabeth had struggled with increasingly fragile health, postponing or cancelling a number of important engagements in 2022 upon medical advice.
Still, her passing took many by surprise, as the 96-year-old had carried out the appointment of Britain's new Prime Minister days before Buckingham Palace released a statement announcing Her Majesty was under "medical supervision" at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. This development resulted in her missing the planned Privy Council meeting.
"She had a busy day yesterday, taking Boris Johnson's resignation and appointing Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister," royal reporter Dickie Arbiter told Karl Stefanovic and Alison Langdon on Today when asked about the Queen's health after images were released of her meeting with Truss.
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Queen Elizabeth receiving the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Getty
Queen Elizabeth enjoyed good health for much of her life and only rarely cancelled official commitments due to illness.
Here's a look back at the rare times the monarch had fallen sick during her historic 70-year reign.
Her Majesty's mobility issues
Queen Elizabeth had been suffering from increasingly concerning mobility issues for much of 2022, with Her Majesty making use of a cane at the events she was able to attend.
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The royal had been suffering from mobility issues for much of 2022. AP
Last weekend the monarch was unable to attend the Braemar Highland Gathering in Scotland – the first time she has missed the event since she came to the throne 70 years ago.
Upon her return to Balmoral Castle in Scotland in July the Queen cancelled the traditional welcome ceremony outside the gates in favour of a more private welcome on castle grounds, which Buckingham Palace said was "in line with adapting Her Majesty's schedule for her comfort."
In June, Queen Elizabeth was unable to attend Friday's Service of Thanksgiving as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations for her seven decades as monarch after experiencing some discomfort when she appeared at a military parade earlier in the week and that same month was unable to attend Royal Ascot for first time since her coronation in 1953.
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Queen Elizabeth tested positive to COVID-19
In a statement announcing the Queen's COVID-19 diagnosis on February 20 Buckingham Palace said: "Buckingham Palace confirm that the Queen has today tested positive for COVID.
She had also battled COVID-19, but made a full recovery from the virus. Chris Jackson/Pool Photo via AP
"Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week.
"She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines."
However, in an indication the Queen's symptoms were not too serious, Her Majesty signed off a congratulatory message to Team GB men's and women's Curling teams, after their success at the Winter Olympics.
The Queen met with her son Prince Charles on Tuesday, February 8 and Clarence House announced he had tested positive on Thursday February 10.
Queen Elizabeth during a Platinum Jubilee reception at Sandringham House on Saturday February 5, 2022. Joe Giddens/Pool Photo via AP
At the time the palace declined to confirm whether or not the Queen had tested negative.
Days later the Duchess of Cornwall tested positive to COVID-19 after previously returning a negative result.
The Queen had held various engagements since then, including a face-to-face audience with UK Defence Services Secretary Major General Eldon Millar, and his predecessor Rear Admiral James Macleod at Windsor Castle.
But during that meeting, Her Majesty said she "can't move" and appeared a little stiff on her feet.
A photograph of The Queen issued for her Platinum Jubilee on Sunday, February 6, 2022. The Royal Family
The Queen is understood to have been triple-vaccinated and was cared for by the Royal Household's medical team, including Professor Sir Huw Thomas, head of the Medical Household and Physician to the Queen, who was understood to be in charge.
Queen sprained her back, 2021
After a fortnight of rest in October, 2021, it had been expected the Queen would return to public life by attending the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London on November 14.
Instead, hours before it was due to begin, Buckingham Palace issued a statement confirming the monarch had made the decision to miss the event "with great regret".
The palace said the Queen was "disappointed" after "having sprained her back".
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Queen Elizabeth during the Remembrance Sunday service in 2020. AP
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The night before the Queen had missed the Festival of Remembrance at London's Royal Albert Hall, which was attended by Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate.
Queen Elizabeth has only missed six other Cenotaph ceremonies during her near 70-year-reign: on four occasions when she was on overseas visits and in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant with her two youngest children, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
The Duchess of Cambridge stands with the Duchess of Cornwall and the Countess of Wessex at Remembrance Sunday on November 14, 2021. Getty
Queen ordered to rest, 2021
At a public engagement at Windsor Castle before being ordered to rest by doctors on Tuesday October 20, 2021, the Queen appeared in top form as she met with business leaders, including Bill Gates and John Kerry, for the Global Investment Summit.
Hours later, the palace said the Queen was "in good spirits and [was] disappointed" about having to pull out of the visit to mark 100 years since the formation of Northern Ireland.
"The Queen sends her warmest good wishes to the people of Northern Ireland, and looks forward to visiting in the future," the palace added.
Queen Elizabeth hosts a reception at Windsor Castle on October 19, her final engagement before being told by doctors to rest. Getty
The following day – October 20 – the palace confirmed Her Majesty had spent a night in hospital for "preliminary testing."
The Palace released the following statement: "Following medical advice to rest for a few days, the Queen attended hospital on Wednesday afternoon for some preliminary investigations, returning to Windsor Castle at lunchtime today, and remains in good spirits."
Soon after the palace announced the Queen would not be attending the Glasgow climate summit, instead she recorded a video message to be played at the welcome reception on November 1.
Queen Elizabeth speaking to world leaders at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, recorded at Windsor Castle. The Royal Family
The Queen paid tribute to her "dear late husband" and boasted of her pride in Prince Charles and Prince William in her opening address. It was the first time the monarch had been seen since doctors extended her order to rest for an additional two weeks, at the time it was the longest absence in the Queen's reign.
Queen using walking cane, 2021
The first indication the Queen's health was not at its best came on October 12, 2021, when Her Majesty used a walking cane to make her way in and out of Westminster Abbey.
She also entered the Abbey via the Poet's Yard entrance, closer to her seat inside, instead of the usual Great West Door.
The palace said there was no reason for the queen's use of the stick other than "for comfort".
Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey on October 12, using a walking cane. Getty
Days later the Queen used the walking aid again at the Opening Ceremony of the Sixth Session of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff.
Around the same time, reports emerged that the Medical Household, the Queen's team of doctors, had advised her to "give up her evening drink, which is usually a martini", according to a family friend who spoke to Vanity Fair.
Queen admitted to hospital, 2013
In March 2013, the monarch was taken to hospital for the first time in 10 years.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen — who was 86 at the time — had been admitted as a precaution, "after experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis".
The Queen was taken by private car to King Edward VII Hospital in London, where her late husband Prince Philip was treated in early 2021.
All of the Queen's official engagements, including a visit to Rome, were either cancelled or postponed.
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Queen Elizabeth II leaves King Edward II Hospital after being admitted with symptoms of gastroenteritis on March 4, 2013. Getty
Days prior, the Queen was forced to cancel a St David's Day engagement in Wales before being ordered to rest at Windsor Castle.
But the decision was made to take Her Majesty to hospital after she struggled to recover from the stomach and bowel bug.
She spent just one night there, being admitted on the Sunday before being discharged on the Monday morning.
Queen suffers back pain, 2012 and 2006
The Queen had to cancel an appearance at a Windsor Castle investiture ceremony due to recurring back pains, and a church service in Scotland a few days earlier.
In 2006, the Queen had strained a muscle during her annual break at Balmoral and had to cancel a tour of Arsenal's new stadium soon after.
Queen's knee surgeries, 2003
The Queen's recent use of her walking stick was the first time she had been pictured using it in nearly 20 years.
She underwent surgery in January 2003 to remove torn cartilage from her right knee.
The keyhole operation was done after the Queen twisted her knee when walking on uneven ground at the Newmarket racecourse in Suffolk. She had been using a walking stick for some time before the surgery.
Queen Elizabeth leaving hospital in January, 2003, after having surgery on her right knee. Getty
She was 76 at the time and upon her discharge from the King Edward VII Hospital in London, the monarch used a walking stick as she got into the waiting Range Rover.
The Queen wore a grey trouser suit to cover her bandaged knee with royal commentators at the time suggesting she had not worn trousers, in public, since World War II, when she wore a uniform.
"Her Majesty will rest at Sandringham over the next two weeks and will then resume a limited program of engagements until she has made a full recovery," the palace said at the time.
The Queen leaving the King Edward VII Hospital in London in December, 2003, after a second knee surgery that year. UK Press via Getty Images
In December that same year, the Queen — then 77 — returned to King Edward VII for a similar operation on her left knee.
The damage on that occasion was believed to be due to her advancing age and general stress on the body rather than a specific injury.
She also had surgery to remove a few benign skin lesions from her face.
Queen breaks her wrist, 1994
In January 1994, the Queen broke her left wrist when her horse tripped during a ride at Sandringham.
It was the first time Queen Elizabeth, an experienced horsewoman, had fallen for many years.
Queen Elizabeth pictured wearing a sling after breaking her wrist in a riding accident in January, 1994. Getty
But she got back on the horse and returned to Sandringham House unaware that she had sustained anything more than a bruise.
The break was not diagnosed until almost 24 hours later.
Queen suffers the flu, 1993
In March 1993, Prince Edward stood in for her at several engagements because she had flu.
Also that year the Queen had to have three stitches to her left hand after being bitten by one of her corgis. But she refused to cancel a visit to a handbag factory.
'Queen doesn't know any other pace'
In 2021, a royal source told The Express she found it difficult to be anything other than busy.
"Her Majesty doesn't know any other pace than full on and [is] used to being incredibly busy, especially of late," the source said.
Queen Elizabeth II meets members of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery at Windsor Castle, on October 6, 2021. Getty
Queen Elizabeth was the world's longest-reigning monarch, and Britain's longest-lived monarch, having become Queen in 1952, aged 25.
A number of adjustments were made over the years to accommodate the Queen's advancing years.
In 2019, the Queen stopped wearing the jewel-encrusted Imperial State Crown to the Opening of State Parliament due to its weight, choosing to have it next to her on a chair.
Instead, the Queen wore the lighter George IV State Diadem.
Queen Elizabeth wearing the Imperial State Crown at the State Opening of Parliament in 2006. Getty
"You can't look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up, because if you did your neck would break — it would fall off," she told the BBC in 2018.
In 2017, Her Majesty Queen ceased laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday due to the steps and weight of the wreath.
In 2016, the Queen first took the lift instead of the stairs at the State Opening of Parliament.
And in 2015, the Queen stopped making overseas visits instead giving her children and grandchildren the task of carrying out royal tours abroad.
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