By outdoor-nature-child.com Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is gearing up to release a memoir on October 10, offering a controversial look into his time in office, including sensitive insights about the health of the late Queen Elizabeth II. In “Unleashed,” Johnson reveals that the Queen was battling bone cancer during her final years and recounts their last meeting, shedding light on her condition at that time. This disclosure has sparked significant debate, given the historically private nature of the Queen’s health and the confidentiality surrounding meetings between a Prime Minister and the reigning monarch.
Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, with her death certificate listing “old age” as the cause. However, excerpts from Johnson’s memoir suggest he learned of her bone cancer diagnosis over a year prior to her death, with medical experts voicing serious concerns about her declining health.
Johnson stepped down from his position on September 6, 2022, just two days before the Queen’s death. In his memoir, he describes his final encounter with her, a typical meeting in which he tendered his resignation. At that time, the Queen was at Balmoral Castle in Scotland recuperating. Her private secretary, Edward Young, informed Johnson that her health had deteriorated significantly over the summer. As Johnson entered the sitting room to meet the Queen, he immediately sensed the gravity of Young’s earlier caution.
He writes, “She appeared pale, with her posture noticeably more hunched. Her hands and wrists were marked with dark bruises, likely from IVs or injections.” Despite her physical setbacks, Johnson emphasizes that the Queen’s mind was “entirely unaffected” by her illness, noting she occasionally displayed her characteristic radiant smile, which revealed her enduring beauty during their exchange.
In line with its longstanding policy, Buckingham Palace has neither confirmed nor denied Johnson’s claims regarding the Queen’s health. CNN has highlighted that Johnson’s disclosure about her cause of death clashes with royal etiquette. While previous Prime Ministers such as Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and David Cameron have shared their experiences with the Queen in their memoirs, none have provided as vivid a depiction of the details as Johnson has in his account.