Why Queen Elizabeth died, according to her death certificate

National Records of Scotland have released the Late Queen Elizabeth's death certificate, citing 'old age' as the cause for her passing. The monarch passed away at 96.

On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II died, instigating ten days of mourning amongst the British people. The death certificate confirms Her Majesty passed at 3.10pm - more than three hours before the public were informed.

As cited on her certificate, 'old age' took the monarch's life. This was the same cause of death listed for her husband, Prince Philip's death last year. The Queen had the longest reign in the history of the British monarchy and people had been concerned with her health for months, and much of the international media had wondered what Queen Elizabeth really died of.

For almost 21 days there was no official information on the cause of her death. On the night of September 8, it was simply announced as follows via social media: "The queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon."

Despite her advanced age, Queen Elizabeth II was in very good health until only a few months prior to her passing. Her medical history does not include any chronic illnesses, only a bad case of the flu (1993), a broken wrist (1994), knee surgery (2003), gastroenteritis (2013), a bad cold (2017), and a back injury in November 2021, according to several British media.

Following the death of her husband Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 2021, the queen increasingly withdrew from public life. In February 2022, she caught Covid-19, but the Royal Family declared that she only had mild symptoms.

Yet, according to the BBC, the queen said in an interview that she was "very tired and exhausted" after having Covid. In fact, in the last months of her life, she was seen walking with a cane, she weighed less than usual, and she canceled several important appointments, such as some of the events scheduled for her diamond jubilee.

Still, Elizabeth II's death came as a surprise to many. On the day of her passing, the palace confirmed that the queen's doctors were "concerned" and had recommended medical follow-up, but it did not suggest in any way that her condition was critical.

Ginni Mansberg, an Australian doctor, explained on the Australian television channel 7NEWS that the Queen probably did not suffer in her last moments because she fulfilled her tasks until the end. Heart disease and stroke could be the cause of death, Mansberg explained. "She could have had a stroke, she could have had a heart attack."

Two days before her death, at the time she received Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss, some public attention was focused on the blue-colored mark on the queen's right hand (pictured). No one imagined that this would be the monarch's last public appearance, but the mark did strike observers.

Australian doctor Deb Cohen-Jones told the Daily Mail that the blue-purple spot could have been a sign of vascular disease.

According to the doctor, the condition can lead to heart failure or multiple organ failure because it causes "blood vessels outside of your heart and brain to narrow, block, or spasm."

Another theory proposed by various doctors is that the Queen had suffered too much from the loss of her husband. The so-called broken heart syndrome is an acquired myocardial disease, a sudden dysfunction of the left ventricle, which is triggered by stress or severe pain.

Dr Deb Cohen-Jones told the Daily Mail that the syndrome is about not just about losing the will to live. It has real effects on one's health: "Physiologically, losing the Duke of Edinburgh would have caused severe stress, which would have caused her cortisol levels to rise."

The scandals surrounding her son, Prince Andrew, and Prince Harry's departure from the royal family were also huge challenges for the head of the British royal family.

Queen Elizabeth's final resting place lies in St George's Memorial Chapel, alongside her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Representatives of European royal houses and politicians such as US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron attended the funeral to pay their respects, as Her Late Majesty was finally laid to rest.