Queen Elizabeth II was initially disappointed she may miss her Platinum Jubilee year when she was reportedly diagnosed with a form of bone marrow cancer in 2021
Queen Elizabeth II was so desperate to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee year she begged doctors to prolong her life following her cancer diagnosis, according to reports today.
The monarch even had blood transfusions and gave up her much-loved gin and tonics, gin and Dubonnets and martinis to help extend her life after the crushing news in 2021. The reported diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer, came just weeks after the death of her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the age of 99.
Despite the ill-health and bereavement, her Majesty was determined to see her Platinum Jubilee – the following year – and had blood transfusions for months, it is said. Following the celebrations, which included a Red Arrows flypast, a Service of Thanksgiving and a star-studded concert at Buckingham Palace, the monarch soon refused further treatment and, in September that year, she died at the age of 96.
Paul Burrell, who was a long-serving royal butler and a friend of the Queen in the years which followed, said today: “The Queen had been very poorly during her last days and was mainly bedridden. She was 96 and had refused any more treatment.
“It wasn’t long after Prince Philip had died that she was diagnosed with cancer, in the summer of 2021. It was devastating for her so soon after losing him. Theirs had been a true love story – I saw it on a daily basis.”
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The Queen swore everyone to secrecy after her own diagnosis. However, it is said she was shocked when doctors only gave her until Christmas of 2021.
Mr Burrell added: “The Queen’s response was, ‘Well, that’s a shame, because next year is my Platinum Jubilee year and I’d quite like to have seen that. Can you keep me alive for that?’
“She endured blood transfusions and scrupulously followed doctors’ orders, giving up her much-loved gin and tonics, gin and Dubonnets and martinis, and instead having apple juice (and tomato juice on a Sunday as a treat) to help extend her life… They kept her alive to witness this landmark (Platinum Jubilee) in her reign, but she knew through it all that she was dying.”
The Queen eventually passed away at Balmoral, her favourite home. Most of the household, though, had no idea what had happened that day. Estate workers were going about their business as normal, it is thought.
Dad-of-two Mr Burrell, who entered Royal Service at age 18 as a Buckingham Palace footman, describes Queen Elizabeth II’s final days in full in his book The Royal Insider, which is out on Thursday.
