Queen Elizabeth II is “under medical supervision” at Balmoral, Buckingham Palace has said.
The decision was made by doctors who were “concerned” for the 96-year-old's health, following an assessment.
“Following further evaluation this morning, the queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision,” a spokesman for the palace said.
“The queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.”
The announcement has set off a wave of concern across the UK, as the palace does not routinely issue updates on the sovereign's health and well-being.
The queen's daughter, Princess Anne, has already visited her mother while her three sons — Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward — rushed to be by her side on Thursday.
Prince Charles, heir to the throne, and his wife Camilla have travelled to Balmoral, their representatives at Clarence House said.
Prince Edward, his wife Sophie and Prince Andrew were also on their way.
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The most recent official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle, was for her platinum jubilee. The image is part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition, on view at Windsor Castle until September 26. Photo: Ranald Mackechnie -
This portrait, issued by the Royal Collection Trust, was taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding in 1952, and is featured in the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Accession exhibition, on view at Buckingham Palace until October 2. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
This portrait of Queen Elizabeth by British artist Lucian Freud was finished in 2001 and caused an outcry. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Reuters -
The monarch was featured in Andy Warhol's 'Reigning Queens' series of portraits created in 1985. The pop art print, although not officially commissioned, was later brought into the Royal Collection. The image is a part of Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
This image of Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day on June 2, 1953, was taken by royal photographer Cecil Beaton, and remains one of the most famous portraits of the monarch. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II painted by Pietro Annigoni, was finished in 1956 and commissioned by the Fishmongers Company in the City of London. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. PA -
Michael Leonard's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was painted for her 60th birthday, and commissioned by 'Reader's Digest'. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Reader's Digest / Shutterstock -
Nigerian artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy painted this portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was commissioned by the Commonwealth to mark her 2002 golden jubilee on March 10, 2002. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
Artist Chris Levine made headlines with his controversial portrait titled 'Lightness of Being', which shows the queen with her eyes closed. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust -
The 1963 plaster cast known as the 'Dressed Head' by Arnold Machin, provided the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to be used on British stamps from 1967. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Getty Images -
This recent portrait of the monarch titled 'Algorithm Queen', was painted by an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist called Ai-Da Robot for the platinum jubilee. -
Ralph Heimans's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was commissioned to mark her 60 years on the throne and hung in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey. The image is a part of the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation exhibition. Photo: Dean and Chapter of Westminster / AFP
Prince William is also en route to the Scottish castle, Kensington Palace confirmed. Palace officials added that his wife Kate had remained at their home in Windsor as their three children are on their first day at their new school. The palace earlier released photos of the couple arriving at the school with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
A flight containing members of the royal family was seen landing at Aberdeen International Airport on Thursday afternoon. Royal Air Force flight KRF23R took off from RAF Northolt in South Ruislip, west London, at 2.39pm, flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed, and touched down in Scotland at 3.50pm.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who stepped down from royal duties in 2020, are returning from their trip to Germany to be at his grandmother's side.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be travelling to Scotland,” a representative for the couple said. The couple had been due to attend the WellChild Awards ceremony in London on Thursday evening, but cancelled their scheduled appearances.
The Sussexes are on a whirlwind trip to Europe, having landed in the UK last week. They flew to Germany on Tuesday to help to launch the next year's Invictus Games. The couple returned to the UK in June for the queen's platinum jubilee and introduced their children Archie, 3, and 1-year-old Lilibet to their great-grandmother.
Robert Hardman, royal biographer and commentator, told BBC News: “The palace does not issue bulletins on the queen's health unless it is significant.”
The queen celebrated her platinum jubilee this year with a four-day national holiday that included concerts and church services. She is the only British monarch to reach the 70-year milestone.
She pulled out of some jubilee events, including a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral after experiencing “discomfort”, but she did make a starring appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, flanked by members of her family, thrilling the tens of thousands of well-wishers gathered to mark the historic occasion.
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The Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla during the Big Jubilee Lunch, with tables set up on the pitch at The Oval cricket ground in London on day four of the platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
People set up tables for the Big Jubilee Lunch on The Long Walk in Windsor. Millions of people are expected to attend 'Big Jubilee Lunch' picnics as the long weekend of festivities to honour the queen's platinum jubilee concludes. AFP -
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrives for the Big Jubilee Lunch at The Oval cricket ground. AP Photo -
People gather for the Big Jubilee Lunch on The Long Walk in Windsor. AFP -
Britain's Princess Beatrice, centre, and Princess Eugenie are presented with flowers as they arrive at the Big Jubilee Lunch organised by Westminster Council for local volunteer and community groups. AP Photo -
Participants pose for a picture with a cardboard cut-out of the queen on The Long Walk in Windsor. AFP -
A reveller arrives to attend a street party in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in central England as part of the platinum jubilee celebrations. AFP -
Prince Charles looks at decorations at The Oval cricket ground. Reuters -
A picnic table is decorated with cut-outs depicting Britain's Queen Elizabeth in Windsor. Reuters -
People dance at Blackpool Tower Ballroom during the platinum jubilee celebrations. Reuters -
A woman celebrating ahead of the Big Jubilee Lunch on The Long Walk in Windsor. AFP -
A man dressed as a king hangs decorations as he takes part in the Big Jubilee Lunch in Windsor. Reuters -
Spectators cross the Mall before the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace on day four of the celebrations. PA -
Balloons are hung ahead of the Big Jubilee Lunch on The Long Walk in Windsor. AFP -
People pose for selfies on the Mall ahead of the start of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in front of Buckingham Palace. PA -
Performers dressed as farm animals parade during the Platinum Pageant in London. EPA -
Performers on the 1960s bus take part in the Platinum Pageant. AFP -
Performers take part in the Platinum Pageant in London as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. AFP -
Former Olympic swimmer Duncan Goodhew and opera singer Katherine Jenkins arrive at the pageant. PA -
Performers in the pageant. AFP -
TV presenter Timmy Mallett at the pageant. PA -
TV presenters John Craven, Chris Tarrant and Johnny Ball at the pageant. PA -
A participant prepares for the pageant. PA -
Sir Cliff Richard climbs onboard the 1950s bus at Horse Guards Parade for the pageant. PA -
People take part in a parade during the pageant. Getty -
Prince Louis sat on the knee of his grandfather the Prince of Wales during the pageant. PA -
Naomi Campbell and Kanya King on a bus as part of the pageant. Getty -
Princess Charlotte, Prince George and their father Prince William enjoy the pageant. PA -
Members of the public watch the pageant in Westminster, London. PA -
Revellers celebrate near Windsor Castle, Britain. EPA -
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and her son Prince George. AFP -
Model Kate Moss and actress Patsy Kensit during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant outside Buckingham Palace. AP -
People parade during the pageant. AP -
Girls climb a street sign for a better view of the parade in London. PA -
A cut out of Queen Elizabeth II in a window near Windsor Castle. EPA -
Performers from Edinburgh Festival Carnival entertain the crowds in Princess Street Gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland, during a platinum jubilee event. PA -
Children enjoy a street party in Edinburgh. PA -
Actress Joan Collins at the London pageant. EPA -
People take part in The Big Lunch on the Long Walk, Windsor Castle. EPA -
A woman participates in the Windsor Castle event. EPA -
Vintage cars in front of Buckingham Palace during the London pageant. PA -
Singer Katherine Jenkins at the pageant. AFP -
A dog wearing a crown at the Big Jubilee Lunch in Windsor. Getty -
People parade during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant outside Buckingham Palace in London. AP Photo -
Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, pose for a photo with attendees of the Big Jubilee Lunch in Windsor. AFP -
A hologram of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is projected on the Gold State Coach during the pageant in London. AFP
The queen's most recent engagement was on Tuesday, when she welcomed Liz Truss to Balmoral, swearing her in as the new prime minister. She also received Ms Truss's predecessor, Boris Johnson, at the castle, where he officially offered his resignation.
Ms Truss on Thursday said the news would be a cause for concern across Britain.
“The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime,” she said.
“My thoughts — and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom — are with Her Majesty the queen and her family at this time.”
Permanent secretaries from all government departments were due to attend an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss a potential transition from one monarch to the next.
A sign reading “no guard changing ceremony today” was in position outside Buckingham Palace on Thursday morning but was later removed by officials.
In the last year, the queen has taken on fewer in-person events, relying on senior royals, including the Prince of Wales, to sit in for her. Prince Philip, her husband, died in April 2021.
The House of Commons speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, said MPs across the political spectrum would “send our best wishes to Her Majesty the queen”. He added that “she and the royal family are in our thoughts and prayers at this moment”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was “deeply worried” by the news and hoped to see the queen make a full recovery.
“Along with the rest of the country, I am deeply worried by the news from Buckingham Palace this afternoon,” the opposition leader tweeted.
The Archbishop of Canterbury also expressed his concern. “My prayers, and the prayers of people across the Church of England and the nation, are with Her Majesty the queen today,” Justin Welby tweeted.
“May God's presence strengthen and comfort Her Majesty, her family and those who are caring for her at Balmoral.”
Former Labour prime minister Sir Tony Blair tweeted: “It is deeply concerning to hear today’s news from Buckingham Palace. My thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty the queen and her family at this worrying time.”
The royal family's website appeared to crash following the news of the queen's health concerns. An error message appeared on screen reading: “Gateway time-out”.
