Queen Elizabeth II: BBC Royal correspondent says ‘prepare for worst’

The BBC’s royal correspondent says there is “profound concern” for the Queen tonight and “we are now at the stage where we must prepare for the worst”.

Speaking on BBC World News, Nicholas Witchell said there had been a “gradual deterioration” in the Queen’s health in recent months and “rumours of cancer”, but no confirmation.

“In the absence of anything that has been confirmed, in the absence of anything that we, the BBC, have been able to say with certainty, it has been impossible to give any sort of impression as to where this is all going,” Witchell said.

“But certainly it has been my impression, as I said on the news just a couple of days ago, that there had be no sharp, significant change in her condition in recent weeks. I think it’s been a gradual deterioration.

“She is, after all, as we know a lady of 96 and what 96-year-old does not experience health concerns.

“But the fact that the doctors have this morning felt it necessary to say what they have and the fact more pointedly, more significantly, perhaps, that family members are traveling to Balmoral ... we can all draw our own conclusions from that.

“It is not really for us to try to speculate or to draw-out what may be happening. It is pretty self-evident the fact that Prince William is breaking his program and flying up to be with his grandmother, the fact that other members of the family are also traveling there.”

The veteran journalist said the fact Harry and Meghan were also travelling to be at the Queen’s side added to the “sombreness” of the moment.

“We should not rule out the fact that, according to the statement, she remains comfortable at Balmoral and they will be hoping that she will be able to rally from this and recover,” he continued.

“But, well, I think the facts speak for themselves. (Scottish Prime Minister) Nicola Sturgeon said that there is profound concern. We hope for the best, but I think we are now at the stage where we must prepare for the worst.”

Witchell said there did not appear to have been any sudden, sharp deterioration in the Queen’s health but doctors had clearly become more concerned in the past 48 hours.

“It comes back to this issue ... as to whether it is merely this mobility issue or whether there is that has been something else,” he added.

“I think we can be candid, there have been rumours of of cancers, but no, of course, confirmation and one wouldn’t expect there to be because there is an insistence by members of the royal family, which is reflected by the royal officials, that these matters are private.

“That it doesn’t matter who you are, you are still entitled to private patient confidentiality, but we do know that she has been into hospital, there have been brief visits into hospital, but of course we don’t know what was the reason for that.”

Saturday, in a special 32 page commemorative liftout, The West Australian pays tribute to the extraordinary life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We celebrate her life, from early childhood and her ascension to the throne, to life with her beloved Prince Philip and family. Don’t miss this special edition of The West Australian on Saturday.