Visible bruising on the hand of Queen Elizabeth II during her most recent photocall at Balmoral Castle on Tuesday raised concern among dedicated royal watchers ahead of an announcement on Thursday that the 96-year-old's doctors considered there to be cause for "concern" over her health.
"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 statement from Buckingham Palace released at lunchtime in Britain on Thursday said. "The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral."
The last public appearance made by the monarch was on Tuesday where she was photographed appointing Liz Truss as her 15th prime minister in a meeting at her Scottish home.
Photographs taken showed the queen looking in good spirits, apart from a prominent bruise on her right hand.
Social media users were quick to point out the apparent bruise and voice concerns over its possible cause.
Political commentator Rupert Myers took to Twitter to say: "The Queen's hand in this photograph of her meeting Liz Truss looks very bruised, poor woman."
The Queen's hand in this photograph of her meeting Liz Truss looks very bruised, poor woman pic.twitter.com/HLh6LDwC7O
— Rupert Myers (@RupertMyers) September 6, 2022
Broadcaster Amanda Ferguson followed up in a post that speculated it may have been caused by a medial drip known as a cannula, when these are removed, bruising often occurs around the affected area.
"The Queen seems to have a bruise on her right hand?" she tweeted. Maybe from a drip?"
The Queen seems to have a bruise on her right hand? Maybe from a drip?
— Amanda Ferguson (@AmandaFBelfast) September 6, 2022
The announcement that the queen's doctors are "concerned" has provoked widespread commentary in Britain. The prime minister left the House of Commons upon hearing the news before tweeting:
"The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime.
"My thoughts - and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom - are with Her Majesty The Queen and her family at this time."
This was followed by an official statement read out in the House of Commons by speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle who said:
"I wish to say something about the announcement that has just been made about her majesty," he said.
"I know I speak on behalf of the entire house when I say that we send our best wishes to her majesty the queen and that she and the royal family are in our thoughts and prayers at this moment."
Speaking about the statement released by Buckingham Palace, royal author Phil Dampier previously told Newsweek that this kind of statement was rare.
"The fact that they put out this statement is deeply concerning," he said. "They don't normally do this."
The BBC has blocked out all scheduled coverage on its flagship channel to present live updates on the queen's condition.
Members of the royal family, including all of the queen's children and Prince William and Prince Harry are traveling to be with her in Scotland.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family ... Read more
