Non-royal remained at late Queen's bedside until the end - and reveals strength of their bond

There was an outpouring of grief when passed away on 8 September 2022. The late monarch spent her final days at her beloved with her closest confidante by her side - a testament to the strength of their relationship.

Sir Edward Young had worked as the Queen's private secretary since 2017 and was one of most trusted members of . It was who recorded her passing at the age of 96 in a memo that read: "Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn't have been aware of anything. No pain."

In his book King, Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, royal expert shared details about the moments immediately following the Queen's death. He revealed that, shortly after Sir Edward wrote his note, a footman brought in a locked red box of paperwork found at the late royal's deathbed.

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"When it was opened, staff discovered two sealed letters: one to her son and heir, now , and the other to Sir Edward himself," Hardman wrote. "While their contents are unlikely ever to be made public, the existence of the letters shows that Elizabeth, 96, quietly recognised her time on this earth was at an end."

The box also reportedly contained the Queen's final piece of paperwork and last royal order: for 'exceptionally meritorious service' across the Commonwealth. "Even on her deathbed, there had been work to do. And she had done it,'" Hardman further noted.

Young served as the late Queen's Private Secretary from 2017 to 2022. He was first recruited to in 2004, serving as Elizabeth II's assistant and then as deputy private secretary until his promotion to private secretary. After the Queen's death, Young served as a to assist in the early days of his reign, until he stepped down in May 2023.A Palace spokesman said at the time that Young had brought 'a vast reservoir of wisdom and experience to bear on helping to deliver the change of reign'.

A discreet figure around the Palace, Lord Young was immortalised in 's memoir, Spare . The said Lord Young was known as 'The Bee' thanks to his 'oval-faced and fuzzy' appearance and tendency to 'glide around with great equanimity and poise'. He added that the Private Secretary "was so poised that people didn't fear him. Big mistake. Sometimes their last mistake". Following his retirement as private secretary to the sovereign, Young was granted a peerage, made a permanent lord-in-waiting, and appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath and a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.