Heartbreaking pic of Queen Elizabeth on this day last year as she prepared for final duty

Queen Elizabeth II received newly elected Conservative leader Liz Truss at Balmoral on this day last year, just two days before her death.

The emotive images were captured in the green Drawing Room at Balmoral Castle, and the first shows her stood alone smiling at the camera as she clutched a walkling stick.

She wore a blouse, cardigan and a skirt of Balmoral tartan, paired with patent flat shoes.

Subsequent images showed her greeting Ms Truss, whose short tenure as Prime Minister began on September 6 when she accepted an invitation from the Queen to form a Government.

Just two days later Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen’s health had declined, and announced her death to the world several hours later.

At the time the photos were released, comments were made on how frail the 96-year-old monarch looked, with some pointing out her hand appeared bruised.

But overall fans were overjoyed to see the Queen smiling – as the pictures marked the first time she had been photographed for months.

People have responded to the throwback pictures on Twitter, with many saying just how missed she is.

One person wrote: “Such a brave strong Queen, still missed.”

Another said: “What a wonderful lady she was. I miss her so much.”

A third wrote: “How sad. Who would have thought she would pass away two days later. QE was a wonderful woman.”

The monarch faced ongoing mobility issues and had been seen very few times in 2022, outside of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

Her health was the reason that her historic meeting with Ms Truss changed venue to her Aberdeenshire home, as the monarch typically meets a new prime minister at Buckingham Palace – just a short journey from Downing Street.

But she appeared in good humour and, just before Ms Truss’s arrival, commented on the dark skies above her Scottish home. The dreadful weather had delayed the new PMs journey north by about 10 minutes.

Their meeting, which marked the monarch’s 15th prime minister during her 70-year reign, lasted just over 30 minutes.

Two days later, Ms Truss would stand outside Downing Street to deliver a speech on the death of the Queen.

She said the news was “a huge shock to the nation”, adding: “Queen Elizabeth II was the rock on which modern Britain was built.

“Our country has grown and flourished under her reign. Britain is the great country it is today because of her.”