The Queen is under medical observation at Balmoral, with Prince Charles and other senior royals by her side – live updates

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A plane has just touched down at Aberdeen airport in overcast conditions, reportedly carrying seven members of the royal family.

It’s still not known exactly who the plane is carrying, but the BBC speculates that the Sussexes could be among them. It is now approaching three vehicles that are waiting for them.

Updated at 10.55 EDT

The Queen gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony with Prince Charles, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children for a special flypast in June for her platinum jubilee celebrations. Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images

The first public signs that something was gravely amiss came with a flicker of activity in the House of Commons chamber as Liz Truss announced her energy price freeze.

It was a sign that the situation could be more serious than the careful words from Buckingham Palace suggested. The House of Commons had never been interrupted to hear news of the Queen’s health in this manner before.

The prime minister had finished her opening remarks and was seated on the frontbench next to the chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng. The Labour leader, Keir Starmer was in the middle of his response.

But MPs were distracted by the appearance of the new chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, Nadhim Zahawi, who had not been in the chamber for Truss’s speech. He slipped into the chamber and inserted himself between Kwarteng and Truss to speak to the prime minister, handing her a note, and then slipped out again.

Eagle-eyed MPs began to whisper to each other, wondering what was going on. It is not uncommon for ministers and MPs to pass notes to each other in the chamber or to help out with figures or responses to questions. But Truss had finished speaking. Zahawi returned to her side after a couple of minutes.

Phil Dampier, royal author and journalist, says it is clearly a “very serious situation” at Balmoral.

Only recently, he notes on BBC News, she was walking around the estate and has been horseriding.

If she passes away, the Queen will be an “impossible act to follow”, he warns.

A flight on its way to Aberdeen carrying seven members of the royal family is expected to land in about 10 minutes, reports BBC News, having taken off from RAF Northolt.

Updated at 10.53 EDT

Speculation by Nicholas Witchell, the BBC’s royal correspondent, over the Queen’s possible health conditions (see 14:07) has attracted criticism from some journalists:

The Bishop of Durham has paid tribute to the Queen during a debate on education in the House of Lords.

Rt Rev Paul Butler said: “I begin by expressing on behalf of the benches our concern for Her Majesty and the assurance of our thoughts and prayers for her and the royal family.”

The Queen’s top doctor is Prof Huw Thomas, head of the medical household and physician to the Queen.

He has been in the job since 2014 and was knighted last year.

At the time, Thomas, who is also a professor of gastrointestinal genetics at Imperial College London’s department of surgery and cancer, said:

It’s been a busy couple of years in this role, so I feel very grateful to have been recognised for my service to date.

He added:

You very much become part of that organisation and become the personal doctor to the principal people in it, who are patients just like other patients.

With the pandemic, the key priority of the Medical Household is trying to make sure that the people under its care are kept safe.

He has also been involved in delivering some of the younger members of the royal family, including Charlotte in 2015 and Louis in 2018, reports the Press Association.

Updated at 10.22 EDT

Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, has said news of the Queen’s deteriorating health will have led to “an afternoon of “sober reflection and anxiety for households across Wales”.

At a press conference in Cardiff responding to the prime minister’s energy announcement, he said:

I should begin by just reflecting on the news published through Buckingham Palace earlier today – an afternoon of sober reflection and anxiety for households across Wales.

Of course, we will be wishing all sympathy and understanding with members of the royal family who are gathering at Balmoral.

Updated at 10.22 EDT

Peers from Labour and the crossbench have shared their wellwishes for the Queen.

The crossbench peer Lord Patel said during a debate in the House of Lords that he “wishes Her Majesty the Queen well”.

The Labour peer Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top said: “I too associate myself with the wishes and prayers that people are making for the royal family.”

Updated at 10.06 EDT

BBC One has suspended regular programming after the announcement about the change to the Queen’s health.

The broadcaster is airing a BBC News Special, which will be followed by the planned BBC News at Six.

Presenter Huw Edwards is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and black tie, in accordace with the BBC’s dress code for when a member of the royal family dies.

Bargain Hunt was interrupted at 12.39 to broadcast the statement from Buckingham Palace alerting the public to royal doctors’ concern for the Queen’s health.

Since then, the channel has been airing rolling news coverage on the Queen’s health.

Zara Mohammed, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, has said:

The royal author Catherine Pepinster has said “the tectonic plates are shifting” and that the UK is on the “cusp of a new era”.

If the Queen’s reign is indeed coming to an end, she tells BBC News, it will be a “traumatic” moment for the country.

Updated at 09.54 EDT

TV crews reporting from outside Buckingham Palace this afternoon. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images The scene this afternoon outside Buckingham Palace. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters