Queen Elizabeth's final duty became poignant farewell no one expected

Four years ago today, Queen Elizabeth II carried out her final public engagement of her extraordinary 70-year reign.

On September 6, 2022, Her Late Majesty welcomed Boris Johnson and Liz Truss to Balmoral Castle for a historic day of private audiences.

The Queen first received Mr Johnson, accepting the resignation of her 14th Prime Minister, before welcoming his successor, Liz Truss, whom she formally invited to form a new government as the 15th Prime Minister of her reign.

The photographs taken that day would become some of the most poignant images from the final chapter of Elizabeth II's life.

Dressed in a tartan skirt and cardigan, the 96-year-old monarch was pictured smiling as she greeted the newly appointed Prime Minister at Balmoral. 

Her decision to hold the audiences at Balmoral rather than Buckingham Palace was unusual and the fact that the Queen was spending time at her beloved Scottish residence.

Just two days later, on September 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace announced the devastating news that Queen had died peacefully at Balmoral.