Four key people King Charles had to call when he learned the late Queen was dying

Charles, the late Queen's eldest child and her heir, made four very important phone calls as he hurried to be by his mother's side in the final hours of her life

King Charles made calls to four key people upon learning that his mother's life was coming to an end.

The then-Prince of Wales was in Scotland in the days leading up to the Queen's death. But while his sister Princess Anne was at Balmoral, he was 150 miles away in Ayrshire on official royal duties. On the evening of 7 September, Charles received an urgent call from Anne and his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, urging him to make his way to the Queen's bedside ASAP.

The Queen, 96, had spent the day in bed but still wished to appear at that evening's Privy Council meeting over video. As such, provisions were put in place so that she could be audio-only if she stayed in her bedroom. But, moments before the meeting was due to begin, the Queen cancelled on the grounds of 'medical advice', as was reported at the time.

The following morning, on 8 September at 9.30am, Charles was taken by helicopter with his wife Camilla to be by his mother's side. It was then that he made four key calls - to Prince William, Prince Harry and his younger brothers, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, suggesting they come to Balmoral.

According to royal author Robert Hardman in his book Charles III: New King. New Court , the heir arrived at nearby Birkhall - his Scottish retreat - shortly before 10.30am. He then borrowed a Land Rover from a staff member - their usual cars had not yet arrived - so he and Camilla could immediately drive to Balmoral to spend an hour at the Queen's bedside.

Sadly, Charles was not with his mother when she passed away. He had briefly stepped away from her bedside to clear his head and had gone out to gather mushrooms. He received the news that she had died as he was driving back to Balmoral when his most senior aide took a call. Charles pulled over and was addressed for the first time as 'Your Majesty' - signalling he was now King, Hardman wrote.

It would later transpire in the Queen's official death certificate that she had died at 3:10pm on 8 September. Buckingham Palace announced at 12.50pm that Prince William , Prince Andrew , Prince Edward and Sophie had started to make their way to Scotland. Sadly, they were not in time. They landed at 3:50pm, 40 minutes after her death. With William at the wheel, they drove to Balmoral, arriving at 5.06pm. Prince Harry , meanwhile, left Luton airport onboard a private jet at about 5.30pm. He was still in the air when the announcement of the queen's death was made at 6.30pm. In a memo recording Her Majesty's passing, her Private Secretary Sir Edward Young wrote: "Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldn't have been aware of anything. No pain."