Press Association photographer Jane Barlow was sent to Balmoral to capture the moment the monarch met Liz Truss, the new prime minister, on Tuesday to formally ask her to form a government. Barlow took some portraits of the Queen while waiting for the Conservative leader to arrive at her estate in Scotland. He described the Queen, 96, as “frail” but “in good spirits”. King prepares for first national address – latest updates In true British style they chatted about the gloomy weather on a day of storms and rain. But the queen’s mood was quite the opposite, Barlow recalls. Image: The Queen greets Liz Truss The Scotland-based photographer said: “I got a lot of smiles from her.” Mrs Truss was formally announced before the Queen “greeted her with a broad smile” and Barlow was ushered out of the room. The photographer said it was an “honour” and a “real privilege” to take the picture. “I was there to photograph her meeting the new Prime Minister, but for me the best picture was of the Queen alone. And obviously it’s become more important now.” He said the Queen “definitely looked weaker” than when she was photographed in the summer. Image: Jane Barlow Image: The Queen was ‘smiling’ and ‘in good spirits’, Barlow said Another person who spent time with the Queen in the days before her death was the moderator of the Church of Scotland’s general assembly, who said she looked in “excellent form”. The Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields spent the weekend at Balmoral and dined with the Queen on Saturday night and Sunday lunchtime. Click to subscribe to Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts He described her as “wonderful” and “very attractive company”. Their conversations covered a variety of topics including the Queen’s father, the Duke of Edinburgh, horses, her faith and her love of Balmoral, one of her favorite places. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 17:36 The Queen’s life Dr Greenshields also revealed his surprise that the Queen’s health had deteriorated so suddenly. “This frail lady came along, but there was still that sense of who she was and that real sense of making you feel instantly at ease, instantly engaging with you in conversation, a nice bright smile, everything you’d expect from your monarch “, he said. “Her health was poor, we knew that, but when I left her on Sunday she was very positive and I just find it hard to believe that in just a few days things have changed so much.” Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen died peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon. A period of national mourning has now begun for Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Tonight at 8pm on Sky News: Watch the documentary Elizabeth II: A life of duty with Mark Austin, a look back at the extraordinary life of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch
