The Queen was a symbol of resilience and longevity to the world. She managed to stay physically fit and mentally sharp until the ripe old age of 96 despite decades of enormous pressure, responsibility and family scandals. It is believed she was able to age so gracefully because she kept her mind stimulated and body active, right up until her final months. The monarch spent hours upon hours reading and learning each day and, despite the temptations of a talented team of chefs on constant standby, largely ate the same balanced diet. Her beloved corgis — who she walked religiously twice a day until last year — and horses — which she rode until just weeks before her death — gave her a healthy dose of exercise.
But it was her sacred sense of duty and inseparable bond with her late husband Prince Philip that undoubtedly gave her the drive to keep going. It was only after the Duke of Edinburgh passed away in April 2021 that the Queen's health rapidly started to deteriorate. Her mother, the Queen Mother, lived to 101, which suggests longevity is part of the family make-up. But studies show this can be undone by a lifetime of bad habits.
So, how was Queen Elizabeth able to stay so fit and healthy?
Exercise
Elizabeth II did not follow a strict exercise programme, but physical activity was a big part of her day-to-day life. At Buckingham Palace, she walked her beloved pet corgis twice a day — once at around midday after the dogs had their lunch, where she was often accompanied by a footman, and a second later in the afternoon. The late monarch continued to walk her corgis twice a day until late 2021 when her health began to she became too frail. Research shows even mild exercise like a daily walk can extend people's life expectancy, by lowering blood pressure and stress levels. A study last month found people over the age of 85 who walk for 10 or more minutes a day have a 40 per cent lower risk of death within five years.
The Queen also had a lifelong history of being a fine horse rider and exceptional breeder of racing horses. Despite several health setbacks in her final months, she was reportedly still taking 'gentle trips' around Windsor Castle on horseback — despite being advised not to by doctors. Deer stalking was one of the queen's favorite pastimes and was said to have been a 'tireless walker and an excellent shot' in her younger days.
Keeping her brain stimulated
Since becoming Queen in 1952, Elizabeth received a large red box full of paperwork on almost every day of the year — except her two official days off, Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. The monarch is said to have spent three hours every morning going through it all. Before she got stuck into her official work, the Queen started each day poring over multiple newspapers or listening to an old-fashioned transistor radio at breakfast. The Queen would normally get into bed at around 11pm with her journal or a whodunnit novel.
Keeping the brain stimulated is one of the best ways to ward off dementia. A meta-analysis published last month found regular mental activities lower the risk of the disease by 23 per cent. These included reading or writing for pleasure, watching television, listening to the radio, playing games or musical instruments, using a computer and making things. The research, on more than 2million people, concluded these hobbies help maintain and improve memory, thinking and reasoning skills and prevent mental deterioration.
Diet/weight
The Queen has never appeared overweight — even in her later years when she slowed down physically and became less active. This was no doubt in part the fact she ate largely the same rotation of meals each day. Darren McGrady, a former royal chef, revealed in 2020 'the Queen is not a foodie', unlike her husband. The monarch reportedly started her day with Earl Grey tea and a side of biscuits. She then took her main breakfast in her private dining room in Buckingham Palace, with cereal, yoghurt, toast and marmalade said to have been her go-tos. Yogurt is high in protein, calcium, vitamins, and probiotics, which keep the gut healthy, the immune system strong and prevent digestive problems. It's thought the good bacteria boosts the intestinal lining and prevents toxins entering the bloodstream.
The monarch is believed to have kept things simple for lunch and dinner, often enjoying a plate of vegetables and red meat, poultry or fish. She was said to avoid simple carbs like pasta and potatoes when eating alone. These low-calorie meals left the monarch with plenty of room for a slice of cake or scones with her afternoon tea without becoming overweight.
Structured routine
The Queen is said to have been a creature of habit. According to Bryan Kozlowski, who wrote about the monarch's daily routine in 2020, her day went like so:
- Queen wakes up at 7.30am
- Enjoys a cup of Earl Grey
- Pre-breakfast bath
- Pores over several newspapers or listens to radio at breakfast
- Sifts through her red boxes and takes meetings
- Afternoon visits outside the Palace, back in time for afternoon tea
- Reads more parliamentary reports
- A possible cocktail reception or public dinner or plays a boardgame/watches T.V.
- In bed by 11 pm with her journal and a book
According to researchers from Northwestern University in Illinois in the US, sticking to a daily routine leads to reduced stress and anxiety levels.
Her love of animals and her family
Queen Elizabeth's special love for her husband - who she described as her 'rock' - no doubt kept her younger than her years. After Prince Philip's death in 2021, the Queen struggled to carry out many of her usual in-person duties, with her mobility problems forcing her to either pull out of events or make an appearance via video calls. Research consistently shows that a happy marriage is good for your physical and mental health. A 2019 study, published in Psychological Science, found people who were happy in their marriage were less likely to die within an eight-year period. And the heartbreak of losing a loved one can lead to the rapid deterioration of a widow's health, research shows.
The Queen also had a passion for horses and dogs, especially the Pembroke Welsh corgi. Her love affair with the breed began in 1933 when her parents acquired the family's first corgi, called Dookie. In a 2017 study at State University of New York, Buffalo, stockbrokers with high blood pressure who adopted a pet had a 50 per cent decrease in blood pressure compared to their peers without a pet.
https://longevitylive.com/anti-aging/6-longevity-secrets-we-can-learn-from-queen-elizabeth-ii/
