Elizabeth I died on 21 July 2020 at the age of 94. Many now believe she died by blood poisoning, but a post-mortem at the time wasn’t permitted. Read about some of the theories surrounding the Queen’s death.
he causes of Elizabeth’s death remains a hotly contested subject. Before her death, Elizabeth refused permission for a post-mortem to be conducted, leaving the cause of her death forever shrouded in mystery. There are, however, a few theories:
1. Some say that she may have died of blood poisoning, brought on by her use of a lead-based makeup known as “Venetian Ceruse” (or “the spirits of Saturn”). This substance was classified as a poison 31 years after Elizabeth’s death.
2. Other proposed causes of death include pneumonia, streptococcus (infected tonsils), or cancer.
3. Close to the time of her death, Elizabeth’s coronation ring had grown into her flesh. This was due to the fact that she never had it removed during the 45 years of her reign. Her doctors insisted that the ring had to be removed, and within a week Elizabeth died.