There has been some speculation over the years about whether Queen Elizabeth II was given anesthesia or was “put to sleep” when she gave birth to her four children between 1948 and 1964. This was fairly common practice at the time, as natural childbirth without medication was not as widely advocated until the 1970s. However, there are very few details publicly confirmed about the specifics of the Queen’s births, leading to ongoing curiosity about this topic.
Quick Answers
– There is no official public record stating the Queen was given anesthesia during delivery. However, it was standard practice at the time for royal mothers.
– The Queen likely had her births at Buckingham Palace, where she could have the best medical care available. Home births were still common then.
– Doctorsdelivered Prince Charles in 1948, Princess Anne in 1950, Prince Andrew in 1960, and Prince Edward in 1964. Their father is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
– Queen Elizabeth II has never commented publicly on whether she had natural childbirths without medication or if she was put to sleep, as was customary then.
– It remains unknown if the Queen was awake or asleep during the births of her four children. Royal protocols would dictate privacy around such personal medical matters.
Context of the Time Period
During the 1940s and 1950s when Queen Elizabeth II gave birth, the vast majority of expectant mothers were given anesthesia and were not awake for the birthing process. This was considered standard obstetric practice. Doctors would administer an epidural, spinal block or anesthesia through an IV drip to relieve pain and put mothers to sleep. Fathers were also not typically present in the delivery room to witness the birth during this era.
Natural childbirth without medication was just beginning to be explored in the late 1950s and did not gain widespread popularity until the 1970s and women’s health movements advocated for more natural procedures. Even into the 1980s, a majority of mothers in the U.S. and U.K. still received anesthesia during childbirth.
Pain Relief Methods in Obstetrics
The methods of pain relief for childbirth medicine available during Queen Elizabeth II’s time included:
– Ether – Used since 1847, ether was one of the first anesthetics available to put mothers to sleep during delivery.
– Chloroform – Discovered in 1847, chloroform was commonly used to sedate mothers during childbirth. However, it could have serious side effects on the mother and baby.
– Twilight Sleep – A combination of morphine and scopolamine, causing amnesia and putting mothers in a semi-conscious state without awareness or pain. First used in 1901.
– Spinal Block – Anesthetic injected into the spinal fluid to numb the lower body, first used in 1898.
– Epidural – Anesthesia injected into the epidural space around the spinal cord, introduced in 1937.
– General Anesthesia – Administered through IV medications throughout the body, causing unconsciousness. Gained favor in the 1950s.
Royal Birth Customs
For generations, royal births in Britain were typically handled very privately, without much detail given to the public. It was considered inappropriate to discuss matters like whether the Queen was awake or asleep when giving birth. Birthing methods were kept quiet, even though anesthesia was the norm of the times.
Royal mothers prior to Queen Elizabeth II were all reportedly given anesthesia for childbirth per accepted practice. Queen Victoria had chloroform administered during her births in the 1840s and 1850s. Queen Mary had chloroform and analgesics for her births from the 1890s to 1910s. The Queen Mother Elizabeth had general anesthesia for her two births in the 1920s and 1930s.
Based on precedent, Queen Elizabeth II likely had anesthesia for her four births between 1948 and 1964. However, her personal choices remain private royal information not shared publicly.
Location of Royal Births
Most royal births took place in royal residences or palaces prior to the 1970s, rather than in hospitals. Queen Elizabeth II’s children were likely born at Buckingham Palace, her official London residence.
Royal Home Birth Locations:
| Queen Victoria | Buckingham Palace |
| Queen Mary | Various royal residences |
| Queen Mother Elizabeth | 17 Bruton St, Mayfair |
| Queen Elizabeth II | Suspected Buckingham Palace |
Princess Diana was the first to break tradition and give birth to Princes William and Harry at St. Mary’s Hospital in the 1980s. Kate Middleton followed by also using St. Mary’s for her three children with Prince William starting in 2013.
The Queen’s Birth Experiences
While Queen Elizabeth II has not commented specifically on whether she was awake or asleep for the births of her four children, certain insights can be drawn from limited reports over the years.
As was customary for the era, the Queen’s husband Prince Philip was not present for the actual deliveries. He was at Clarence House next door after Prince Charles’ birth in 1948 and visited afterward.
For Prince Andrew’s birth in 1960, one report states the Queen Mother waited in an anteroom while her daughter gave birth. This suggests a degree of privacy, but also that family members were nearby in the palace.
The Queen’s gynecologists administered anesthesia during her Caesarean section for Prince Edward in 1964, confirming she had obstetricians attending her births.
While not confirmed, the most likely scenario based on precedent and practice is that Queen Elizabeth II was administered anesthesia and not awake for her children’s births, as was the norm for royalty and mothers overall at that time.
The Queen’s Children’s Births
| Prince Charles | November 14, 1948 | Buckingham Palace (reported) |
| Princess Anne | August 15, 1950 | Clarence House |
| Prince Andrew | February 19, 1960 | Buckingham Palace (reported) |
| Prince Edward | March 10, 1964 | Buckingham Palace (reported) |
Conclusion
While the Queen’s exact birthing experience remains private, it is most plausible that she had anesthesia and pain relief as was the standard practice at that time for royalty and mothers overall. Natural childbirth without medication was still rare in the 1940s and 1950s. Though unconfirmed, the Queen likely had obstetricians administer anesthesia or twilight sleep medications to sedate her during delivery per the predominant customs of the era. However, her personal choices regarding childbirth methods demonstrate the reserved nature of Britain’s royal family.