https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/queen-elizabeth-ii-secret-letter-sydney-mayor-b2167674.html Jump to content US EditionChange UK EditionAsia EditionEdicion en Espanol Sign up to our newslettersSubscribe {{indy.truncatedName}} Log in / Register Trump news SubscribeMenu * News + News + US + Midterms 2022 + UK + Europe + World + US Politics + UK Politics + Health + Business + Science + Space + News Videos * Sports + Sports + US Sports + Soccer + Formula 1 + UFC + Rugby Union + Cricket + Tennis + Boxing + Cycling + Golf + Sports Videos * Voices + Voices + Editorials + Letters * Culture + Culture + Movies + TV & Radio + Music + Games + Books + Art + Photography + Theatre & Dance + Culture Videos * Lifestyle + Lifestyle + Tech + Money + Food & Drink + Fashion + Love & Sex + Women + Health & Families + Royal Family + Motoring + Electric Vehicles + Lifestyle Videos * Travel + Travel + News & Advice + Simon Calder + USA & Canada + UK + Europe + Asia + Inspiration + City Guides + Sustainable Travel * Premium + Premium + Editorials + Voices + Long Reads + Politics Explained + News Analysis More Best * Home & Garden * Tech * Fashion & Beauty * Food & Drink * Kids * Books * Travel & Outdoors * Sports & Fitness * Deals * IndyBest Videos Climate * News * Voices * Sustainable Living * Explained * Climate Videos * Electric vehicles * SGI TV * Behind The Headlines * On The Ground * Decomplicated * Binge Or Bin * Millennial Love * Indy100 * Crosswords & Puzzles * Most Commented * Newsletters * Ask Me Anything * Virtual Events * Vouchers * Compare Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in LifestyleRoyal Family Queen Elizabeth II left a 'secret' letter that will stay unopened until 2085 The mysterious letter resides in a building in Sydney Kate Ng Thursday 15 September 2022 08:03 Comments Article bookmarked Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile [ ]Don't show me this message again [logo-white]Powered By Pixels Close Queen Elizabeth's coffin carried into Westminster ahead of four days of lying-in-state Leer en Espanol Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter [ ] Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP [ ]I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Queen Elizabeth II may no longer be with us, but we could still hear new words of wisdom from her in the future. This is because the late monarch, who died on Thursday (8 September), left a secret letter to the citizens of Sydney that cannot be opened until 2085. The Queen passed away "peacefully" in Balmoral Castle at the age of 96, after 70 years on the throne. As head of state of Australia, she wrote a letter that has been hidden in a time capsule in a building dedicated to her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria. To celebrate the restoration of the Queen Victoria Building in 1986, the late monarch addressed the mysterious letter to the Lord Mayor of Sydney. Recommended * 'The show must go on': Inside the last-minute chaos of a London Fashion Week in mourning * The significance behind Kate Middleton's diamond and pearl brooch * The meaning behind the Imperial State Crown and flowers on Queen Elizabeth II's coffin According to News.com.au, instructions on the letter read: "On a suitable day to be selected by you in the year 2085AD, would you please open this envelope and convey to the citizens of Sydney my message to them." The letter, signed simply "Elizabeth", has been kept in a glass case in a restricted part of the building since the Queen penned it. Reports say that not even the Queen's personal staff knows the contents of the letter. The Queen Victoria Building was first built in 1898 to celebrate her diamond jubilee. It was nearly demolished in the 1950s to be make way for a car park, but a bid to restore the building won out. Queen Elizabeth II signs the visitor's book at Parliament House in Canberra 27 March 2000 as Australian Prime Minister John Howard stands in the background (NEWS LTD POOL/AFP via Getty Imag) Now that the Queen has passed, King Charles III is Britain's new monarch and the head of state of 15 Commonwealth realms, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and some Caribbean nations. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese declared that the country will get a bank holiday on Thursday 22 September to mourn the death of the Queen. It will officially be called the National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty the Queen and will take place after her funeral, which falls on Monday 19 September. Recommended * Queen's funeral in pictures as royals unite in grief * Who waited in line and who didn't in the queue for the Queen? This is because Albanese and governor-general David Hurley will be in the UK to attend the funeral and will return home on Wednesday 21 September. Follow the latest updates following the death of Queen Elizabeth II here More about Queen Elizabeth IISydneyAustralia Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments 1/2The Queen left a 'secret' letter that will stay unopened until 2085 The Queen left a 'secret' letter that will stay unopened until 2085 Queen Elizabeth II signs the visitor's book at Parliament House in Canberra 27 March 2000 as Australian Prime Minister John Howard stands in the background NEWS LTD POOL/AFP via Getty Imag The Queen left a 'secret' letter that will stay unopened until 2085 Britain Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth AP2011 Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Subscribe Already subscribed? 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