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Last known letter by Elizabeth, 1603 Written just weeks before her death, this is the last known letter by Elizabeth I. It was intended for King Henry IV of France but was probably never sent. As with most of her letters to foreign princes and ambassadors, it is written in French and signed by the Queen. It serves as a testament to the fact that she retained a firm grasp on her senses right up to her death on 24 March 1603.