King John III died in 1592. According to the chronicle of Aegidius Girs, queen Gunilla stayed by the bedside of the dying John III, holding his hand, while holding the hand of their son with the other. He was succeeded by his son in his first marriage, King Sigismund, the step-son off Gunilla, who was in Poland at the time of his father's death. Queen dowager Gunilla refused to leave the Royal Castle in Stockholm before the arrival of Sigismund to Sweden, eager to had the support of Sigismund in protecting the large inheritance she had been given in the will of her late spouse against her former brother-in-law Duke Charles. Duke Charles, who had been updated by constant reports of the king's health during his illness, claimed that Gunilla had concealed the death of the late monarch for days while stealing from the Royal Castle's belongings.