“Operation London Bridge” describes in detail exactly what is supposed to happen across Great Britain in the ten days following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Until the day of her funeral.
Queen Elizabeth II. | Photo: Royal Family / Ypres | Source: Reuters
death day
According to the British server Watchman A ‘chain of calls’ preceded the official announcement from Buckingham Palace of the Queen’s death. The British Prime Minister was personally informed of the death of the Queen’s private secretary. News of the Queen’s death was then passed on to the Cabinet Secretary and then to the Privy Council office, which coordinates the government as the royal family’s representative. Only then did the general public learn of the death in an official announcement – it was on Thursday around 19:30.
All flags were then hoisted over the royal residences, Whitehall and other government buildings.
From royal family website The home page appears only in black with a short statement announcing the Queen’s death. There is a black banner with the same advertisement on the UK government website.
The first politician to make a statement was newly elected Prime Minister Liz Truss. Meanwhile, the bells are ringing at Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral. A festive salute was launched in Hyde Park and on Tower Hill. Then there was a minute of national silence.
King Charles III. (Prince Charles) is now waiting for his first meeting with the Prime Minister. He will also meet with Earl Marshall Edward Fitzalan Howard to formally sign funeral plans. A state funeral is expected within 10 days.
The first day after death
The Council of Accession, which includes, for example, representatives of the Government Cabinet, will meet at ten in the morning for the main proclamation of the new king at St James’s Palace in London. Another statement will also be made at the Royal Exchange in London. In the afternoon, the new King Charles III awaits. Meeting with the Prime Minister, Cabinet, Leader of the Opposition, Archbishop of Canterbury and Dean of Westminster. The Queen will be honored in Parliament. Flags will fly again on top of the flagpole, but after 24 hours they will be flown at half-mast until the funeral.
The second day after death
The coffin will be transported from Balmoral to Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland. At noon, the Queen will be honored in the capitals of other British states, namely in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
The third day after death
A solemn procession will proceed from Holyrood along the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral for the service. It will be held with the participation of members of the royal family. After this service, St Giles’ Cathedral will be open to the public for 24 hours to bid farewell to the Queen.
An open funeral will be held at a coffin in London.
According to the “London Bridge” plan (a detailed scenario of individual steps after the Queen’s death), King Charles III must. Travel to the Palace of Westminster to receive condolences. After that, he must travel to Edinburgh, where he will attend, among other things, the ceremony of handing over the keys to the mansion of Holyroodhouse. They will then go to St Giles’ Cathedral for service. It will be his first meeting with the Scottish Prime Minister in the Scottish Parliament, where he will also receive condolences.
Fourth day after death
In the evening, the coffin is expected to be taken to Edinburgh Waverley train station, where it will travel at night by royal train to St. Pancras in London.
King Charles III, meanwhile, will fly to Northern Ireland, where he is expected to receive condolences at Hillsborough Castle and attend mass at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast. There will also be a reflection on the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
In parallel, there will also be a rehearsal procession with the late Queen’s casket from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
Fifth day after death
The coffin is expected to arrive at Buckingham Palace in London hours before the ceremony. The Queen’s coffin will be carried from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in the first major ceremony before the funeral. It will be open there for five days. The casket must be carried on a carriage and a short ceremony will take place upon arrival.
The coffin will be placed on a parlor in the center of Westminster Hall, which will be open to the public 23 hours a day.
Sixth day after death
The open coffin display will continue and the public will be able to bid farewell to the Queen.
Seventh day after death
King Charles III. Waiting for a flight to Wales to attend prayers at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. He is then scheduled to visit the Welsh Parliament to receive condolences. After that he will have a meeting with the Welsh Prime Minister. At that time, representatives of the Commonwealth countries began to come to London.
The eighth day after death
King Charles is expected to welcome rulers and prime ministers from the Commonwealth of Nations.
The ninth day after death
On the eve of the funeral of Charles III. Foreign royals will be welcome to attend the funeral. Foreign VIP guests are expected to go to see the open casket.
The tenth day after death – the day of burial
A state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey. The coffin will be carried in procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey. Two minutes of silence will be observed across the country. After the hour-long service, the coffin will accompany a large ceremonial procession to Hyde Park. There he will move the coffin from the carriage to the state chamber which will take it to Windsor. After the procession through Windsor, a solemn mass will be held at St George’s Chapel. The coffin will be lowered into the royal grave at Windsor Castle for another solemn mass.
