Inside Queen Elizabeth II's Death Announcement Via Twitter

"London Bridge has fallen. Queen Elizabeth II is dead."

This was at 8.30 pm Kenyan time on Thursday, September 8, the same time the Royal Family made it official that the Queen was no more, through a Twitter post. Seconds later, all social media platforms were on fire.

The Royal Family was the first official source to announce the Queen's death before all international media houses compared to February 6, 1952, when the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) first broke the news of the demise of her father, King George VI.

The media house at that time said it was given official notice of George's death at 10:45 a.m. local time, more than three hours after he was found dead.

Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Philip during a safari in Kenya in 1952. /BBC

News of his demise had reached Elizabeth, then aged 25, while she was on safari in Kenya, the famous story of the Treetops Hotel in Aberdare National Park in Nyeri that explains how she went up a tree a princess and came down from it a queen.

"We cannot at this moment do more than record the spontaneous expression of grief," then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill said at the time. 

Major United Kingdom (UK) newspapers like the Evening Standard, Guardian, and Telegraph also reported on George's death. News of George's death then quickly made its way throughout the country, United Press International reported at the time. 

"THE KING IS DEAD," read the top of the Evening Standard that night. 

"Nation mourns Death of King George VI," read the Guardian headline from February 7, 1952.

"DEATH OF KING GEORGE VI," the Telegraph reported on February 7, 1952.

Paradigm Shift

During Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign, the scope of media has transformed into a digital era where news items are disseminated with the same military precision but at a break-neck speed owing to the fast-paced atmosphere motivated by the birth of social media platforms.

Simply put, one these days just gets their news from platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp among others before the same news items are relayed across TV and radio stations.

With the popularization of social media came the rise of digital media houses complete with online publications, social media posts and videos, all shared in real-time. Viral Tea was established officially in February 2021 and within a year has given the legacy media houses, both mainstream and digital, a run for their money thanks to its timely news updates.

Therefore when Queen Elizabeth II's death was announced on Thursday evening by the Royal Family, news spread like lightning.

The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022

Within minutes, users began tweeting and posting about her demise and publications, both international and local, such as Viral Tea, already notified readers of her death through social media posters and a speedy update of a story it had worked on earlier on what would happen after she dies.

The TV stations also caught up and broke the news to their viewers, and what was looking to be a quiet evening went to what they say these days is '0-100' in two shakes of a duck's tail.

Operation London Bridge, the protocol which must be undertaken when the long-reigning royal passes away, went into action. Ever since 2017, it has been planned that the phrase “London Bridge has fallen” would be used to signify to the Prime Minister that the Queen has passed away. 

The plans were coordinated through a number of government and non-government organisations, such as the Church of England, the Metropolitan Police and the Armed Forces.

First of all, the news was released by the Queen’s Private Secretary to the Prime Minster. This was then communicated to multiple other government departments, including the Foreign Office which informed Commonwealth nations where the Queen is still their head of state.

Government websites and social media accounts turned black and non-urgent news were and will not be communicated. Then, the public was informed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and PA Media news outlets, who were told through the Radio Alert Transmission System (RATS).

BBC Two suspended all scheduled programming before broadcasting BBC One’s announcement. Dark clothing was worn by BBC News presenters.

Then, in a more traditional fashion, a footman will pin a dark-edged notice to the gates of Buckingham Palace. The Parliaments of every UK nation will then be recalled and the Prime Minister will address the House.

The next monarch, in this case, King Charles III, will then meet the Prime Minister and deliver a speech to the nation at 6 pm UK time. Flags will be flown at half-mast and books of condolences will be opened while ceremonial items, such as ceremonial maces will be placed in black purses.

Ten days later a state funeral will be held for the Queen and she will be laid to rest at Westminster Abbey, alongside generations of her predecessors and her father, King George VI. The funeral will be a day of national mourning and two minutes of silence will be held at midday.

World Leaders Pay Tribute

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication."

"As the United Kingdom's longest-lived and longest-reigning Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II was widely admired for her grace, dignity, and dedication around the world. She was a reassuring presence throughout decades of sweeping change, including the decolonization of Africa and Asia and the evolution of the Commonwealth."

On his part, U.S. President Joe Biden said the Queen defined an era. "In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her," they said in a statement. "Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world."

Pope Francis: "I willingly join all who mourn her loss in praying for the late Queen’s eternal rest, and in paying tribute to her life of unstinting service to the good of the Nation and the Commonwealth."

"I wish you courage and resilience in the face of this difficult, irreparable loss. May I ask you to pass on sincere condolences and support to members of the royal family and the entire people of Great Britain," read Russian President Vladimir Putin’s message to King Charles.

Kenyan Tributes

President Uhuru Kenyatta: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was a towering icon of selfless service to humanity and a key figurehead of not only the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations where Kenya is a distinguished member but the entire world.

President-elect, William Ruto: I have received news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and I send condolences to the people of the United Kingdom. The queen’s leadership of the Commonwealth for the past seven decades is admirable. She steered the institution’s evolution into a forum for effective multilateral engagement whose potential to drive tremendous socioeconomic progress remain incontestable and redounds to the Queen’s historic legacy. We will miss the cordial ties she enjoyed with Kenya and may her memories continue to inspire us.

Mama Rachel Ruto: Sad to learn of the passing on of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in the United Kingdom. William and I share our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and to the great people of the United Kingdom. May Her Majesty, rest in eternal peace.

Musalia Mudavadi: We join the people of the United Kingdom in mourning the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. Kenya always had a place in her history; she ascended to the throne following the passing away of her father, King George VI, while she was in Kenya.

Esther Passaris: Rest in Peace, Queen Elizabeth II. You have left an indelible mark in our hearts. My condolences to the Royal Family and the people of Britain.