Queen Elizabeth II Is Dead

"Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

Many believe it is a matter of when not if. As such, the UK has a carefully constructed plan for what will happen in the United Kingdom on and immediately after her death.

Operation London Bridge

Operation London Bridge is a codename given to the protocol which must be undertaken when the long-reigning royal passes away. At the time of publication, it swiftly became a social media trend as the world awaits an update on the Queen's health.

It gives full and comprehensive details on how the news should be communicated and instructs public officials on their desired conduct.

Ever since 2017, the phrase it has been planned that the phrase “London Bridge has fallen” will be used to signify to the Prime Minister that the Queen has passed away. This message will also be passed along to other people in key positions to prepare for her funeral.

The plans are 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 will be released by the Queen’s Private Secretary to the Prime Minster. This will then be communicated to multiple other government departments, including the Foreign Office which will inform Commonwealth nations where the Queen is still their head of state.

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

BBC Two will suspend all scheduled programming before broadcasting BBC One’s announcement. Dark clothing will be 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, Prince Charles, will then meet the Prime Minister and deliver a speech to the nation at 6 pm. 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.

A photo of London Bridge. /UNSPLASH

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.

Summary

• The Queen’s death will first be communicated by her private secretary. This information will then be passed on to UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss.
• Flags will be flown at half-mast within 10 minutes of government officials being told about her death. Gun salutes will take place afterwards.
• A ‘call cascade’ between the UK and all Commonwealth Nations will have to take place.
• All politicians will be told to communicate; ‘We have just been informed of the death of Her Majesty The Queen. Discretion is required’.
• Any tweets and retweets by government officials must be signed-off by spin doctors first. No one can make a statement until the PM does.
• A TV announcement will be made by Buckingham Palace. A funeral will then take place 10 days later.
• Her body will lie in state for three days at Westminster Abbey. Prince Charles, expected to become King, will then tour the country.
• The day of The Queen’s funeral and the day of the Prince Charles’ coronation will both be public holidays in the UK.
• An ‘obit light’ will go off in all commercial radio stations across the UK. When this happens DJs will be required to play ‘sombre music only’.
• The BBC (Britain’s state broadcaster) will enforce the wearing of black ties amongst all male presenters before an announcement is made.
• The network will then briefly show her portraits, accompanied by the national anthem before the news of her death is broken.
• TV schedules will be disrupted for days on end: Archive footage and pre-recorded content will likely fill the airwaves.
• In fact, over a 12-day mourning period, the BBC will be required to remove all of its comedy programmes.
• Airline pilots will also be required to tell passengers about The Queen’s death while they are in mid-flight.
• Britain would eventually be compelled to reprint its currency too, to reflect the new monarch on the throne.
• Netflix also has a plan for Operation London Bridge: Production on The Crown would cease ‘for a week’.

What will happen to the monarchy when Queen Elizabeth II passes away? pic.twitter.com/k4hmCKUbbD — Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) April 26, 2020