The inevitable news has come that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed on.
After 70 years in the Role of Queen, Scotland born General Manager of myFM in Strathroy and Exeter David McAllan says for most, she’s the only Monarch they’ve known.
Operation London Bridge will immediately be put in place. The protocol was set up in the 1960’s in the event of the Queens death. It outlines the 10 days following her death.
In Operation London Bridge, the Queen’s Private Secretary will be the first to be notified of her death, followed by the Prime Minister and Senior Officials and Ministers. The Foreign Office’s Global Response Centre will then alert Commonwealth nations and the countries where the Queen was head of state. All flags will be lowered to half-mast.
It is planned that the soon-to-be King Charles will hold a national announcement.
A remembrance service at St. Paul’s Cathedral will be held as well.
On the same day, the Accession Council will meet at St. James’ Palace to proclaim King Charles the new sovereign. The proclamation will then be read at St. James’ Palace and the Royal Exchange in the City of London, confirming Charles as king.
The Queen’s coffin will be brought back to Buckingham Palace to the throne room with an altar, the pall, the royal standard, and four Grenadier Guards standing watch.
On the 5th day after The Queen’s death, a procession will take her coffin through London to the Palace of Westminster, with a service at Westminster Hall following its arrival. She will stay there for 3 days with her coffin raised, and open to the public.
Her funeral is planned for the 10th day following her death, at Westminster Hall. It will be the first funeral of a British monarch there since 1760.
There will be 2 minutes of silence at mid-day. It’s expected that most businesses will close for the day. UK banks will be closed as well as the London Stock Exchange.
There will be a committal service in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and the Queen will be buried in the castle’s King George VI Memorial Chapel, along with her Husband, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh; who still lies at Westminster. Prince Philip has lied at Westminster in wait of his wife.
Once Charles ascends to the throne, it’s assumed that he would like to make a few changes including having a smaller monarchy and a small number of senior Royal’s. This will be a huge change from the past 70 years.
All 4 of the Queen’s children, soon-to-be King Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, along with Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and Prince William were at her side. Prince Harry and Megan were also summoned.
Written by Kyla Close
