Many of the protocols envisaged for the British Crown became known thanks to Netflix’s “The Crown” series. From good manners to tea time to the death of the Prime Minister.
But what will happen when Elizabeth II dies
The Politico website has revealed all the details of the most complex protocol: Operation London Bridge. The plan begins when the British Prime Minister communicates his death over the telephone with the phrase “London bridge has fallen”, London bridge is down.
Politico was keen to emphasize that Elizabeth II, 95, is in good health, and the publication of the in-depth article does not want to suggest that her death is imminent. After the debacle of it’s coming home, the superstition has also arrived overseas
D-day, as the day of the Queen’s death has been dubbed, will begin with a series of communications to ministers and front-line officials. The text is already in draft and says: “Dear colleagues, and with sadness that I am writing to inform you of the death of her majesty, the Queen”.
After sending, all flags in the parliamentary area will be at half mast within 10 minutes of the email arriving. Timing is one of the many points still being discussed, Downing Street jackets will be impossible without outside help.
A blackout of communications on social networks by all public institutions in the United Kingdom is also expected. Retweets in official accounts and non-urgent content will be prohibited.
The news can only be disclosed via an official note from the Royal House. The premier will be the first member of the government to make a statement, the rest of the executive members will not be able to pronounce themselves on the issue until then.
According to Politico, the news of the Queen’s disappearance will subsequently be handled following very specific parameters from government and royal family websites. On the Buckingham Palace portal it will be published on a black background, while all institutional and government sites will be simultaneously listed in mourning. The British Parliament, as well as the chambers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will stop all activities. There will be a minute of silence across the country.
The protocol has different modalities, according to the place of death of the sovereign. If she dies in her residence in Sandringham, the body will be taken to London on the royal train and will be received by the premier at St. Pancras station. If she dies at Balmoral in Scotland, Operation Unicorn will be activated for the train ride; if, on the other hand, the Overstudy Operation is activated, i.e. air transport.
The Queen’s body will arrive at the Palace of Westminster, seat of Parliament, where the funeral parlor will be established and the public will be allowed to attend for three days (even at night).
The new King, Charles, will meet the Prime Minister on the day of his death. At 6 pm he will speak to the country, later he will participate in a commemoration in St. Paul’s Cathedral, with the Prime Minister and the leaders of the state.
Charles will speak to the country and will be proclaimed King at 10 am on the day after his death (D + 1). Over the next few days he will tour across the UK. The funeral celebrations of Elizabeth II will last 10 days. On D + 10 there will be her state funeral at Westminster Abbey and the Queen will be buried in Windsor Castle with her husband Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
