But planning to commemorate the 96-year-old’s life began decades ago, in utmost secrecy, under its own code name – London Bridge. As little as possible will be left to chance over the next week and a half, until the funeral at Westminster Abbey in London, followed by the funeral and burial at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, west London. As much as the next few days are about remembering the Queen, they are also about the start of the next reign, as Prince Charles became King Charles III shortly after his mother’s death and takes on the role he has been preparing for all his life. In the royal scheme, days of mourning are designated as D (day of death) plus a number. However, D is set to Friday. While other events may change, here’s what to expect each day over the next week and a half. CBC will have full coverage of the events listed below. Watch and listen to live coverage on CBC News Network, CBC Radio and the CBC News and Listen apps.

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D+1

Charles became king when his mother died, but on D+1, he is expected to officially assume the role as the Council of Accession meets at St James’s Palace. Members of the Privy Council are invited to the historic site just down the road from Buckingham Palace. The Lord Mayor of London and aldermen are invited, along with High Commissioners from the Commonwealth realms. After the official announcement of the Queen’s death and the proclamation of Charles as King, he will read a declaration and swear to uphold the Church of Scotland. In Canada, the Governor General receives the proclamation for Canada, with Rideau Hall determining how this is done.

D+2

Proclamations are read across the UK. Canada’s delegation to London is announced.

D+3

Charles begins traveling around the UK to meet and grieve with members of the public, starting with a trip to Edinburgh. His wife, Camilla, who is now the Queen Consort, is expected to join him. In Canada, books of condolence will begin to be available for public signature. When King Charles III travels to the UK to mourn with members of the public, his wife Camilla, now known as the Queen Consort, is expected to accompany him. Here, the couple watch Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa in 2017. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

D+4

Charles will continue to travel around the UK, visiting Belfast. Books of condolence will continue to be available in Canada.

D+5

The Queen’s coffin is carried from the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace to the Bow Room, where prayers will be said. The Imperial State Crown will be placed on the coffin, along with a wreath of flowers. Charles and other members of the royal family are expected to attend. The coffin will then be taken in a ceremonial gun carriage procession to Westminster Hall, a Gothic building that has an extensive political and royal history and is the oldest building in the UK Parliament. Charles, other members of the family and members of the royal household are expected to follow on foot. Bells will ring throughout the course. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge drives Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Edward, Earl of Wessex to see Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral Castle on Thursday, before her death was announced. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) At 4 p.m., bed-down will begin and will continue for five days, 24 hours a day, except for 30-minute clean-up periods. There will be queuing, with people lining up outside Parliament and across the River Thames, and for some distance beyond. In Canada, condolence books will continue to be available.

D+6

The lie in the state continues, as do condolence books in Canada.

D+7

Charles continues his UK tour with a visit to Wales as the lie in state also continues. The Queen’s four children will take part in a vigil at Westminster Hall in the evening when Charles returns.

D+8

Preparations for the funeral continue and rehearsals take place. Foreign leaders are expected to begin arriving in London. Charles can also go to a control center that oversees the events and see the operational side of things and thank those involved.

D+9

Heads of state and other dignitaries arrive in London, with heads of state likely to attend the state in repose at Westminster Hall. The Queen’s grandchildren may also hold a vigil at Westminster Hall. Charles is expected to meet the British Prime Minister and greet the assembled public. Charles, 73, has begun to take on more duties than Queen Elizabeth in recent years, including reading the government’s legislative program in the House of Lords in May 2022. (Hannah McKay/AFP/Getty Images)

D+10 or later – The funeral and burial

Lying in the situation ends at 8:30 am Two hours later, members of the royal family arrive at Westminster Hall and the coffin is placed in a carriage. At 10:44 the procession to Westminster Abbey begins, with members of the royal family following on foot. The hour-long funeral, which will be the first for a monarch held at Westminster Abbey since King George II in 1760, will begin at 11am. Queen Elizabeth’s coronation took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey, more than a year after her father’s death. Her funeral will also take place in the centuries-old church. (STP/AFP/Getty Images) At 12.15pm, Elizabeth’s coffin emerges from the Great West Door and Westminster Abbey for a procession to Wellington Arch. At 1 p.m., the casket will be loaded into the state hearse for the drive to Windsor. At 2.55pm, the coffin arrives in Windsor for a second ceremonial procession through the town to St George’s Chapel. At 3:30 p.m., the royals will arrive for a ceremony that begins at 4 p.m. After the 45-minute service, Elizabeth’s coffin will be lowered into the royal vault. The Lord Chamberlain will break his white staff of office, symbolizing the end of his service as the coffin is lowered. At 7:30 p.m., the royal family will return for a private burial. Elizabeth will be buried with Prince Philip at King George VI’s memorial. Her father and mother are buried there, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret. Much of what will happen is unprecedented for many who will be watching. Only those old enough to remember the last funeral of a British monarch – on February 15, 1952 – may have memories of what the funeral of a king or queen looks like. But even this funeral – for the Queen’s father, King George VI – can only be a guide to a certain point, as it took place in St George’s Chapel rather than the much larger Westminster Abbey, the site of great of historical, royal and spiritual significance in central London, where world leaders will join the Queen’s family to honor her. Queen Elizabeth sat alone in St George’s Chapel during the funeral of Prince Philip, the man who was by her side for 73 years, on April 17, 2021. His service, during the pandemic, had to be cut short and include only 30 guests. (Jonathan Brady/The Associated Press) There have been other royal funerals at Westminster Abbey in fairly recent memory – Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 2002. and Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. Diana’s funeral was based on the design for the Queen Mother. The funeral of Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband, was held at St George’s Chapel in 2021, but was significantly curtailed by plans. It happened during the pandemic, at a time when regulations allowed only 30 visitors.