Some aspects of what happens in the coming days and weeks date back centuries, while some of the logistics have been regularly revisited, particularly in recent years due to the COVID pandemic. The series of events that followed the Queen’s death was code-named “Operation London Bridge”. Here’s what’s been confirmed so far… Queen to lie in state and a period of national and royal mourning As the nation mourns a monarch, with millions flocking to London to see her body lie in state, Charles immediately replaces the Queen, appearing on television as King for the first time. Image: Flags will be flown at half mast as a mark of respect for the Queen. Photo file A period of national mourning has begun, with full details to be determined by the government. Buckingham Palace has outlined details of the period of royal mourning, which is being observed by members of the royal family, their staff and soldiers on ceremonial duty. This will take up to seven days after the Queen’s funeral, which is widely expected to take place 10 days after her death, but will be “confirmed in due course”, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said. Major sporting events, including cricket matches, have been postponed as a mark of respect, alongside other cultural events such as the Mercury Prize and the BBC Proms, and a planned strike. Flags are flying at half-mast at Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and buildings across the country and will remain at half-mast in all royal residences until 8am the day after royal mourning ends, the palace confirmed. They will remain closed until after the funeral, the spokesman added. Books of condolence are being placed in town halls so people can pay their own tributes to the Queen and large screens are also being set up in major towns and cities to watch the rolling news. Gun salutes and memorial service at St Paul’s A gun salute will be fired for each of the 96 years of the Queen’s life in London at 1pm on the day after her death – in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London. At 18:00 a service of prayer and reflection will be held in St. Paul’s Cathedral, where there will be 2,000 seats available for the public. Anyone wishing to attend should collect a wristband from the City Information Center in Carter Lane Gardens which will be available from 11am. on September 9, said a statement from St. Paul’s Cathedral. Entry to the service is for wristband holders only. Wristbands are distributed one per person, on a first-come, first-served basis. Both Houses of Parliament will meet today, when past and present leaders will pay tribute to Her Majesty. The government is not expected to announce any other business, unless it is urgent, allowing the focus to be entirely on the Queen. Meanwhile, foreign leaders and officials will begin making arrangements to fly in for the funeral. In the coming days, her body will be transferred from Balmoral to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, before returning to Buckingham Palace. The Royal Family have opened an online book of condolence – there will be no physical book of condolence at any royal residence – full details here. A new King Image: Charles becomes king immediately. File photo: AP The day after the Queen’s death, a series of ceremonial events will take place to officially mark the accession of the new King. Traditionally, the Accession Council meets as soon as possible at St James’s Palace, usually within 24 hours of the monarch’s death, and is made up of privy councillors, high officials of state and the Lord Mayor, among others. The process is historically divided into two parts. The Queen’s death will be formally announced by the Lord President of the Council before the “Declaration of Accession” is read. Charles will read an oath which will see him promise to “undertake the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty” and follow in his mother’s footsteps. His wife Camilla and son Prince William will be there, as they are both members of the Privy Council. Camilla has become Queen Consort, which the Queen confirmed in a statement to mark the start of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, ending uncertainty over her new title. William, stepping in the line of succession, now becomes Duke of Cornwall and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cornwall. Image: Camilla to become the Queen’s consort The proclamation is often the first time a monarch officially announces what name they will choose, but Clarence House has already said the king will go by Charles III. But he didn’t have to choose Charles. He could have used any of his names – Charles, Philip, Arthur or George. For example, his grandfather King George VI was born Albert and Edward III’s uncle was David. The first proclamation is traditionally held on the balcony of St James’s Palace, with the second at the Royal Exchange in the City of London. Charles is likely to address the nation on television and hold his first meeting with the prime minister and cabinet, before traveling to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for proclamation ceremonies in the devolved nations. The crowning of the King will not happen immediately. The queen was not crowned for more than a year after her father’s death. Lying in state Image: The Queen Mother’s coffin outside Westminster Hall before being taken to Westminster Abbey Five days after her death, the Queen’s coffin is expected to make the journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where her body will lie in state before the funeral. Huge crowds could gather to watch the procession. Once the casket arrives at the hall, it will likely remain there until the morning of the funeral to allow members of the public to file in and pay their respects. It is expected to be open 23 hours a day. When the Queen Mother died, thousands of mourners lined up, with queues snaking over Lambeth Bridge and along the Embankment. The government is believed to have put in place a detailed security plan for large crowds arriving in London, similar to that for the 2012 Olympics. State funeral Image: Funeral and procession of King George VI in 1952. Image: AP The Queen will have a full funeral, likely 10 days after her death, at Westminster Abbey. Members of the Government, former Prime Ministers and Heads of State from across the Commonwealth and the rest of the world will attend the service. It will include two minutes of silence, which the rest of the nation will also observe. The day of the funeral will likely be declared an official day of national mourning. Although shops, offices and schools are likely to close, it is up to individual organizations whether they still want to open or not. Supermarkets and key retailers may choose to operate with reduced opening hours during bank holidays. Burial and resting ceremony Image: The Duke of Edinburgh laid to rest at St George’s Chapel After the funeral, the Queen’s coffin is expected to be taken in a procession through central London, before going to Windsor Castle. It will be moved to St George’s Chapel, where Prince Philip’s funeral took place due to the coronavirus restrictions. A committal service will likely take place there. After the service, her body will be taken to the castle’s King George VI Chapel, where her mother and father are buried. This will be her final resting place.
