A period of royal mourning will be observed from now until seven days after the Queen’s funeral, the date of which will be confirmed in due course, Buckingham Palace said. The period of official public mourning is expected to be 11 days, starting after Her Majesty’s death on Thursday. The Queen’s son and heir, King Charles III, spoke of his grief shortly after the death of the 96-year-old monarch, who died “peacefully” at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon, was announced. Charles will now turn his mind to matters of state as he begins his first full day as the nation’s new monarch, having spent much of his 73 years preparing for the role. Gun salutes will be sounded as a series of customary ceremonies for the death of a sovereign begin in the days before the Queen is laid to rest in a state funeral. The death of a monarch ushers in a period of mourning steeped in tradition—and carefully choreographed over years of planning. Tributes continue for the Queen, who has died aged 96 Credit: PA Images However, the historic days ahead will also bring extraordinary scenes not seen in modern times – as Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral is the first for a monarch in 70 years. The last state funeral for a sovereign was held when the Queen’s father, George VI, died in 1952. Here’s everything we know so far about the coming days as Britain enters its official period of mourning. Charles and Princes Harry and William at the Queen Mother’s funeral sermon in 2002. Credit: PA Day of the Dead Thursday would traditionally be D-Day or ‘D+0’ in plans for the aftermath of the Queen’s death, codenamed London Bridge. But the announcement came late in the day – around 6.30pm. of Thursday 8th September – meaning plans have been shifted a day to allow the complex arrangements to take place, meaning today will be considered D+0. The King and Camilla – now the Queen Consort – stayed at Balmoral overnight and will return to London today. The following events are expected to take place over the next 11 days, but some events are subject to confirmation by Buckingham Palace. Time schedule for Friday, September 9
At 12pm, the bells will ring at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle. At 1 p.m., gun salutes will be fired on Friday. One round will be fired for each year of the Queen’s life. Gun salutes will be fired in Hyde Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honorable Artillery Company. At 6pm, a formal service of prayer and reflection will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral in London – the public is welcome to attend.
How can you attend the service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday? The Prime Minister and senior ministers will attend a public memorial service at St Paul’s in central London on Friday. The public is welcome to attend this service and 2,000 available seats will be allocated to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Those wishing to attend the service must visit in person at the City of London Tourist Office on Carter Lane to collect a wristband from 11am. There will be no entry into St. Paul’s Cathedral without a wristband. She was succeeded by her son, Charles, who would be known as King Charles III. Credit: Credit: Matthew Horwood/PA The King’s Speech King Charles will deliver a televised address to the nation on Friday afternoon, which he is to record in advance in the early evening. He will pay homage to the queen and commit to his duty in his service as the new sovereign. Also on Friday, the King and Queen return to London. Charles and Camilla stayed at Balmoral overnight on Thursday but will return to the capital. What are King Charles’ first duties as sovereign?
Audience with the Prime Minister: Despite his grief, duty calls for a new sovereign King Charles III, who will have his first audience as a monarch with new Prime Minister Liz Truss. Confirmation of funeral plans: Charles is likely to meet the Earl Marshal – the Duke of Norfolk – who is responsible for the Queen’s accession and funeral, to approve the carefully choreographed program for the coming days. “London Bridge”: Arrangements have long been planned in consultation with the government, codenamed London Bridge. They will incorporate Operation Unicorn, the emergency plans for the Queen’s death in Scotland. Court mourning: Charles will decide the length of court or royal mourning for members of the royal family and royal households. It is expected to last a month.
The Union Flag flies at half-mast over Windsor Castle in Berkshire following the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II’s death Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA What flag traditions does Britain follow? Union flags on royal buildings are flown at half-mast. Many public buildings, such as council town halls, also lower their flags out of respect. The Royal Standard never flies half-mast. It represents the Sovereign and the United Kingdom and is a symbol of the continuation of the monarchy. If the new king resides in a royal palace or castle, the Royal Standard will fly there at full mast, as is tradition. The Union Flag does not fly at the same time. A 41-gun salute was held at Cardiff Castle to pay tribute to Prince PhilipCredit: PA Images Will a national holiday be declared after the Queen’s death? The government could announce that the day of the funeral will be a public holiday in the form of a National Day of Mourning. Saturday, September 10 The Council of Accession meets, traditionally at 10am, at St James’s Palace in London to formally declare Charles as the new sovereign. First, the Privy Council meets without the King to proclaim the new monarch and arrange the business associated with the proclamation. Charles then holds his first Privy Council, accompanied by Camilla – the new Queen Consort – and William who are also privy councillors, and makes his personal declaration and oath. The first public proclamation of the new sovereign is read outdoors from the balcony of Friary Court at St James’s Palace by the Garter King of Arms. Announcements are made throughout the city and throughout the country. Camilla and Charles are due to travel from Balmoral to London on Friday Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Union flags are raised again at 1pm and remain there for 24 hours to coincide with the proclamations before returning to half-staff. Charles will also have audiences with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Sunday, September 11 The Queen’s coffin is expected to be taken by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The proclamations will be read in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish parliaments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. The Queen watches as the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin is placed in St George’s ChapelCredit: Jonathan Brady/PA Monday, September 12 The procession is expected along the Royal Mile to St Giles Cathedral. Procession and Vigil of the Princes by members of the royal family. The public can have the opportunity to pass the Queen’s coffin in a mini lying in state at St Giles. The House of Commons and the House of Lords are expected to meet in Westminster for a condolence proposal, which could be attended by the King. After leaving England and visiting Scotland, Charles will at some stage travel to the other countries of the UK – Wales and Northern Ireland – known as Operation Spring Tide. Tuesday, September 13 Her Majesty’s coffin is expected to be taken to London. He is then expected to rest at Buckingham Palace. Rehearsal for the procession of the coffin from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall watch the procession through the Galilee Porch of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, during the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wednesday, September 14 The Queen’s enthronement is expected to begin at Westminster Hall – Operation Marquee – after a ceremonial procession through London. It will last four whole days. The Archbishop of Canterbury will hold a short service after the coffin arrives. Hundreds of thousands of people will pass the coffin in its sanctuary and pay their respects, as they did for the Queen Mother’s vigil in 2002. Covid restrictions meant the Queen had to sit alone during Prince Philip’s funeral. Credit: PA The management of the queues outside is codenamed Operation Feather. Senior members of the royal family are also expected to pay their own moving tributes, at some stage standing guard around the coffin – the tradition known as the Princes’ Vigil. During the Covid crisis, plans were altered in case the Queen was passing through during the pandemic. During this time, deck plans included the ability to enter timed tickets for those who wanted to attend. The Queen Mother’s lying in state Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Thursday, September 15 Lying in state continues and there is likely to be a rehearsal for the state funeral. Friday September 16 – Sunday September 18 Recumbent status continues, ends Sunday. Heads of state begin to arrive for the funeral. Monday, September 19 The Queen’s state funeral is expected to take place at Westminster Abbey in central London – however the exact date has not yet been confirmed by Buckingham Palace. The original plans are for the Queen’s coffin to be carried in a gun carriage to the Abbey, pulled by seafarers – sailors – using ropes rather than horses. Senior members of the family are expected to mourn – just as they did for the funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh. Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, Earl Althorp and Prince Philip walk behind Diana’s funeral Credit: Adam Butler/PA The army will line the streets and also…
