OPERATION London Bridge — the code name for the intricate plan of action following the Queen’s death — is in motion.
The day of Her Majesty’s passing would have been D-Day or D+0, but because the announcement came late on Thursday evening, the schedule has been shifted, meaning D+0 began on Friday.
Operation London Bridge — the code name for the intricate plan of action following the Queen’s death — is now in motion
Today marks the second day of a period of royal mourning which will be observed from now until seven days after the Queen’s funeral.
It is understood the funeral will be held on September 19, but this has not been confirmed by the Palace.
But they have confirmed that the day of the Queen’s state funeral will be a bank holiday.
The Operation London Bridge plan has been in place since the 1960s and updated every year, involving branches of government, police, the Church of England and even Transport for London.
Full plans are to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace, but this is what is expected next…
YESTERDAY
THE King and Queen Consort stayed at Balmoral on Thursday night and returned to London on Friday.
Despite his grief, the new sovereign Charles made his first audience as monarch after meeting with Prime Minister Liz Truss.
The King also make his first televised address to the nation in which he paid tribute to this “darling mama”.
Gun salutes — one round for every year of the Queen’s life — were fired in Hyde Park and at other stations
Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to lay flowers following the Queen’s death
He also met with the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, who is in charge of the accession and the Queen’s funeral, to approve the schedule for the coming days.
The UK began ten days of national mourning after the Queen’s death while the king announced another seven days were to be added following the state funeral – 17 in total.
The Prime Minister and senior ministers attended a public service of remembrance at St Paul’s in central London.
Dressed in black, parliamentarians then reminisced about the incredible legacy the late Monarch left behind during a commons meeting.
The PM said: “Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known.
“She was the rock on which modern Britain was built.”
Ms Truss hailed the “devoted” Monarch and “her words of wisdom”.
Union flags on royal buildings flew at half-mast, while bells tolled at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle, and gun salutes — one round for every year of the Queen’s life — were fired in Hyde Park and at other stations.
Floodlighting at royal residences was turned off as the public will begin to leave flowers.
TODAY
THE Accession Council met at St James’s Palace in London to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign.
The Privy Council gathered without the King to proclaim the new monarch and arrange business relating to the proclamation.
The Accession Council met at St James’s Palace in London to formally proclaim Charles as the new sovereign
Parliamentarians reminisced about the incredible legacy the late Monarch left behind during a commons meeting
Then, Charles held his first Privy Council, accompanied by new Queen Consort Camilla and William, who are also Privy Counsellors, and made his personal declaration and oath.
The first public proclamation of the new sovereign was read in the open air from the Friary Court balcony at St James’s Palace by the Garter King of Arms.
Union flags went back to full-mast at 1pm and will remain there for 24 hours to coincide with the proclamations before returning to half-mast.
Proclamations were made around the city and across the country.
At 2pm Charles will meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury at Buckingham Palace.
At 2.30pm, he’ll meet with the new PM Lizz Truss and her choosen cabinet before meeting with the opposition party at 3pm.
The monarch will then meet with the Dean of Westminister at 4pm.
The Queen’s coffin remains at Balmoral so staff can pay their respects.
TOMORROW
THE Queen’s coffin is expected to be taken by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
Proclamations will be read in the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland devolved parliaments in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
The Queen’s coffin is expected to be taken by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh
MON SEPT 12
A PROCESSION along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral will be followed by a service and the Vigil of the Princes attended by members of the royal family.
The public may get the chance to file past the Queen’s coffin at a mini lying in state in St Giles’.
A procession along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to St Giles’ Cathedral will be followed by a service and the Vigil of the Princes attended by members of the royal family
The House of Commons and the House of Lords are expected to come together in Westminster for a Motion of Condolence, which the King could attend.
After leaving England and visiting Scotland, Charles will travel to the other countries of the UK — Wales and Northern Ireland — known as Operation Spring Tide.
TUES SEPT 13
HER Majesty’s coffin will be flown to London. It will then be at rest at Buckingham Palace.
A rehearsal for the procession of the coffin from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster will be held.
Her Majesty’s coffin will be flown to London, it will then be at rest at Buckingham Palace
WED SEPT 14
THE lying in state will begin in Westminster Hall after a procession and a service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The public will pay their respects for four days and senior royals may stand guard in the Vigil of the Princes.
The lying in state, Operation Marquee, will begin in Westminster Hall after a procession and a service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury
THURS SEPT 15
HER Majesty’s coffin will continue to lie in state at Westminster Hall under Operation Marquee.
A rehearsal is likely to take place ahead of the poignant procession at her state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
A rehearsal is likely to take place ahead of the poignant procession at her state funeral at Westminster Abbey
FRI SEPT 16
LYING in state continues. Heads of state begin to arrive for the funeral.
The King has another audience with the Prime Minister. In the evening there is a reception for heads of state, governors-general, realm prime ministers and other visiting official guests.
Heads of state like Emmanuel Macron begin to arrive for the funeral
MON SEPT 19
A TELEVISED state funeral is expected at Westminster Abbey.
The Queen’s coffin is set to be pulled by sailors on a gun carriage. Senior Royals will follow.
A televised state funeral is expected at Westminster Abbey
After the service, there will be a committal at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel.
Philip’s coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.
A national two-minute silence is planned.
Then, a period of royal mourning will be observed for at least seven days after the funeral, it was announced today.
It is thought Charles will not be crowned until sometime next year.
The event – codenamed Operation Golden Orb – has been in planning for many years and is expected to be more low-key than that of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
According to royal protocol, the details of the coronation of a successor are not discussed in advance out of respect for the reigning monarch.
But now after the Queen’s passing, important plans are being drawn up.
According to The Telegraph, the coronation will take place in the spring or summer of next year – in a similar timeline to the Queen’s coronation.
