The U.K. government and the Royal Household are preparing plans for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The preparation might seem premature but there is also a plan in place in case of her death.
According to Daily Express, Buckingham Palace does not usually comment about the funeral arrangements for members of the royal family. Over the years, however, details have emerged about Operation London Bridge, which goes through a series of updates at least three times a year.
Operation London Bridge was established as early as the 1960s or a decade into the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen herself has shared inputs about her funeral, as well as the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, who will assume the throne after his mother is gone.
Part of the arrangement of Operation London Bridge is the wake. Whatever the scenario surrounding the death, Her Majesty will lie in state at the Buckingham Palace throne room for the public to pay their respects.
Four days later, her wake will be moved to Westminster Hall. It is assumed that this will take days considering that it took over 200,000 people to say goodbye to the Queen Mother when she died in 2002.
Her Majesty's funeral will take place 12 days after she dies. The service will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and held at either St Paul's Cathedral or Westminster Abbey.
In 2017, The Guardian also published part of the plan surrounding the Queen's final hours. Assuming she will die of an illness, royal doctors will be by her side to take control of what may be made public.
As soon as she breathes her last, Prince Charles will be regarded as the new monarch. His family will have to kiss his hands and then the Queen's private secretary will have to inform the prime minister via a secured line.
Apparently, the code for the Queen's passing is "London Bridge is down." When Queen Elizabeth's father passed nearly 69 years ago, the call to the prime minister was coded as "Hyde Park Corner" to keep the detail from the switchboard operators.
After the prime minister learns of the death, the Foreign Office's Global Response Centre is next, which will inform the Commonwealth countries. Meanwhile, those in the government will have to wear black armbands on their left arm.
Then, a footman from Buckingham Palace will pin a notice at the gates. The move will, apparently, be simultaneous with the changes in the official site of the royal family. Government buildings will also follow the protocols surrounding the death of a national figure.
The next day, the Ascension Council will meet for Prince Charles' proclamation. Parliament will also convene in the evening to promise their allegiance to the new King.
