Operation London Bridge: What happens now that the Queen is dead?

Blog

15 September 2022

By Sarah Angela Almaden

Unsplash: Museums of History New South Wales

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Thursday night at 6:30pm.

Her Majesty was under medical supervision by doctors at Balmoral Castle. However, after a closer examination, the doctors became concerned about her health. Later that day, on September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom, passed away at the age of 96. She was the longest-lived British monarch and her reign exceeded Queen Victoria's rule of 63 years and 216 days. Her Majesty also surpassed Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej to become the monarch with the second-longest reign in history, reigning for 70 years and 127 days.

The Queen’s death marks the end of the Elizabethan era and a change for many people. For instance, the majority of us are seeing this transition in the British monarchy for the first time. Perhaps, this new age marks the start of the Carolean period. But with Her Majesty’s passing, do we know what else happens next?

The 10 Days of Events After The Death Of Queen Elizabeth II

Day of Death – Thursday, September 8

D - Day is the name given to the day the Queen died. The days after her death will be identified as D - Day + (1 through 10) until the funeral day, which will be D - Day + 10.

Her private secretary phones the Prime Minister to break the news that London Bridge is down as soon as the Queen's passing is announced. The news will then be communicated with an alert on the Press Association wire and the royal household will release a formal statement informing the staff and the public.

D-Day + 0, Friday September 09

King Charles III and the Queen Consort came back to London after spending the night at Balmoral Castle.
Charles met with the Earl Marshal to discuss the Queen's funeral arrangements for the upcoming days.
The Union flags were flown at half-mast.
All the bells in Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Windsor Castle were tolled.
A total of 96 gun salutes, one for every year of the Queen's life, were fired in Hyde Park and other locations.
At 6 o'clock in the evening, King Charles III addressed the country in a tribute to the Queen and a promise to do his job as the new king.

D-Day + 1, Saturday September 10

Charles was formally announced as King Charles III.
In accordance with the declarations, the flags were flown at full mast at 1pm; they stayed there for 24 hours, after which they were lowered to half-mast again.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a Windsor Walkabout to check out the Queen's floral tributes.
A salute with guns was fired at Hyde Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Queen Elizabeth II reigned?

After her father, King George VI, passed away in February 1952, Queen Elizabeth II succeeded to the throne at the age of 25. But she wasn't formally crowned until the next year. Queen Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom for 70 years and 7 months.

What is Operation London Bridge?

Operation London Bridge, aka "London Bridge is down," is the planned protocol for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The plan was made in the 60s and has been updated in the years before her death on September 8, 2022.