Documents leaked to the website Politico show detailed plans for what happens when Queen Elizabeth dies. The plans have been given the code name “London Bridge”. The Queen has recently canceled several planned missions due to poor health. On Thursday, the news came that the doctors were worried about the Queen’s health. Queen Elizabeth has been on the throne for over 70 years. Photo: Kirsty O’Connor / AP Parallel to the celebration of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, planning for her death was underway. Despite being 96 years old, Queen Elizabeth is considered to be in good health, but the plans for her death were nevertheless regularly updated. The plans have been there since the 1960s. Everything is done to ensure that the Queen’s death and burial are handled with dignity and respect, but at the same time with the pomp and splendor that she deserves – and that is expected. Here are the plans. All times are given in Norwegian time. Day 0: “London Bridge is down” When death is a fact, the first in the line of succession is automatically considered the new monarch. The Queen’s private secretary calls the sitting Prime Minister and some ministers on a secure line with the code message “London Bridge is down”. This initiates Operation London Bridge, and the day is referred to as “D-day”. Charles is the first in the line of succession, and will automatically be considered the new king when the Queen dies. Photo: Aaron Chown / AP Once all the key players are informed, it’s the public’s turn. The aim is for everyone to receive the same information at the same time to reduce the risk of misinformation spreading. A press release is sent to the media at the same time as one of the Queen’s servants, wearing mourning clothes, hangs a written announcement framed in black, on the main gate of Buckingham Palace. The flag is flown at half mast. The Royal Household’s website provides information about the death on a black background. The government’s website gets a black mourning tab. The Prime Minister gives a speech. Cannon salutes honor the Queen. A minute’s silence will be held. St. Paul’s Cathedral holds a memorial service, where the Prime Minister and some key government members are present. Photo: Dan Kitwood / AP The Prime Minister will have an audience with the new king, and at 19.00 King Charles will give a speech to the nation. St. Paul’s Cathedral holds a memorial service, where the Prime Minister and some key government members are present. Flags on public buildings must be flown at half-mast. News editors have their own plans for them to switch to playing appropriate music, drop all satire and dress in black. Day 1: Charles becomes king King Charles is announced as the new head of state. This happens at 11 in the morning at St. James’ Palace in London. The flags are raised to the top again. This is followed by proclamation in the streets of London, trumpets and a seven-minute gun salute from Hyde Park. Hundreds of invited guests are present, among them the Prime Minister. Parliament meets to agree on a statement of condolence. All other political activity is put on hold for ten days. The politicians honor the queen in the House of Commons. At 4.30 pm, the Prime Minister and members of the government and their spouses meet for an audience with the king. Day 2: The coffin arrives at the castle The coffin with the Queen arrives at Buckingham Palace. The Queen is moved to the throne room in Buckingham Palace, where four of the guards with the characteristic bearskin hats will stand guard by the bier. Transport to London depends on where the Queen is when she dies. There are different plans for different scenarios. The Prime Minister and ministers receive the coffin. Politicians’ honors continue in the House of Commons. It is expected that the coffin with the Queen will go to Buckingham Palace. Photo: DANIEL LEAL / AFP Day 3: Tour of the kingdom King Charles receives a condolence message in Westminster Hall in the morning. In the afternoon he starts a tour of Great Britain. First stop is the Scottish Parliament and a service in St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. Day 4: The King in Northern Ireland The new King arrives in Northern Ireland, where he receives condolences at Hillsborough Castle and attends a service in St. Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast. In London, there is a rehearsal for the procession that will take the coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster the next day. Day 5: The coffin is carried through the London Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. The coffin with the Queen will be carried along a ceremonial route through London. Then there is a service in Westminster Hall, where the Queen will lie on “lit de parade” for the next three days. “Lit de parade” is a bed where a famous deceased person lies on display, in honor and public tribute. Day 6: The Queen on parade bed There will be a rehearsal for the funeral procession. The Queen is on “lit de parade” in Westminster Hall. Open to the public 23 hours a day. Day 7: The King in Wales King Charles travels to Wales to receive condolences in Parliament there and attend a service in Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff. The Queen is on “lit de parade” in Westminster Hall. Open to the public 23 hours a day. Day 8-9: Terror preparedness The government apparatus continues its work with the challenges that must be solved for the funeral itself. A large number of heads of state will come from abroad. The same applies to tourists. Safety must be ensured. Terrorist preparedness is on high alert. One scenario describes a London that is full, where people cannot get accommodation, the transport network is overloaded, food and health services become inadequate. The Queen is on “lit de parade” in Westminster Hall. Open to the public 23 hours a day. Day 10: State funeral State funeral in Westminster Abbey, followed by burial in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. After the ceremony, the coffin will be lowered into the chapel’s royal vault. There are the remains of 25 other royals, including the Queen’s husband, Prince Philip. Two minutes silence across the UK at 1 p.m. Most of the country will be closed, including the stock exchange, and there will be a procession through the streets of London and Windsor. Service in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. The Queen is buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor. National Day of Mourning in Great Britain.
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