Ten fascinating events that will occur after the Queen’s passing.

The Queen has graced the royal throne with her presence since 1952, the longest reign any British monarch has ever had. She has seen over a dozen UK prime ministers, around 20 summer Olympics, and more than half a dozen popes during her reign. She is the cornerstone of the commonwealth, the caretaker of roughly 600 organizations and charities.

Her death will bring about a massive change in the UK, the waves of which will be felt by the entire world since her long reign means that a lot of political treaties and balances hang on her word. It is such an important event that it has been given a special codename, Operation London Bridge, to control how the days and weeks after the Queen’s passing will fold out.

What Operation London Bridge is all about?

As claimed by the research conducted by The Guardian, when the news reaches the Queen’s private secretary (Edward Young), he will call the prime minister and relay the sad news, by using the code words,

“London Bridge is down”

News will then be relayed to the heads of states of the 15 governments where the Queen’s monarchy extends, the 36 nations that comprise the commonwealth, and the now-independent former colonies of the British empire by the British foreign office.

Modern and Ancient ways of communicating the sad news

Due to her extraordinarily long reign and her status as perhaps the most beloved monarch of history, the entire world will know when this last beacon of the old world order falls. Press outlets, big and small, will be informed with a press release, and according to tradition, a footman in mourning attire will put up a black-edged notice on the gates of Buckingham Palace.

The royal family’s website will also show the sad news on its homepage. It is vitally important that all of these activities occur in tandem to curb the spread of any fake news, just like when news of the death of the royal consort, Prince Philip, spread across the world like wildfire whereas, in reality, he was alive and well and was just going into retirement.

The world of breaking news

It is no secret that media outlets already have obituaries and news stories ready for the death of all public figures who pass the average life expectancy span so that very little time is wasted and the news channel can actually focus on covering the events transpiring around Buckingham palace and the funeral itself. It is important since one BBC newscaster was severely reprimanded for wearing a maroon tie instead of a black one when the Queen Mother passed away.

The tolling of the bells

Oh, and what a depressing sound they will make! The traditions will come into play in Britain. The flags will go down to half-mast, as bells will toll inside churches in the entire city of London. Westminster Abbey’s bell will also be rung, which is only rung in the event of a royal death and is muffled in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion.

St. Paul’s Great Tom bell will also solemnly toll, as businesses and theatres will close down and sports events will be canceled to allow people to gather outside Buckingham Palace, one and all, as the nation enters a ten-day mourning period before the Queen’s funeral.

The Parliament will convene

As the official head of the state leaves the world, Prince Charles will assume the position of King, and all parliament members will swear their allegiance to him as their new Monarch as is the tradition. This is something that has always been done after the death of the royal sovereign and was also done after the death of King George VI in 1952.

The arrangements to be made if the Queen is not in London

There are various policies for what will happen if the Queen passes away outside of London. If she dies anywhere else in England, a car will transport her body to Buckingham palace. Examples of that can be the Queen’s private estate, Sandringham House in Norfolk. If the Queen dies in Balmoral Castle in Scotland where she spends her summers, the situation will be very different, as the Scottish people have their own rituals for such an event.

She would be transported to Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, and afterward would be carried via the city’s Royal mile to St. Giles Cathedral for service before being put on the Royal train to London as her subjects will gather to the train route to throw flowers as the train passes by. Lastly, if she dies abroad, she will be transported to London by the Royal Air Force. Her body will be placed in Buckingham Palace, where four Grenadier Guards will stand the night in a vigil for her.

Prince Charles will become King

The adviser of Prince Charles said to the Guardian,

“There are really two things happening. There is the demise of a sovereign and then there is the making of a king.”

According to the schedule, a speech will be made by Charles on the evening of the Queen’s death, and at 11 am on the very next day he will swear the oath called accession declaration and will then become the new King. Heralds will proclaim the King throughout the city as the trumpets sound and the flag goes back up, cannons roaring in a royal salute to his majesty. To give a decent time span for the mourning, however, the actual coronation will take months after.

Prince Charles’ full Christian name is Charles Philip Arthur George. Instead of becoming King Charles, he might choose to become King George VII, or King Philip, or King Arthur.

The possibility of William becoming King

There is also the possibility that Charles might abdicate the throne, due to his age and the fact that his son is the favorite of the masses. The rumors are spreading since the probability of this happening was also depicted in a play in which his wife, Duchess Kate is seen partaking in intrigue to get her husband to the thrones. However, it is most probable that Charles will eagerly take up the crown since he has been heir apparent since he was a toddler and has waited LONGER than any other royal to become monarch.

The Queen shall rest in the state

The Queen’s coffin will be transported to Westminster Hall in a slow and solemn march from Buckingham palace a few days later after Charles comes back to London. In the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002, 1600 servicemen and women took part in the rally companioned by the royal gun salute and Beethoven’s funeral march. The public will be allowed to pay their respects to the Queen for a few days after she arrives at Westminster.

The change in succession lines

William will become the heir apparent if Charles takes the throne, and will take up the title of Prince of Wales as states tradition. Kate would also rise to the title of the Princess of Wales, which she might abdicate as a sign of respect to the former Princess of Wales, Lady Diana. The Queen’s death would put Will and Kate’s children at second (George), third (Charlotte), and fourth (Louis) in line to the throne. The last in the line would be Prince Harry.