As much as we’d like to imagine the Queen will be around forever, unfortunately, we will say goodbye to her one day and for the government that means enacting ‘Operation London Bridge’.
As Queen Elizabeth II approaches her Platinum Jubilee, her 70th year on the throne, it’s a stark reminder the country’s matriarch will not be with us forever and one day we will see Prince Charles ascend the throne.
Operation London Bridge
Codename ‘Operation London Bridge’ has been shrouded in secrecy since its conception in the 1960s, but in 2021 the documents got leaked to Politico and it has been revealed to be the Government’s plans for when the Queen dies. Yes, they, morbidly, did plan this back in the 60s when the Queen was only in her 40’s.
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According to the leak when the Queen passes once members of her family – her children and grandchildren, specifically the Prince of Wales – the prime minister will be alerted by a phone call from a civil servant telling him or her ‘London Bridge is down’. This will be part of a ‘call cascade’ where, alongside the PM, the cabinet secretary (Britain’s highest-ranking civil servant) and a number of the most senior ministers and officials will be notified.
According to Politico: ‘Internally, the day will be referred to as ‘D-Day’. Each following day leading up to the funeral will be referred to as ‘D+1’, ‘D+2′ and so on.’
Once ministers and civil servants are notified by email flags will be lowered to half-mast and if Parliament is in recess it will be recalled.
Days following and the funeral
As a sign of the times notifications of the Queen’s death, and the future King’s ascension to the throne, will be shared on social media – as it was when Prince Philip passed away. People on flights or public transport, they will be notified by the pilot or conductor.
The Prime Minister at the time will then hold an audience with King Charles III – or whatever he chooses for his regal name – and the King will then address the country in a broadcast.
Within ‘London Bridge’ there are actually loads of other codename operations that plan out several different circumstances. For example ‘Operation Spring Tide’ is the plan for Charles’ ascension to the throne and ‘Operation Unicorn’ is the plan in place for if the Queen passes while at Balmoral, in Scotland, it will be activated meaning the Queen’s body will be carried down to London by royal train if possible. If not, ‘Operation Overstudy’ will be triggered, meaning the coffin will be transferred by plane.
In the following days, there will be rehearsals for the procession of the coffin from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster – this is ‘Operation Lion’ – and plans for the Queen’s body to lie in state at the Palace of Westminster for three days is called ‘Operation Feather’.
It’s estimated the Queen’s state funeral will take place on D-Day 10 and two minutes of silence will be held across the UK and commonwealth.
National Day of Mourning
Both the PM and the Queen agreed the state funeral will be a ‘National Day of Mourning’ – however, as for a bank holiday that isn’t confirmed in the document. In fact, the government doesn’t plan at all to order employers to give staff a day off and this is a ‘matter between employees and their staff.
The Queen ascended the throne on February 5, 1952, the day her father, King George VI, died. At the time the Queen was on a Royal Tour, with Prince Philip, in Kenya, on their way to Australia.