On September 8, 2022, Buckingham Palace released a statement that said that Queen Elizabeth II is under medical supervision. It was also reported that all her children arrived at Balmoral to be with her.
She is the longest-reigning monarch in the history of not just England but the world. Her death will bring with it a long list of protocols that will soon be implemented which also includes the coronation of a new monarch.
Everything About “Operation London Bridge”
In addition to extremely detailed funeral plans, there is a system in place for exactly what will happen during the nine days following Queen Elizabeth’s passing. This system is known as Operation London Bridge, and it includes details such as who will learn of her death first, how the nation will enter mourning, and what Prince Charles is expected to do. According to The Guardian, if the Queen passes away soon, her senior doctor “will be in charge” and in charge of deciding who has access to her room and what information is made public. In this instance, the palace will probably hint at the Queen’s illness without going into detail, giving her subjects time to get ready for the news of her demise. Then the prime minister (Liz Truss) will be informed using the code phrase “London Bridge is down” by Her Majesty’s private secretary. The news will slowly be broken to the ministers, the flags will be lowered to a mast and then the news will go to other governments and countries where the Queen was head of the state.
Prince Charles might not be crowned until months or even a year after the Queen passes away, he will become a monarch the moment she dies. Flags will stay at half-mast and muffled bells will ring as the Queen’s body returns to the throne room at Buckingham Palace. If Her Majesty passes away outside of London, the prime minister will receive her coffin when it arrives in the city aboard a royal train. Post this the grand and elaborate funeral will take place nine days after her death at Westminster Abby.
Read More: Is Queen Elizabeth II More Powerful Than The British Government And Prime Minister?
The Children Of Queen Elizabeth II
Prince Charles
Prince Charles, the eldest child of the Queen and Prince Philip and the heir to the British throne was born in Buckingham Palace on November 14, 1948. Prince Charles was given the titles Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester when he was nine years old. Charles was the first royal heir to graduate from college when he enrolled at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, where he studied history, anthropology, and archaeology. Like his father before him, he then served in the British Royal Navy in his 20s before going on to become a helicopter pilot. As the H.M.S. Bronington’s commander, he took his military retirement in 1976. Subsequently, he established the charitable organization The Prince’s Trust. He got married to Diana Spencer on July 29, 1981, and they welcomed two children together: Prince William and Prince Harry.
Princess Anne
Princess Anne was born in London on August 15, 1950. In reference to his only daughter, who is a passionate rider. She is renowned for recycling her wardrobe and wearing the same clothes more than 30 years apart. Before Andrew Parker Bowles wed his first wife, Camilla, in 1970, Princess Anne dated him. Four months after divorcing Parker Bowles, with whom she is still friends today, Princess Anne married Olympic gold winner Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. Princess Anne was the target of a kidnapping plot on March 20, 1974. Four people were hurt when would-be kidnapper Ian Ball swerved in front of Princess Anne’s chauffeured Rolls Royce and fired six rounds. Witnesses said the princess responded, “Not bloody likely” when Ball urged her to exit the vehicle. When the princess competed as an equestrian in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, she became the first British royal to ever become an Olympian. While Britain finished the Games in ninth place, she came in at position 24 overall. She has two children: Peter and Zara who do not have royal titles as chosen by Princess Anne.
Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew, the second son and third child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip was born on February 19, 1960. After finishing his studies, Prince Andrew joined the British Royal Navy like his brother Charles, and his father, Prince Philip, later presented him with Royal Air Force Wings. Prince Andrew wed Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson in 1986, and the Queen gave him the title of Duke of York. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were born to them before they separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Because of his association with the late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew has gained notoriety. In 2011, Prince Andrew retired from his position as the U.K. Special Representative for International Trade due to his interactions with Epstein.
Prince Edward
The youngest child of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Edward was born in Buckingham Palace on March 10, 1964. Although the “most charming and sensitive son” of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh is largely unknown, he made headlines in 1987 when he left the Royal Marines during basic training, much to his father’s displeasure, according to reports. After leaving the Marines, he went to work for composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and started his now-defunct Ardent Productions. In a “casual” royal wedding on June 19, 1999, Prince Edward wed public relations professional Sophie Rhys-Jones, and the pair later took the titles of Earl and Countess of Wessex. James, Viscount Severn, and Lady Louise are their children.
Read More: Queen Elizabeth II’s Role Formally Rewritten Amid Health Concerns: All You Need To Know
