https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2 The future of the British monarchy following the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. en-us 2022-10-16 13:17:48 UTC 2022-10-16 15:26:11 UTC hello@padlet.com andylee161102 https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2/wish/2341903776 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was the longest-reigning monarch ever in British history, with nearly 71 years of her lifetime as Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms. She has made immense influence over all corners of the globe throughout her reign, as she was still the queen regnant of 15 sovereign states by the time of her passing. Therefore, the death of Queen Elizabeth was long predicted to create dramatic effect worldwide, and drastically affect the UK, no matter how well her subjects are prepared for the fall of their beloved queen.

On 8 September 2022, Buckingham Palace released a statement which read: "Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral." Elizabeth's immediate family rushed to Balmoral to be by her side. Another announcement from Buckingham Palace was released afterwards, sadly confirming her "peaceful" death at the age of 96. Her cause of death was recorded as "old age". What follows after were endless days of public mourning, with events of the highest complexity, in order to properly pay tribute to the late Queen and properly say farewell to her.]]> 2022-10-16 14:36:27 UTC https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2/wish/2341903776 andylee161102 https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2/wish/2341920211 People of the United Kingdom wished nothing but the best for their Queen, as can be seen in the national anthem itself:
"God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen.
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the queen."

And yet, her people had made an entire detailed plan to prepare for her death, unironically. The plan is called "Operation London Bridge", which sets a lot of procedures into action immediately after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. 

The plan included the announcement of her death, the period of official mourning, and the details of her state funeral. The plan was created as early as the 1960s and revised many times in the years before her death in 2022. 
The phrase "London Bridge is down" would be used to communicate the death of the Queen to the prime minister of the United Kingdom and key personnel, setting the plan into motion. Bodies involved in preparing the plan included various government departments, the Church of England, Metropolitan Police Service, the British Armed Forces, the media, the Royal Parks, London boroughs, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London. Some critical decisions relating to the plan were made by the Queen herself, while some were left to be determined by her successor.]]> 2022-10-16 14:59:11 UTC https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2/wish/2341920211 andylee161102 https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2/wish/2341921841 Preparations for Queen Elizabeth II's death and funeral date back to the 1960s, with the plan having undergone multiple changes in the decades since. The plan was updated three times a year through a meeting involving government department officials, the police, and broadcasters. The plan that outlines the process between the death of the Queen and her funeral is codenamed Operation London Bridge.

On the death of the Queen, her private secretary would be the first official (i.e., not one of her relatives or part of a medical team) to convey the news. Their first act would be to contact the prime minister, where civil servants would convey the code phrase "London Bridge is down" to the prime minister using secure telephone lines. The cabinet secretary and the Privy Council Office would also be informed by the private secretary. The cabinet secretary would then convey the news to ministers and senior civil servants. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Global Response Centre, based at a secret location in London, would communicate the news to the governments of the 14 other countries of which Elizabeth is queen (the Commonwealth realms), and to the governments of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. Government websites and social media accounts, as well as the royal family's website, would turn black, and the publication of non-urgent content must be avoided.

The media would be informed by announcement to PA Media and the BBC through the Radio Alert Transmission System (RATS) and to commercial radio on the Independent Radio News through a network of blue "obit lights" which would alert presenters to play "inoffensive music" and prepare for a news flash, while BBC Two would suspend scheduled programming and switch to BBC One's broadcast of the announcement. BBC News would air a pre-recorded sequence of portraits, during which the presenters on duty at the time would prepare for the formal announcement by putting on dark clothing prepared for this purpose. The Guardian has reported that The Times has 11 days of prepared coverage ready and that ITN and Sky News have long rehearsed her death, substituting the name "Mrs. Robinson" for the Queen's.

A footman would pin a dark-edged notice to the gates of Buckingham Palace. At the same time, the palace website would display the same notice. The Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish parliaments would meet as soon as is practical or be recalled if they are not sitting. The prime minister would address the House of Commons. The new monarch would host a meeting with the prime minister and then deliver a speech to the nation at 6 pm, the evening following the Queen's death. Whitehall and local government buildings would fly flags at half-mast and books of condolence may be opened; ceremonial ornaments, such as ceremonial maces or council chains, are to be put in black purses. Gun salutes will take place at saluting stations and a service of remembrance, to be attended by the prime minister and senior ministers, will be held at St Paul's Cathedral.

Ten days after the Queen's death, a state funeral led by the Archbishop of Canterbury would be held at Westminster Abbey. Her body would then be buried in a prepared tomb at King George VI Memorial Chapel in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, alongside Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose coffin will be moved from the Royal Vault. A committal service would be held at St George's Chapel before the burial. As agreed by the Queen and the prime minister, the day of the funeral would be declared a day of national mourning, although a bank holiday would not be granted. A two minutes' silence would take place across the United Kingdom at midday and processions would gather in London and Windsor.]]> 2022-10-16 15:01:26 UTC https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2/wish/2341921841 andylee161102 https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2/wish/2341938000 Immediately following the death of Queen Elizabeth was also the royal succession of her eldest son, Prince Charles of Wales, who was later known as King Charles III. As the United Kingdom simply cannot go a day without their monarch, the heir apparent had to ascend the throne while still in deep grieving. The formal proclamation occurred on 10 September 2022. On that day, the Accession Council gathered at St James's Palace in London. The line of succession is identical in all the Commonwealth realms, but the royal title as proclaimed is not the same in all of them.

One day after the Queen's death, the Accession Council would meet at St James's Palace and Charles would be proclaimed king. Parliament would meet that evening when MPs would swear allegiance to Charles III and express condolences for the Queen's death. Most parliamentary activities would then be suspended for 10 days. At 3:30 pm, Charles III would host the prime minister and the cabinet for an audience. Two days after the Queen's death, proclamations for the King would be made by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations.

On the third day after the Queen's death, Charles III would receive the motion of condolence at Westminster Hall in the morning and then depart for a tour of the United Kingdom. Charles III would visit the Scottish parliament and attend a service at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. On the next day, Charles III would visit Northern Ireland, where he would receive a motion of condolence at Hillsborough Castle and attend a service at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast. Seven days after the Queen's death, Charles III would visit Wales, receiving a motion of condolence at the Welsh parliament and attending a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.]]> 2022-10-16 15:25:55 UTC https://padlet.com/andylee161102/bw49kseuv64vlu2/wish/2341938000