Queen Elizabeth II is being mourned by her family, fans and admirers. In Britain, her death at age 96 has thrown a state apparatus into motion that has sat idle for 70 years — since Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, died in 1952.
The British government dubbed the intricate protocol of handling Elizabeth’s death “Operation London Bridge.” It ranges from succession rules to the process of bringing the queen’s coffin from Balmoral Castle in Scotland to London.
The London Bridge plans were leaked to Politico last fall. Some of the details may have changed since then — but using them as a guide, here’s a brief look at what the documents say will happen in the first 10 days after the end of the queen’s record-setting reign:
Sept 2015: #Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest reigning #monarch in history of the United Kingdom. She began her reign on February 6, 1952. #UK #Britain #history #OTD #ad https://t.co/SR7wt7OVcV https://t.co/6c5ZTC8mwA pic.twitter.com/3VffsOT3sv
— Today In History (@URDailyHistory) September 9, 2022