What to Expect in the Days After Queen Elizabeth II’s Death

The Commonwealth’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has died, ushering in a period of mourning and a series of carefully constructed and detailed plans.

Codenamed Operation London Bridge, plans for the coming days include transporting the late Queen’s body back to London, the accession of the new King to the throne and preparations for the Queen’s funeral.

Here is what will happen over a 10 day period:

‘OPERATION UNICORN’

Since the Queen died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, more complicated protocols known as Operation Unicorn (named after Scotland’s national animal) involving Scottish rituals come into effect.

The Queen’s body remains at the castle overnight and can be taken the next day to Crathie Kirk, a nearby church frequented by the late monarch. Two days after her death, her body is to be transferred to Holyrood Palace in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh.

A solemn procession is expected from Holyrood to St Giles Cathedral along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, followed by a service attended by members of the Royal Family. After the service, the Queen will lie at rest for a period of 24 hours.

On the third day after her death, her remains will travel back to London on the Royal Train. Upon arrival of her remains in London, her coffin is taken to the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace.

CHARLE BECOMES KING

Charles became the new king immediately after his mother’s death, even before he was officially crowned or sworn in.

The day after the Queen’s death, an accession council composed of members of Britain’s Privy Council will meet at St James’s Palace to officially proclaim Charles king. The Privy Council is made up of 670 members, including senior politicians, judges and clergy from the Church of England, but due to space limitations, only around 150 members are expected to gather.

In a tradition dating back to the 15th century, the Garter King of Arms – responsible for administering royal heraldry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – will step onto the balcony of St James’s Palace and officially proclaim Charles king new king. A 41-gun salute followed in London’s Hyde Park.

On Friday at 6pm UK time, Charles will make his first public address as King. In the coming days, the new King will attend a joint session of both houses of Parliament and embark on a tour of the UK, visiting Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

THE QUEEN’S FUNERAL

Five days after her death, a procession will carry the Queen’s body from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, the oldest part of Britain’s Houses of Parliament.

After arriving at Westminster Hall, the late Queen will be on public viewing for the next five days leading up to her funeral. Her coffin will be draped in a purple royal standard and soldiers will stand guard alongside the imperial crown, orb and sceptre. Thousands upon thousands of mourners are expected to pay their respects along with members of the royal family over the five days.

The Queen’s State Funeral, codenamed Operation Scarlett, is set to take place ten days after the Queen’s death. While recent monarch funerals have been held at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral is to be held at Westminster Abbey.

After the end of the service, a procession will take her coffin to Windsor Castle, where she is expected to be buried.

With files from Reuters