The United Kingdom is mourning the loss of their Queen after a reign of 70 years. She was Queen for most of her life and died at the age of 96.
The UK government has a name for the plan of what happens after a monarch dies. It’s called Operation London Bridge.
For the 10-day period between the Queen’s death and her state funeral, here’s what happens.
Friday, D-Day: The day of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. D-Day is Friday, September 9, even though she died on Thursday, because the announcement of her death was late on Thursday, at 6:30 p.m. British time.
King Charles III, formerly Prince of Wales, the first-born of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and his wife Camilla, now the Queen Consort, will come to London.
A 96-year gun salute at Hyde Park and the Tower of London (one round for each year of the Queen’s life) will accompany tolling of the bells of Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
At around noon in London, members of Parliament will pay tribute to Elizabeth in a 10-hour session in the Britain’s House of Commons.
On Friday night around 6 p.m. in London, King Charles III will deliver a message to the country, which will be televised and streamed. The prime minister and other officials will attend a memorial service (not a funeral) at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Saturday – a/k/a D-Day+1: Parliament members will swear an oath to the new King Charles III.
The Accession Council will meet and Charles will be declared King at St. James Palace, at which point Charles will declare his support for the constitution and the Church of Scotland. The British monarch is head of the Church of Scotland.
Public readings of the proclamations will be heard in London, Edinburgh, Scotland, Cardiff, Wales, and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
King Charles is expected to meet with the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, and her cabinet members on Saturday as well.
Day 2, Sunday (D+2): The Queen’s coffin will be transported to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Day 3, Monday (D+3): The plan is that a service will occur at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland, with a procession. The Queens is expected to lie in state there, and the public can visit and pay their respects.
Day 4, Tuesday (D+4): The coffin will be sent back to Buckingham Palace in London.
Day 5, Wednesday (D+5): In London, a procession will take place and the coffin will be in Westminster Hall for four days. The Archbishop of Canterbury will perform a service upon arrival of the coffin at Westminster Hall.
Day 6, Thursday (D+6): Rehearsal will be held for the state funeral scheduled for Monday.
The public will be allowed to visit and view the coffin for four days, around the clock.
D+7 (Friday) through D+9 (Sunday): World leaders will arrive to pay their respects and attend the funeral.
Day 10 (D+10): The funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey.
A procession will occur in London with the Queen’s coffin on a carriage pulled by sailors. Family members will follow and walk behind the coffin.
The funeral will be televised, and the nation, and the world, will be watching.
After the funeral, the coffin will be taken to Windsor Castle, where another service will occur. A private service for close family will follow.
The Queen will be buried in the King George VI memorial chapel near her father, mother and sister. The coffin of her deceased husband, Prince Philip, will be moved from the Royal Vault to rest alongside the Queen’s coffin.
