London Bridge is Down Protocol

In the plans that exist for the Queen’s death, there are many versions, held by Buckingham Palace, the government, and the BBC, most contemplate that she will die after a brief illness. The protocol is “London Bridge is down”

Her family and her doctors will be there. In these last hours, the Queen’s chief physician will be in charge. He will care for her patient, control access to her room, and consider what information should be made public.

The bond between the sovereign and the subjects is something strange and mostly unknowable. The life of a nation becomes that of a person, and then the rope must be broken.

There will be bulletins from the palace, not many, but enough. “The Queen is suffering from great physical prostration, accompanied by symptoms that cause great anxiety,” announced Queen Victoria’s doctor, two days before her death in 1901.

“The life of the King moves peacefully towards its end”, was the final notification issued by George V’s doctor, on the night of January 20, 1936.

His eyes will be closed and Carlos will be king. His brothers will kiss his hands. The first official to deal with the news will be the Queen’s private secretary and will contact the prime minister.

Operation Spring Tide

Operation Spring Tide is the closely guarded plan for Prince Charles’ ascension to the throne.

In the hours after the Queen’s death, a “cascade of calls” will take place informing the Prime Minister, the Cabinet Secretary (Britain’s highest-ranking civil servant), and several of the most important ministers and civil servants.

The Prime Minister will be briefed by the Queen’s Private Secretary, who will also report to the Privy Council Office, which coordinates the work of government on behalf of the monarch.

King Charles addresses the Nation

The last time a British monarch died, more than 70 years ago, George VI’s death was broadcast on a code word, “Hyde Park Corner”, to Buckingham Palace, to prevent the switchboard operators from finding out.

For Elizabeth II, the plan for what happens next is known as the “London Bridge.” The prime minister will be woken up if she is not already, and civil servants will say “London Bridge is down” on secure lines.

From the Global Response Centre, at an undisclosed location in the capital, the news will reach the 15 governments outside the UK where the Queen is also head of state, and the 36 other Commonwealth nations she has served for. as a symbolic figurehead.

12 days of mourning off work

Planning for the deaths of top royals is a practice that makes some journalists uncomfortable.

For many years, BBC news crews were brought to work on quiet Sunday mornings to present mock stories about the Queen’s demise.

But with the Queen, you are not going to improvise. The news anchors will wear a black suit and black tie. The programs will stop. The networks will merge.

Live Radio listeners will hear a specific formulation of words, “This is BBC London”, which, intentionally or unintentionally, will invoke a spirit of national emergency.

The main reason for essays is to have words that more or less approximate the moment. “It is with the greatest regret that we make the following announcement.”

The BBC presenter informed the world about the death of George VI. (The story was repeated seven times, every 15 minutes, and then the BBC was silent for five hours.)

According to a former BBC news chief, a very similar set of words will be used for the Queen. Her rehearsals for her are different from those of the other members of her family.

People get angry and contemplate the unthinkable strangeness of her absence. “She is the only monarch most of us have ever met.”

The royal banner will appear on the screen. The national anthem will sound. You will remember where you were.

When people think of a contemporary death in Britain, they inevitably think of Diana.

The Queen’s passing will be monumental by comparison. It may not be as clearly emotional, but its scope will be broader and its implications more dramatic.

Part of the effect will come from the overwhelming weight of things that happen. The routine of modern royal funerals is more or less familiar. But the death of a British monarch and the ascension of a new head of state is a ritual that is fading from memory.

When she dies, both houses of parliament will be closed, people will go home early from work, and airline pilots will announce the news to their passengers.

In the days that follow (in London Bridge planning documents, they are referred to as “D-day”, “D+1”, etc.) there will be ritual proclamations, a four-nation tour of the new king, television programming, and a diplomatic meeting in London.