Yesterday was a day most of us will no doubt remember.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of The United Kingom, 96, died at the royal family's castle in Scotland, Balmoral.
The monarch had, understandably due to her advanced age, been having some 'mobility issues' lately, and has over the course of the past year had to miss out on several official engagements.
As the royal family revealed this morning that the Queen was under medical supervision as her doctors were 'concerned' about her health, her children and senior members of the royal family rushed to be by her side. Early yesterday afternoon, it became rather clear that the situation was more serious than perhaps first believed, with BBC reporters seen changing into black clothing and the logo on their website changing colours from red to black.
At 6.30 PM yesterday the announcement that many had been dreading came: The Queen had died 'peacefully' that afternoon at Balmoral Castle.
Operation Unicorn, not London Bridge
If you are in any way a royal fan, you might be familiar with the secret codes that are used in the UK on the day a monarch or senior royal dies.
All senior members of the House of Windsor have their own codes, and back in April 2021, the code message
'Operation Forth Bridge' announced to all relevant agencies that Prince Philip had passed away at the age of 99.
The not-so-secret code for the Queen's passing is the phrase many might have been familiar with – "London Bridge is down.”
The phrase was expected to be used by Buckingham Palace – most likely the Queen's private secretary – to communicate the sad news of the monarch's passing. Using secure lines, the palace will officially start the chain of delivering the news to all relevant governments and parties – from parliament to the London Metropolitan Police to the British press – and the news must be delivered in code.<
However, what many people weren't aware of, is that because the Queen did
not die in England, a whole other set of plans and codes have now been kicked into motion.
For many years now, a specific plan has been in place should the Queen die in Scotland, code-named
Operation Unicorn.
What is Operation Unicorn?
As Queen Elizabeth passed away in Scotland, at her summer residence Balmoral Castle, Operation Unicorn – a long-standing plan over what will happen if this was ever the case – has been officially set in motion.
For instance, here are some of the events that will now happen under Operation Unicorn:
Operation Unicorn will see the immediate suspension of business at the Scottish Parliament so that authorities can prepare for a state funeral.
Political business would be suspended and the funeral would likely take place around 10 days after her death.
Her body was expected to rest at Holyroodhouse – the royal residence in Edinburgh – with a Scottish ritual will be triggered. However, it was revealed last night that instead, the monarch’s coffin will lie in rest for 24 hours at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. The cathedral is on the city’s Royal Mile, halfway between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and it is expected that members of the public will be allowed into the church to walk past the coffin.
The service at St Giles’ Cathedral will be attended by members of the royal family.
Following this, the Queen’s body would then be placed on the Royal Train at Waverley station and journey back to London.
10 days of mourning
On the first day of mourning, ceremonial gun salutes are expected at Hyde Park and at Tower Hill, and a national minute’s silence is expected to be held.
King Charles would be expected to conduct his first audience with the prime minister. He will also meet the Earl Marshal to officially sign off on the full funeral plans, with the state funeral expected to be held in 10 days’ time. Charles will give a broadcast to the country and the Commonwealth later this week.
King Charles will visit Northern Ireland, where he is due to receive a message of condolence at Hillsborough Castle and will attend St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast for a service of prayer and reflection on the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
There will be rehearsals for the procession of the late Queen’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
The coffin is expected to arrive at Buckingham Palace a few hours before the big ceremonial planned in London. In the first big ceremonial event preceding the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be borne from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the beginning of five days lying in state. It is expected the coffin will be borne on a gun carriage. On arrival, there will be a short service.
The lying in state is an opportunity for the public to pay their respects. The coffin will be mounted on a catafalque in the middle of Westminster Hall, which will be open to the public for 23 hours a day.
King Charles will travel to Wales to attend a service at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, then will visit the Welsh Senedd and receive a motion of condolence. He will have an audience with the Welsh first minister. Commonwealth detachments are then expected to begin arriving in London.
On the eve of the funeral, Charles will welcome foreign royal families attending.
The state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey. The coffin will be borne from Westminster Hall in a procession to the abbey. There will be two minutes of silence across the nation. After the one-hour service, a large ceremonial procession will accompany the coffin to Hyde Park, where it will be transferred from gun carriage to state hearse and travel to Windsor. After a procession through Windsor, a committal service will be held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, during which the coffin will be lowered into the royal vault.
