The Death of Queen Elizabeth II – Royal Protocol, Flags, New Titles, and What Happens Next
Last night, on Thursday, 8th September, as darkness and rain fell on the United Kingdom, our beloved Queen Elizabeth II died.
The royal website royal.uk was darkened while 'appropriate changes' were being made, displaying a brief statement and wonderful image to mark the death of the Queen.
Following the statement and press release by the palace, and while the news spread over social media, two palace footmen placed a formal notice of the death outside the gates as crowds began to grow.
Shocked and grief-stricken as the nation is, if not the world, this moment had to come sooner or later, even if it is always a day sooner than we would have liked.
What happens next?
National Mourning has been declared.
Operation London Bridge and Operation Unicorn (and Spring Tide), a plan of royal protocol was devised detailing the events that would take place following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, such as the expected statement from The Prime Minister confirming the name of the new King, the former Prince of Wales.
As per our English constitution, the moment a monarch dies, The Crown immediately transfers to the heir. You may have heard of the historic phrase,
“The King is dead, long live the King!”
Flags
Following flag protocol, all flags on royal and governmental buildings are flown at half-mast and should remain so until 08:00 the day following The Queen's State Funeral.
The Royal Standard (Royal Banner) is never flown at half-mast because there is always a Sovereign on the throne; thus incorrect and inappropriate to fly at half-mast.
Funeral & Burial
Queen Elizabeth II is expected to be buried at Westminster Abbey with a full state funeral ten days after her death.
Five days after her death, the coffin of the Queen is expected to make the mile-long journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, where her body will lie in state before the funeral.
A two-minute silence will be included.
Her body will be taken to King George VI Memorial Chapel as a final resting place along with her mother and father.
The New King
King Charles III is now the oldest heir apparent to become King at 73, nine years older than William IV in 1860, who acceded to the throne at age 64.
A number of ceremonial events will be held today to formally mark the accession of the new King.
Historically, a meeting of the Accession Council gathers at St. James's Palace within 24 hours. The council comprises the Privy Counsellors, Great Officers of State, the Lord Mayor, and more.
Charles is expected to read an oath, where he will promise to "assume the duties and responsibilities of sovereignty" and uphold the staggering and inspirational duty his mother did for so long.
Titles
King Charles III
It was unknown what formal title His Majesty would have taken because his regnal name does not have to be King Charles III. He can choose to use any of his given names - Charles, Philip, Arthur or George.
The Prime Minister, Liz Truss, was the first to confirm the King's name in a speech outside 10 Downing Street.
Queen Consort
As sincerely wished for by the Queen, Camilla will take the title of Queen Consort.
Prince William & Catherine
His Royal Highness, Prince William and Catherine, will also assume new titles. They will not lose their existing titles but will now gain new ones.
They are now styled as The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, which was also confirmed in their Instagram bio and elsewhere.
Prince of Wales
The title of Prince of Wales (formed in 1301) is not heritable and is only granted to the heir apparent at the monarch's discretion, which is most likely to occur, but we cannot say yet when that will happen.
Coronation
The king's coronation will not take place immediately. Queen Elizabeth's coronation did not occur until a whole year later after accession.
We Mourn
More details will be uncovered today and over the coming days concerning everything I have mentioned.
For now, let us remember a Queen who devoted her life to service and duty. Her wisdom, patience, beauty, spirit, poise, dignity, kindness, humour, and love decorated the nation's hearts for over seventy incredible years.
If I can make only one heartfelt gesture to you, Ma'am, it will be me raising my glass as I proudly and solemnly say, 'The Queen.'
