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Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II

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Death of Elizabeth II
Balmoral Castle (pictured in 2004), where the Queen died
Date8 September 2022 (2022-09-08)
LocationBalmoral Castle, Scotland
Coordinates57°2′27″N 3°13′48″W / 57.04083°N 3.23000°W / 57.04083; -3.23000

Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, the longest-living and longest-reigning British monarch, died at the age of 96 on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The official announcement came at 18:30 BST. Earlier in the day, doctors reported that her health had been deteriorating rapidly and placed her under medical supervision.[1]

Her death set in motion Operation London Bridge, a collection of highly specific plans including arrangements for her funeral, and initially Operation Unicorn, which sets protocols for the Queen's death in Scotland.

Background

After being in good health for most of her elderly life, the Queen's health began to deteriorate after the death of her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in 2021. In October, she began using a walking stick during public engagements and following an overnight stay in hospital on 20 October,[2] visits to Northern Ireland,[3] the COP26 summit in Glasgow,[4] and the 2021 National Service of Remembrance were cancelled on health grounds,[5] including a sprained back.[6]

In February 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic in England, the Queen was one of several people at Windsor Castle to test positive for COVID-19.[7][8] Her symptoms were described as mild and cold-like, with the Queen later commenting that the disease "does leave one very tired and exhausted".[9][10] Given the health impacts of COVID-19 and long COVID are known to be more severe among older people,[11][12] there were concerns for the Queen's health at the time;[13][14] however, she was reportedly feeling well enough to resume her official duties by 1 March.[15][16]

The Queen was present at the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on 29 March,[17] but was unable to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service that month[18] or the Royal Maundy Service in April.[19] She missed the State Opening of Parliament in May for the first time in 59 years (she did not attend in 1959 and 1963 as she was pregnant with Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, respectively).[20] In her absence, Parliament was opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge as Counsellors of State.[21] The Prince of Wales, the heir apparent, gained more official responsibilities towards the end of the Queen's life[22] and stood in for her at the State Opening of Parliament.[23]

In June, the Queen did not attend a church service for her Platinum Jubilee; official sources mentioned her "discomfort" after standing during the military parade celebrating her official birthday on the first day of celebrations.[24] During the celebrations, the Queen was largely confined to balcony appearances, and she missed the National Service of Thanksgiving.[25]

On 6 September, two days before her death, the Queen accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson and appointed Liz Truss to succeed him as Prime Minister at Balmoral Castle (where the Queen was on holiday) in a break with tradition; this was usually done at Buckingham Palace.[26] On 7 September, she was scheduled to attend an online meeting of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom to swear in new ministers in Truss's government, but it was announced that the meeting had been postponed after she was advised to rest by doctors.[27]

Timeline

8 September

Notice of the Queen's death posted at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh

At approximately 12:30 BST on 8 September 2022, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen was "under medical supervision" at Balmoral Castle after doctors expressed concern over her health. The statement read:

Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.[28][29]

The Queen's four children along with her daughters-in-law, and Prince William and Prince Harry, travelled to Balmoral.[30][31]

At around 14:00 BST, the BBC, the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, suspended the schedule for BBC One to continuously cover the Queen's condition, with all BBC news journalists and broadcasters dressed in black. Special reports about her condition were run on other main television channels in the UK: ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.[32]

At 16:30, Prime Minister Liz Truss was informed of the Queen's death by cabinet secretary Simon Case.[33][34]

At around 17:00, members of the royal family who had flown from RAF Northolt to Scotland arrived at Balmoral, including Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex.[33]

The royal family's official Twitter account announced her death in a tweet timestamped 18:30 BST, stating:

The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.[35][36]

British television announcements of the Queen's death came shortly after, and included the aforementioned statement being read verbatim by news presenter Huw Edwards during a live broadcast across all BBC Television channels (bar children's channels CBBC, who announced the news through their programme Newsround, and CBeebies, who were not discussing the news after shutting down for the night.[37][38]) after which the national anthem was played.[39]

In accordance with the protocol implemented after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Union flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast.[40] It also flew at half-mast at 10 Downing Street and Balmoral Castle.[41][42] Because the new monarch was already at Balmoral Castle when he became King, the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom was lowered and raised again at the castle following his mother's death. The Royal Banner of Scotland was also lowered to half-mast at the Palace of Holyroodhouse,[41] while the Welsh flag at Cardiff Castle was lowered as well.[43]

9 September

King Charles III and Queen Camilla travelled from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace, where they greeted the crowd of mourners outside the gates.[44]

In Charles's first address as King, he declared a period of mourning that is expected to last and be observed by the royal family and members of the royal household until seven days after the Queen's state funeral.[45] All flags at royal residences were ordered to be lowered to half-mast, except for the Royal Standard which will fly at full mast whenever the King is in any of the residences.[45] All royal residences will be closed until after the state funeral has occurred.[45] 96-gun salutes were fired in Hyde Park by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company, at Edinburgh Castle by the Royal Artillery, and at Cardiff Castle by the 104 Royal Artillery Regiment and at Caernarfon Castle.[45][46][47][48] An online book of condolences was also set up by the royal website.[45] Church bells tolled at Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Windsor Castle, and at other churches across the UK.[48][49]

At St Paul's Cathedral, a service of prayer and mourning began at 1800.

Succession

Charles III, then Prince of Wales, in 2017

Upon the Queen's death, her eldest son Charles, Prince of Wales, immediately acceded to the throne as King of the United Kingdom and fourteen other Commonwealth realms.[1][50]

There had long been speculation regarding what regnal name the former Prince of Wales would take upon succeeding his mother. During her formal televised address outside 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Truss made the first de facto authoritative announcement concerning the King's regnal name when she stated:[51]

Today the Crown passes – as it has done for more than a thousand years – to our new monarch, our new head of state: His Majesty King Charles III.

Clarence House confirmed the new King would be known as Charles III shortly after the Prime Minister's address. Buckingham Palace released the King's first official statement as monarch at 19:04 BST:[52]

The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.

The Accession Council is expected to assemble on 10 September at St James's Palace to formally proclaim the accession of the new king.[53] Although about seven hundred are eligible to attend this ceremony, due to the short notice the number in attendance is expected to be much lower.[54] In addition to other formalities, the Council is expected to de jure confirm Charles III as the King's regnal name.

No date has been announced for the King and Queen Consort's coronation.[36]

Funeral

Details about the state funeral have not yet been announced; however, it is expected to take place at Westminster Abbey twelve days after her death.[55][56] The exact date is to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace.[57]

Reactions

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London at the time of the announcement.[58] Many others used social media to post condolences and tributes both to the Queen and to the British royal family.[59] Floral tributes were later left outside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham House, Balmoral Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Hillsborough Castle.[45][60][61] Several black cab drivers lined The Mall with their lights on to pay tribute to the Queen.[62]

Flags at Parliament Hill in Ottawa and the Capitol Building and the White House in Washington, D.C. were flown at half-mast in her honour.[63][64] The Empire State Building in New York City illuminated in purple and silver, the Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark at midnight, the Sydney Opera House had an image of the Queen projected onto it, and the Union flag was displayed at the Tel Aviv City Hall as a tribute.[65] Billboards at Piccadilly Circus, the BT Tower and Times Square showed tributes to the Queen, as well as advertising screens on the side of bus stops across London.[66][67]

The Royal Pavilion in Brighton, Nottingham Council House, and the County Hall in Matlock illuminated in the royal[68] and funerary[69] colour purple in memory of the Queen.[70][71][72] The National Memorial Arboretum set up books of condolence and announced tributes would be paid to the Queen at a special reading at Millennium Chapel.[73] St Laurence's Church in Ludlow and Shrewsbury Abbey are due to hold memorial services.[74]

The ceremony that was due to be held to mark the transitioning of Colchester from town to city status was cancelled.[75] The Last Night of the Proms and the Mercury Prize were among the events that were called off, while the Royal Opera House announced that they would not go on with the opening night of one of their new productions and will not be operating on the day of the state funeral.[76] Several unions responsible for organising the strikes by postal workers and rail staff announced that they would postpone their actions "out of respect for her service to the country and her family".[77] The Trades Union Congress also cancelled their annual conference as a sign of respect.[78] Numerous sporting events have been postponed or suspended from 8 September through at least 11 September, including all football fixtures across the Home Nations, and the second day of England's third test match against South Africa. Some events have gone on, but with a moment of silence observed before play, and all players wearing black armbands.[79][80][81][82] Several rugby fixtures were postponed, with the exception of mini, junior and under-18 rugby matches, which will go ahead with a period of two minutes' silence.[83] The St Leger Stakes, the Champagne Stakes and the Park Stakes, the Doncaster Cup and the Flying Childers Stakes were all postponed.[84]

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