The longest-living and longest-reigning British monarch, Elizabeth II, passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. She was the head of state of the United Kingdom and all other Ensemble. Charles III, her oldest child, succeeded her. At 18:00 BST, the news of her passing was made public.
Her passing triggered Operation London Bridge, a set of measures that included preparations for her funeral, and Operation Unicorn, which established procedures for the death of the Queen in Scotland. The country of the Uk is currently in a 10-day mourning period.
The Institutions involved in preparing the plan included multiple government departments, the Church of England, Metropolitan Police Service, the British Armed Forces, the Royal Parks, London boroughs, the Greater London Authority, the media, and Transport for London. Some important decisions relating to the plan were made by the Queen herself, while some sections of the plans were left to be considered by her successor.
What Does “LONDON BRIDGE HAS FALLEN” Mean?
Operation London Bridge (also known by the code “London Bridge is down”) was the plan for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The plan includes the notice of her death, the details of her state funeral, and the period of official state mourning. The plan was created as early as the 1960s and had been revised numerous times before her death in 2022.
As per plan “D Day” would be the name of the day, the 10 days that follow her passing will be recognized as “D Day Plus” and will be recognized as a time of national sorrow. For example, “D Day Plus One” will be the name of the day following the passing of the Queen.
Within ten minutes, political representatives will be informed of her demise and given instructions to drop the flags to half-staff while using caution.
The day following the Queen dies, Charles will be recognized as the country’s King by the authorities.
A black banner will display on the Royal websites, and funeral arrangements will be made public.
She will then be laid to rest at the King George VI Memorial Chapel.
Prince Charles will address the nation on the day of his mother’s passing and succeed to the throne immediately unless he vacates. The prime minister will be the first official from the authorities to speak. Afterward, Parliament will be adjourned for ten days.
Her Highness Queen Elizabeth Early Years
In Mayfair, London, Elizabeth was born as the first child of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Prince Albert, duke of York. Elizabeth had little prospect of inheriting the throne because she was the daughter of the younger son of the King, but her uncle Edward VIII, who would later become the duke of Windsor, stepped down, making her father King George VI and her the assumed heiress. Her mother, who entrusted Marion Crawford to look after her kids while she was away, was in charge of the princess’s education. The princess also received a grounding in history from C.H.K. Marten, who would later go on to become the dean of Eton College, as well as training in music and foreign languages from visiting lecturers. She began to undertake public duties, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, during the second world war.
She married Philip Mountbatten, a navy officer like her father and a former prince of Denmark and Greece, in 1947 at the age of 21, their wedding lasted for 73 years until he died in 2021. They had four children: Charles, Anne, Edward, and Andrew.
Operation Unicorn
Although the Queen’s code is Operation London Bridge, a different code was prepared in case she passed away in Scotland, which she did. Operation Unicorn will have been used in place of the Queen’s name because she passed away in Balmoral.
The title “Operation Unicorn” had been selected because, like the lion in England’s royal coat of arms, the unicorn symbolizes Scotland’s national animal.
The Queen would then move quickly to London and the Scottish parliament would be dissolved instantly. It could also mean that her body was brought down the Royal Mile after stopping for a rest in Holyroodhouse. After that, she would be transported to London.
The Reaction Of World Leaders
The message of condolences and wishes poured from all the world leaders and people around the globe after the demise of the Queen.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi remembered Queen Elizabeth II as a “luminary of our century,” noting that she “personified respect and honesty in public life” and “provided tremendous leadership to her nation and people.”
U.S. President Joe Biden and Jill Biden said “Her legacy will loom large within the pages of British history, and therefore the story of our world.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said, said the queen “rightfully enjoyed the love and respect of her subjects, as well as an authority on the world stage”
The Queen And Her Legacy
The British Empire was almost completely broken up into almost 50 independent states throughout the duration of the queen’s reign, and Britain’s influence on the world was greatly decreased. The queen was also a representation: the public face of a country. Her existence as head of state and leader of the Commonwealth, an alliance of Britain and its former colonies, put a steadfast traditionalist front over decades of violent upheaval, both on purpose and by accident of her long life. As a result, the queen contributed to the concealment of a terrible history of decolonization, whose dimensions and repercussions have not yet been sufficiently acknowledged.
The Queen has stood for security and resiliency for the past seven decades. She was a matriarch and a ruler. Millions will be grieving her passing and commemorating her life this weekend.
