ON September 9, 2022, Her Majesty died peacefully aged 96 – marking an end to her historic reign.
Following her death, her son Charles has now been formally proclaimed as King Charles III and the country will now go into a period of mourning.
What happens in the coming days?
The Queen passed away at her Balmoral Estate on September 8, 2022.
King Charles, the Queen Consort, Prince William, the Duke of York, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and Prince Harry rushed to be by the Queen’s side.
Moments after her death, the Queen’s private secretary told Prime Minister Liz Truss of the tragic news.
Media outlets – newspapers and television stations – were then notified, with newsreaders on British broadcasts swapping to black ties as they told the nation of the heart-breaking update.
The Queen passed away at her Balmoral Estate on September 8, 2022
Shortly after she passed away, King Charles released a statement paying tribute to his “beloved” mother.
He said her death is a “moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family”.
Britain will now go into ten days of national mourning from Friday, September 9.
On September 9, bells rang at St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle as MPs paid tribute to the Queen in the Commons.
Then at 1pm, a gun salute rang out at Hyde Park as the nation mourns.
The King and Queen Consort returned to London for an audience with the Prime Minister in the afternoon, followed by an address from the King in early evening.
The same evening a service of remembrance at St Paul’s Cathedral began.
On the morning of September 10, Charles was officially named King Charles III, in the first-ever televised ceremony with the Accession Council.
Following this morning’s proclamation, The King will receive the Archbishop of Canterbury at Buckingham Palace at 14:00.
He will then receive the Prime Minister and Members of the Cabinet at Buckingham Palace at 14:30.
At 15:00 the King also receives leaders of the opposition parties at Buckingham Palace.
Then, on hour later at 16:00 The King will the Dean of Westminster at Buckingham Palace – however, there will be no media facility present during this private meeting.
When will a mourning period begin and how long will it last for?
The UK will officially mourn the Queen for at least two weeks at King Charles’ wish.
The period of mourning will be observed from Friday, September 9 until seven days after the Queen’s funeral.
It is understood that the funeral will happen on September 19, but this has not been confirmed.
The sombre period will see Union Jacks flown at half-mast and books of condolence opened for well-wishers to send their love to the royal family.
The Queen’s coffin will be taken to Parliament, where she will lie in state in Westminster Hall until her funeral.
Media coverage will also reflect the mourning period – with TV and radio stations expected to follow a code of conduct.
The temporary measures are understood to include a suspension of comedy programming on BBC and the recommendation that DJs play inoffensive music.
Parliamentary business will be suspended for 10 days and the London Stock Exchange is also expected to close for a short period of time.
Charles will embark on a tour of the UK – visiting Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – during the mourning period, it is understood.
On the tenth day of the mourning period, a state funeral itself will be held at Westminster Abbey.
When is the Queen’s funeral and what arrangements do we know?
The Queen’s state funeral is expected take place at Westminster Abbey in central London on Monday, September 19, but has yet to be confirmed.
The original plans are for the Queen’s coffin to process on a gun carriage to the abbey, pulled by naval ratings – sailors – using ropes rather than horses.
Senior members of the family are expected to poignantly follow behind – just like they did for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The military will line the streets and also join the procession.
Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royals and key figures from public life will be invited to gather in the abbey, which can hold a congregation of 2,000.
The service will be televised, and a national two minutes’ silence is expected to be held.
The same day as the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be taken to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for a televised committal service.
Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family.
The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel – where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Philip’s coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.
Where will the Queen be buried?
The Queen will be laid to rest by her beloved husband Prince Philip’s side at the King George VI memorial chapel at Windsor Castle.
Prince Philip is buried at the Royal Vault in Windsor Castle – but his remains will be moved so he can be laid to rest with his wife.
The chapel – named after the Queen’s father King George VI – was built in 1969 within the main St George’s Chapel.
Her parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, are buried at the chapel.
The Queen’s younger sister Princess Margaret’s ashes were transferred to the tomb two months after her death in February 2002.
Will there be a bank holiday?
On the September 10, it was confirmed that the day of the Queen’s funeral will be a bank holiday.
King Charles III approved the order today at St James’s Palace in London as he was formally declared King during a historic ceremony televised for the first time.
The announcement means that on the day of the Queen’s funeral, schools, most businesses and a number of shops will close.
How long will flags stay at half mast?
Union flags on all royal buildings are flying at half-mast after the Queen’s death yesterday.
On Saturday, September 10, flags will go back up to full-mast at 1pm and remain there for 24 hours to coincide with Charles’ first public proclamation of the new sovereign.
The proclamation will be read in the open air from the Friary Court balcony at St James’s Palace by the Garter King of Arms.
Union flags will then return to half mast around the city and across Britain.
It is understood flags will then remain at half mast until 8am the day after the Queen’s funeral on September 19.
The Royal Standard never flies half-mast. It represents the Sovereign and the United Kingdom, and is a symbol of the continuation of the monarchy.
If the new King is in residence at a royal palace or castle, the Royal Standard will fly there full-mast as is the tradition.
When will King Charles be formally coronated ?
Charles is now King of England and wife Camilla is Queen Consort.
At 73, Charles is the oldest person to accede to the throne in British history.
Due to the extensive preparation needed for a coronation, the event could be months away.
It is traditionally held in Westminster Abbey, with thousands set to gather to send their well wishes to Charles.
The coronation is a state occasion – unlike a Royal Wedding – so the Government pays for it and decides on the guest list.
What happens to the Royal Family’s titles?
Kate Middleton and Prince William have adopted new titles following the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
The Royals will temporarily be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge – until the new King bestows upon them the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales.
William and Kate updated their social media profiles accordingly last night, changing their names to ‘The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge’.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s children’s titles have also changed.
Under protocols established by King George V, The Queen’s grandfather, the children and grandchildren of a sovereign have the automatic right to the title HRH and prince or princess.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s kids, Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, will now officially be a Prince and Princess, and HRH’s, under the rules, established in 1917.
Will sporting events go ahead?
Premier League and EFL chiefs have cancelled this weekend’s football.
After talks between bosses and government officials, the decision has been made to abandon the scheduled programme.
A Prem meeting and a call between sport bodies and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport took place this morning.
Are school, shops and businesses closed during the mourning period?
Schools have been ordered to stay open as the nation mourns the Queen.
Children across the country will continue to attend class as ten days of national mourning begins, HOAR understands.
Shops are not obliged to close during the mourning period, however some may choose to as a mark of respect.
But the day of the Queen’s funeral will be an official day of mourning and a bank holiday – therefore schools, businesses and many shops will be closed.
Outlets deemed essential, such as supermarkets, banks and post offices, will likely remain open.
