Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Adam May

Do we get a day off when the Queen dies – will there be a national period of mourning?

The Queen has died at Balmoral, Buckingham Palace has announced and the nation will be given the chance to pay their respects to the UK's longest serving monarch.

The Royal Family said in a statement: "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."

Earlier, the Palace said medics were "concerned for Her Majesty's health" as members of the royal family were pictured arriving at Balmoral.

Do we get a day off?

'Operation Unicorn' plans were drawn up years ago outlining the procedures for if the Queen were to die in Scotland, which is where she passed away.

Operation Unicorn was ready if the country's longest-reigning monarch dies in her favourite residence, which will likely see the neighbouring palace of Holyrood house and St Giles' Cathedral as the main places for the public to pay their respects.

According to the plans, during a period of mourning, her body will be moved from Balmoral to Holyrood house in Edinburgh before travelling to London via train.

Prince Charles will become King upon his mother's passing (Getty Images)

If she travels by air, the operation will be known as "Operation Overstudy", according to plans leaked to Politico in 2021.

It is understood that her body will be placed on the Royal Train at Waverley Station and will travel on the east coast mainline before finishing in London.

A 10-day mourning period will be in place up to and including the Queen's funeral, which will take place on September 19.

This will see Royal Household to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers request that religious buildings ring their bells with muffles in order to create a more solemn sound.

Queen Elizabeth II (Getty Images)

Many of the churches haven't used these since King George VI's death 70 years ago.

Vicki Chapman, from the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, told the Mail on Sunday that adding the muffle turns the bells' normal "dong, dong, dong" into more of a thudding sound.

"We have spent a lot of time talking to the Royal Household and Lambeth Palace about the day the monarch passes, which we hope will not be any time soon," she said.

"It is important as it is about paying due reverence to the service of the monarch and commemorating her life.”

Full details of Operation London Bridge were leaked last year, giving a full day-to-day run down of what will happen when the Queen passes away.

The Queen met new Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral on Tuesday (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The day was known as D Day, with the days following called D Day plus the number of days that have passed.

For example, the second day will be D Day Plus One.

Prince Charles - who has become King upon his mother's passing - paid tribute to his mum, while new Prime Minister Liz Truss also made a statement outside Number 10 Downing Street.

The Queen celebrated 70 years on the throne earlier this year (Getty Images)

Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince William travelled to Balmoral Castle to be by the Queen's bedside.

Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex also made their way to Balmoral.

The Duchess of Cambridge has not joined her husband at Balmoral as today marks Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis's first day at their new school following the family move to Windsor.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will, however, be travelling to Scotland to be with the Queen, a spokesperson for the couple said.

Charles will embark on a tour of the UK before the burial is held a week on Monday.

The plan following the Queen's death is known as Operation London Bridge (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The sovereign's coffin will lie in state for three days at the Houses of Parliament, with authorities anticipating hundreds of thousands of people to descend on London - sparking fears over gridlock, policing and even food shortages.

Any other Parliamentary business is set to be suspended for 10 days, it is reported.

The day of the funeral will be a Day of National Mourning, but employers will not be compelled to give staff a day off.

The service will take place at Westminster Abbey, and a two minute silence will be held across the UK at noon.

A committal service will be held at St George's Chapel, which is at Windsor Castle, where the Queen will be buried at King George VI Memorial Chapel.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.