Britain's longest-reigning monarch died yesterday at the age of 96.
It was announced by Buckingham Palace that Queen Elizabeth II died "peacefully at Balmoral". In a statement, the Palace said: "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.”
It means that His Majesty King Charles III is the new monarch and head of state for the UK and the Commonwealth nations. Over the coming days, he will likely be closely involved in planning the Queen's funeral alongside other mourning events.
Here is a breakdown of what will happen all across the country today, on the first day of the UK's mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II.
The King and Queen return to London
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla spent a night at Balmoral on Thursday, but return to London today.
They were seen in a Range Rover heading to Aberdeen airport at around 11am. The King was pictured in the back of the car, with the Queen in the front passenger seat, as they were driven in convoy over the River Dee towards Ballater.
Bells, gun salutes and tributes
Bells will toll at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle, and gun salutes – one round for every year of the Queen’s life – will be fired in Hyde Park and at other stations at 1pm. At 12pm church bells are expected to ring across the country in memory of the Queen.
Flowers have been left at significant locations across the UK as mourners gather to pay their respects. Hundreds of bouquets, personal notes and candles have already started being laid in memory of the 96-year-old.
Members of public wishing to lay flowers have been advised by Buckingham Palace where they should leave their floral tributes. Those who wish to leave floral tributes at Buckingham Palace will be guided to lay them at dedicated sites in Green Park or Hyde Park, the Palace said, and any flowers left outside the Palace gates will be moved to the Green Park Floral Tribute Garden by The Royal Parks.
At Windsor Castle, floral tributes can be left at Cambridge Gate on the Long Walk. These flowers will be brought inside the castle each evening and placed on the castle chapter grass on the south side of St George’s Chapel and Cambridge Drive. At the Sandringham Estate, people are encouraged to leave floral tributes at the Norwich Gates and at Balmoral Castle, floral tributes can be left at the main gate.
In Manchester, floral tributes have been left in St Ann's Square. At Manchester Cathedral, members of the public are gathering to write messages in a book of condolences and lighting candles for the Queen.
House of Commons tribute and PM meeting
At 12pm tributes to the Queen will be paid by MPs in the House of Commons. The tributes will be led by Prime Minister Liz Truss and Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle.
Despite his grief, duty calls for new sovereign Charles and his first audience as monarch with Ms Truss is expected to happen as soon as practically possible.
Confirming funeral plans
Charles will meet the Earl Marshal – the Duke of Norfolk – who is in charge of the accession and the Queen’s funeral, to approve the carefully choreographed schedule for the coming days.
The arrangements – codenamed London Bridge – have long been planned in consultation with the Government.
They will incorporate Operation Unicorn, the contingency plans for the death of the Queen in Scotland.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Government and the Royal Household prepared a “London minus” version of the London Bridge plans in case it was needed – which is now unlikely – with all the elements but with the involvement of fewer people.
Royal mourning
A period of 'Royal Mourning' for the Queen will be observed from now until seven days after her funeral.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen, it is His Majesty the King’s wish that a period of Royal Mourning be observed from now until seven days after The Queen’s Funeral. The date of the Funeral will be confirmed in due course.
“Royal Mourning will be observed by Members of the Royal Family, Royal Household staff and Representatives of the Royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to Ceremonial Duties.”
National mourning
Official guidance for the period of national mourning has been published on the gov.uk website. It says a period of national mourning will be observed from now until the end of the day of the state funeral.
The guidance states that national mourning "is a period of time for reflection" following the Queen's death. It states: "Mourning is very personal and we anticipate individuals, families, communities and organisations may want to mark Her Majesty’s demise in their own way. There is no expectation on the public or organisations to observe specific behaviours during the mourning period.
"Public services will continue as usual, although there may be some changes to service availability on the day of the State Funeral."
It is also expected to be announced that the funeral day will be a public holiday in the form of a Day of National Mourning.
Many shops are choosing to close today as a mark of respect for the Queen.
Flags
Union flags on royal buildings will fly at half-mast.
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.
The Union flag does not fly there at the same time.
The Union flag will also be flying half-mast over the Houses of Parliament. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is in charge of arrangements for lowering flags on government buildings.
Downing Street reportedly expressed concern in the past that the Government would face a wave of public anger if it did not lower its flags within 10 minutes of the announcement of the Queen’s death.
Charles’s televised address
The King will make a pre-recorded televised address to the nation at 6pm. He will pay tribute to the Queen and pledge his duty to his service as the new sovereign.
Service at St Paul’s Cathedral
The Prime Minister and senior ministers will attend a public service of remembrance at St Paul’s in central London, with the event planned to appear as if impromptu.
Read next:
- His Majesty King Charles III releases first statement since becoming Britain's monarch
- The day-by-day plan for all the key events following the Queen's death
- When does Prince Charles become King following the death of Queen Elizabeth?
- Huge crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
