Inside the Secret Plan for What Will Happen After the Queen’s Death

Photo: Getty.

Late last week, The Guardian published a fascinating piece that examined what exactly will happen when Queen Elizabeth II dies. Written and meticulously researched by Sam Knight, the article quickly made the rounds on social media. And while it dealt largely with the existential crisis that England is likely to face, it was also chock-full of smaller details. Below, the 12 most interesting things we learned.

The secret code for when the Queen dies is “London Bridge is down” This is the message that will be relayed to England’s prime minister and passed through secure lines to government officials. All such persons involved will be aware of what the code means.

Most people predict that she will die after a short illness As the Queen approaches death, the public will likely receive some form of warning from the palace. Knight notes that Queen Victoria’s personal physician issued a statement a couple days before her death: “The Queen is suffering from great physical prostration, accompanied by symptoms which cause much anxiety.”

Heads of state will be the first to hear the news The Queen’s private secretary, Christopher Geidt, will pass word on to England’s prime minister, after which Commonwealth heads of state will be notified.

Then the news media will receive an alert In the past, the BBC received the news before other outlets. They have, however, lost this exclusive, and will be notified along with agencies at the same moment in time.

There are special mechanisms in place at such institutions to communicate the news At the BBC, Rats, or “radio alert transmission system” will turn on. This is a Cold War–era alarm that many employees have never heard. At British radio stations, a blue light will start blinking so that DJs and hosts will know to switch to the news. This same visual signal is activated in times of national catastrophe. All these radio stations have songs prepared to play in times of unexpected mourning.

Media outlets have been preparing for this day for years The BBC used to run mock drills on Sunday mornings to prepare for the death of the Queen Mother. The Times apparently has 11 days’ worth of coverage already planned for when the Queen passes.

Charles will be proclaimed king the following day at 11:00 a.m. His wife, Camilla, who is currently styled as the Duchess of Cornwall, will become Queen Camilla. Prince William and Kate Middleton will become the Prince and Princess of Wales.

But it’s not clear what will happen with Australia Queen Elizabeth II is known as “Head of the Commonwealth.” This title is, however, not hereditary. Australia’s former prime minister said that Geidt asked her in 2013 for her continued support. However, Australia’s current prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, as well as the country’s leader of the opposition, have both stated that they want Australia to become a republic.

Charles will then set out on a tour of the country In the article, one of Charles’s advisors is quoted as saying that the plan is for “lots of not being in a car, but actually walking around . . . . It is see and be seen.” Charles will also need to sign off on many final decisions for the funeral following his mother’s death.

The funeral will take place on the ninth day after the Queen’s death The day is referred to by officials as “D+9.” Most people in England will have the day off work.

Her Majesty’s corgis may be involved Knight points to the fact that mourners for King Edward VII were led by his fox terrier, as a possible precedent.

And it will be a very grand occasion The Queen will be the first monarch to have her funeral in Westminster Abbey since 1760. Her coffin will have a false lid in which to hold the crown jewels, and the route for the funeral procession is thought to be able to hold one million people.

This story originally appeared on Vogue.

More from Vogue:

The Best Celebrity Engagement Rings

25 Secret Celebrity Weddings We Still Know Little About

13 of the Best-Selling Red Lipsticks of All Time

The Best Hourglass Bodies of All Time: From Raquel Welch to Beyoncé

The 27 Best Beach Bodies of All Time

What’s Your Lipstick Horoscope? Shop Fall’s Best Shades by Zodiac Sign