Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II

Death of Elizabeth II

Balmoral Castle (pictured in 2004), where the Queen died
Date	8 September 2022 (2022-09-08)
Location	Balmoral Castle, Scotland
Coordinates	57°2′27″N 3°13′48″W

On 8 September 2022, Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, and the longest-living and longest-reigning British monarch, died at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, following medical supervision by her doctors. Upon the Queen's death, Charles III, her eldest son, immediately took the throne as the King of the United Kingdom and fourteen other Commonwealth realms. The official announcement came at 18:30 BST.

Her death set in motion Operation London Bridge, a collection of highly specific plans including arrangements for her funeral, and Operation Unicorn, which set protocols for the Queen's death in Scotland. The United Kingdom, as part of Operation London Bridge, is observing a national mourning period of 10 days. A funeral service for Elizabeth has not been announced yet.

Elizabeth II's death was met by a slew of reactions from world leaders, government officials, public figures, organisations, religious leaders, individuals within the royal family, and citizens of the Commonwealth and elsewhere.

Background

Although the Queen had been in good health for most of her life, her health began to deteriorate in the years leading up to her death. In 2003, she received knee surgery and began using a walking stick throughout 2004. By 2018, it was reported that the Queen was still suffering from pain in her knees, although she was reluctant to undergo surgery due to the time off that would come about as a result of such a surgery.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, the Queen faced several health issues. In October 2021, British media reported that the Queen began using a walking stick again since her knee surgery in 2003 during public engagements. The Queen would receive an overnight stay in hospital later that month on 20 October, resulting in visits to Northern Ireland and her visit to the COP26 summit in Glasgow being cancelled on health grounds. In November, the Queen suffered from a sprained back and was unable to attend the 2021 National Service of Remembrance.

In February 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic in England, the Queen was one of several people at Windsor Castle to test positive for COVID-19. Her symptoms were described as mild and cold-like, with the Queen later commenting that the disease "does leave one very tired and exhausted". Given the health impacts of COVID-19 and long COVID are known to be more severe among older people, the Queen's health came into question by multiple outlets. However, the Queen was reportedly feeling well enough to resume her official duties by 1 March.

The Queen was present at the service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on 29 March, but was unable to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service that month or the Royal Maundy Service in April. In May, the Queen would miss the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in 59 years (she did not attend in 1959 and 1963 as she was pregnant with Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, respectively). In her absence, Parliament was opened by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge as Counsellors of State. The Prince of Wales, the heir apparent, gained more official responsibilities towards the end of the Queen's life and stood in for her at the State Opening of Parliament. In June, the Queen did not attend the National Service of Thanksgiving for her Platinum Jubilee; official sources mentioned her "discomfort" after standing during the military parade celebrating her official birthday on the first day of celebrations. During the celebrations, the Queen was largely confined to balcony appearances.

On 6 September, two days before her death, the Queen accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson and appointed Liz Truss to succeed him as Prime Minister at Balmoral Castle (where the Queen was on holiday) in a break with tradition; this was usually done at Buckingham Palace. On 7 September, she was scheduled to attend an online meeting of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom to swear in new ministers in Truss's government, but it was announced that the meeting had been postponed after she was advised to rest by doctors. The Queen's final public statement, issued that same day, was a message of condolences for the victims of the 2022 Saskatchewan stabbings.

Timeline

8 September

Notice of the Queen's death posted at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh

Shortly after 12 noon British Summer Time, Liz Truss and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Angela Rayner were informed of the Queen's ill health, by notes circulated during a speech in Parliament by Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer.

Shortly after, at approximately 12:30 p.m, Buckingham Palace publicly announced that the Queen was "under medical supervision" at Balmoral Castle after doctors expressed concern over her health. The statement read:

Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.

Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle made a brief statement of good wishes in Parliament in response. Following the announcement, members of the royal family traveled to Balmoral Castle, including Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife the Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne, and Prince Harry, while the Duchess of Sussex chose to stay in London.

Ten minutes later, at around 12:40 p.m., the BBC, the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom, cut away from regular programming on BBC One to continuously cover the Queen's condition, with all BBC news journalists and broadcasters dressed in black later in the afternoon. Special reports about her condition were run on other main television channels in the UK, including ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5.

By 16:30 the Queen was officially dead. Cabinet secretary Simon Case informed Prime Minister Truss of the Queen's death at around this time.

At around 17:00, members of the royal family who had flown from RAF Northolt to Scotland arrived at Balmoral, including Prince William, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Prince Harry, who did not travel with them and departed later, arrived at Balmoral at around 20:00.

The royal family's official Twitter account announced her death in a tweet timestamped 18:30 BST, stating:

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.

British television announcements of the Queen's death came shortly after, and included the aforementioned statement being read verbatim by news presenter Huw Edwards during a live broadcast across all BBC television channels (bar BBC Three and Four, which were not broadcasting at the time, and subsequently had programmes suspended following the announcement of the death, and children's channels CBBC, which announced the news through their programme Newsround, and CBeebies, which saw no interruptions to its regular schedule) after which the national anthem was played.

In accordance with the protocol implemented after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Union flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half-mast. It also flew at half-mast at 10 Downing Street and Balmoral Castle. Because the new monarch was already at Balmoral Castle when he became King, the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom was lowered and raised again at the castle following his mother's death. The Royal Banner of Scotland was also lowered to half-mast at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, while the Welsh flag at Cardiff Castle was lowered as well.

9 September

King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla travelled from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace, where they greeted the crowd of mourners outside the gates. He then held an in-person audience with Prime Minister Truss before paying tribute to his mother in a publicly broadcast message. The King, along with Princess Anne and Prince Edward, paid tribute to their mother in the BBC One special programme A Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen. At the Palace of Westminster, MPs gathered to read out their messages of condolences and tributes.

In Charles's first address as King, he declared a period of mourning that is expected to last and be observed by the royal family and members of the royal household until seven days after the Queen's state funeral. All flags at royal residences were ordered to be lowered to half-mast except for the Royal Standard which, in accordance with both long-standing protocol and the deceased Queen's wishes, will continue to fly at full mast whenever the King is in any of the residences. All royal residences will be closed until after the state funeral has occurred. 96-gun salutes were fired in Hyde Park by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company, at Edinburgh Castle by the Royal Artillery, at Cardiff Castle and Stonehenge by 104 Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Caernarfon Castle, at York Museum Gardens, and on board Royal Navy ships. An online book of condolences was also set up by the royal website. Church bells tolled at Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Windsor Castle, and other churches across the UK. The UK government published guidance on details surrounding the national mourning period, stating that businesses, public service, sports fixtures and public venues were not obliged to shut.

At St Paul's Cathedral, a ticketed service of prayer and mourning was held at 18:00 with senior politicians and 2,000 members of the public in attendance. The ceremony marked the first official rendition of "God Save the King". The Prime Minister gave a reading and the Bishop of London gave an address, while the Archbishop of Canterbury said the blessings. Solemn Prelude "In Memoriam" from For The Fallen by Edward Elgar was played as the service was about to start and the hymns "All My Hope on God is Founded" and "O Thou Who Camest from Above" were chosen for the event.

Process

Further information: Operation London Bridge

Plans for the Queen's death have existed in some form since the 1960s.

Succession

Upon the Queen's death, her eldest son Charles, Prince of Wales, immediately acceded to the throne as King of the United Kingdom as Charles III.

There was some speculation regarding what regnal name the former Prince of Wales would take upon succeeding his mother. During her formal televised address outside 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Truss made the first mention of the King's regnal name during a tribute to the Queen. Clarence House officially confirmed the new King would be known as Charles III shortly after the Prime Minister's address. Buckingham Palace released the King's first official statement as monarch at 19:04 BST:

The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family.

We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.

During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.

Most of Charles III's pre-accession Scottish titles as well as the title Duke of Cornwall were passed to his eldest son and the new heir apparent to the throne, William, Duke of Cambridge. On 9 September, William was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, succeeding his now-reigning father.

The Accession Council will assemble on 10 September at St James's Palace to formally proclaim the accession of Charles III. Although about seven hundred people are eligible to attend the ceremony, because the event was planned on such short notice, the number in attendance is expected to be much lower. In addition to other formalities, the Council is expected to de jure confirm Charles III as the King's regnal name.

No dates have been announced for the King and Queen Consort's coronation or for the new Prince of Wales's investiture.

Funeral

Details about a state funeral have yet to be announced, including the date, which is to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace.

The Queen's body will be moved from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, before being placed at St Giles' Cathedral, where the public will be allowed to pay their respects. The coffin, draped in the Royal Standard and with the Imperial State Crown on top, will be taken to London and moved from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in a military procession. She will lie in state at Westminster Hall where crowds can file past, and in addition to the Imperial State Crown, the orb and sceptre will be placed on her coffin.

On the day of the funeral, the coffin will be moved from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy as the King and other members of the royal family walk behind. The royal family, heads of state, and politicians will gather at Westminster Abbey for the funeral. The Dean of Westminster David Hoyle is expected to conduct the service, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will deliver the sermon. The coffin will then be taken from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch and then by hearse to Windsor.

Another procession is expected to occur at the Quadrangle in Windsor Castle, at the end of which the coffin will be taken to St George's Chapel for a committal service. The coffin will then be lowered to the Royal Vault. The Queen is expected to be buried at the King George VI Memorial Chapel and laid to rest next to her husband, sister, and parents.

Reactions

Main article: Reactions to the death of Elizabeth II

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in the rain in London.

Royal family

King Charles III, Elizabeth II's eldest son and the King of the United Kingdom, paid tribute to her in a speech the following morning:

To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you. Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.

Other responses

Hundreds of people had gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace in London at the time of the announcement. Many others used social media to post condolences and tributes both to the Queen and to the British royal family. Floral tributes were later left outside Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Sandringham House, Balmoral Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Hillsborough Castle. Several black cab drivers lined The Mall with their lights on to pay tribute to the Queen. Numerous books of condolences were set up at libraries and council offices across the UK.

The London Eye dimmed its lights on the evening of her death. Flags at Parliament Hill in Ottawa and the Capitol Building and the White House in Washington, D.C. were flown at half-mast in her honour. The Empire State Building in New York City illuminated in purple and silver, the Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark at midnight, and the Sydney Opera House had an image of the Queen projected onto it. Billboards at Piccadilly Circus, the BT Tower and Times Square showed tributes to the Queen, as well as advertising screens on the side of bus stops across London. Many other landmarks across the world paid tributes to the death of the Elizabeth II.

The National Memorial Arboretum set up books of condolence and announced tributes would be paid to the Queen at a special reading at Millennium Chapel. Blackpool Illuminations were unlit as a sign of respect, and they will become unlit again on the night of the funeral. Blackpool Tower display the colours red, white and blue throughout the period of mourning. St Laurence's Church in Ludlow and Shrewsbury Abbey are due to hold memorial services.

The ceremony that was due to be held to mark the transitioning of Colchester from town to city status was cancelled. The Last Night of the Proms and the Mercury Prize were among the events that were called off, while the Royal Opera House announced that they would not go on with the opening night of one of their new productions and will not be operating on the day of the state funeral. Several unions responsible for organising the strikes by postal workers and rail staff announced that they would postpone their actions "out of respect for her service to the country and her family". The Trades Union Congress also cancelled their annual conference as a sign of respect. Numerous sporting events have been postponed or suspended from 8 September through at least 11 September, including all football fixtures across the Home Nations, and the second day of England's third test match against South Africa. Some events have gone on, but with a moment of silence observed before play, and all players wearing black armbands. Several rugby fixtures were postponed, with the exception of mini, junior and under-18 rugby matches, which will go ahead with a period of two minutes' silence. The St Leger Stakes, the Champagne Stakes and the Park Stakes, the Doncaster Cup and the Flying Childers Stakes were all postponed.

Various political leaders and heads of government sent messages of condolence.

See also

• Death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the death and funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Elizabeth II's husband, which had occurred a year prior.

External links

• Announcement of the death of The Queen – The Royal Household
• Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – UK Government
• Commemoration for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – Government of Canada
• Her Majesty The Queen – Australian Government
• Death of Her Majesty the Queen – Governor-General of New Zealand