Operation London Bridge

Grisel Gonzalez
Staff Writer 
  Anguish and grief overtook the people of the United Kingdom on September 8, 2022. On that indicated day, Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully in her home at the Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Elizabeth was the longest-serving ruler in England and reigned for just over 70 years. The Queen had been struggling with many health issues before her death, and she passed away due to natural causes. Upon her passing, Prince Charles took the throne and is now King Charles III. The coronation of Charles will take place sometime in 2023, and the title of Prince of Wales will shift to Prince William, Charles’s eldest son. 
  Charles’s wife Camilla Parker will be taking up the title of queen consort “thanks to a special intervention by her mother-in-law” (The Cut). A queen consort shares her husband’s social rank and status, although she will not be the official queen. Her main job is to provide, support, and fellowship because the consort “does not hold a formal position in the structure of government.” According to Cosmopolitan, “As the wife of a monarch, Camilla will also become a Counselor of State. These are senior members of the Royal Family who can carry out duties on behalf of the king if he is unwell or overseas.” The monarchy already has a set plan of what is to come after the Queen’s passing. The roles of the new rulers have been set in place, and the grandchildren of the monarch are entitled to be princes or princesses.      
  Before the Queen’s death, the monarchy formulated a plan nicknamed “Operation London Bridge” or the code phrase “London Bridge is down.” (Quora.com) This funeral plan mapped out the 10 days after Queen Elizabeth’s death. This method helped the monarchy stay organized and calm during this devastating turn of events. This plan of action includes her successor immediately taking over, the international declaration of her death, a period of official mourning, and the release of details for her state funeral. Operation London Bridge gave guidance to the people, and they are now aware of what is going to happen without Queen Elizabeth II.

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