There’s a lot of talk about Operation London Bridge, which is currently in effect right now. Operation London Bridge is the detailed, precise plan for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, the national period of mourning, where and when her body will lie in state and about a million other things. But Operation Unicorn is lesser known – that’s the contingency plan, adjacent to Operation London Bridge, in case QEII passed away in Scotland. Basically, QEII will be moved to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh first, and a Scottish public funeral will be held in Edinburgh as well. Then she will be moved to London next week, where she will lie in state.
The BBC has more about what happens in London – go here to read. It’s very involved and the Queen spent decades tinkering with the plans, and everything about her state funeral will be done exactly to her specifications. Foreign leaders, monarchs and dignitaries will all pour into London for the funeral. It will be one of the biggest events of the past twenty years. I expect President Biden will go, and I expect he will lead a delegation of prominent Americans, probably the Obamas, Clintons and George W. Bush and Laura Bush. European leaders will arrive en masse, and most (if not all) of the world’s monarchies will be well-represented too.
As for what happens after the state funeral, we already know that too:
Queen Elizabeth II will be interred at Windsor Castle’s King George VI Memorial Chapel, with the body of her late husband, Prince Philip, being moved to join her.
The burial is expected to take place after Elizabeth’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Her parents, King George VI, who died in 1952, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who died in 2002, as well as her sister, Princess Margaret, who also died in 2002, have each been laid to rest at King George VI Memorial Chapel.
The remains of Prince Philip, who passed away at age 99 in April 2021, are still at the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel. King George VI Memorial Chapel is part of St. George’s Chapel, the site of various royal burials.
I actually didn’t know or I forgot that they actually didn’t inter Prince Philip in the memorial chapel? I thought his remains were already interred, but nope. They kept him in the vault and now Philip and Elizabeth will be interred together, along with her mother, father and sister.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Buckingham Palace, Backgrid.
-
- The 60th wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh on 21st Nov 2007 Coverage of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip London, England – 21.11.1947,Image: 329738240, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no
-
- ‘DEVIL DANCERS’ ENTERTAIN THE QUEEN – The Queen and Prince Philip watched a display of ‘devil dancing’ during a Durbar at Po on the second day of their tour of the interior of Sierra Leone. Seen here sharing a hearty joke with the Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, Sir MILTON MARGAI during the Durbar – Date: 29.11.1961. Ref: B39_085132_0003 . COMPULSORY CREDIT: Bandphoto /UPPA/Photoshot,Image: 502743268, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: For queries call UPPA + 44 (0)20 7421 6000, Model Release: yes, Credit line: © Bandphoto / uppa.co.uk / Avalon
-
- London, UNITED KINGDOM – **FILE PHOTOS** Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh traveled from Norfolk this morning to King Edward VII Hospital in London for observation and treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition. The admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness’ Doctor. Here on archive material during Trooping the Colour 2017. **SHOT ON 06/17/2017** Pictured: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh BACKGRID USA 20 DECEMBER 2019 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Off topic, I know, but she was a beautiful bride. Reading everything surrounding the plans after her passing has been interesting.
I love these old photos! They looked so happy on their wedding day. I know their marriage wasn’t perfect, but they hung in there together for over 70 years.
I hope she kept a journal so we know more of her and her life and I hope we’ll know about her will. She was a beautiful lady.
May they both finally Rest In Peace. I do have a question? Why couldn’t he have been laid to rest at king George memorial chapel to begin with instead of having to move him?
I am happy that they will be reunited. I keep seeing footage of her crying at his funeral, all in black – it’s heartbreaking, no matter what the epic family drama happens to be.
Those final pictures from Tuesday (I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that they had her standing and greeting so close to death) show so many signs that the end is near – notably her white fingers and mottled hands. Watching the news this morning, the pictures were edited – they filled in her fingers with color. I just found that to be odd.
She is finally able to rest – thank goodness. She had to have been so, so tired.
I think she wanted to do it. Her last PM. My 93 year old father in law just dug up a floor (with help) and fixed a leaky pipe last saturday. He wants to work until the day he dies. That generation is built different.
Definitely that generation. My mother is in her 90s and getting frailer, but will still say she’s ashamed of herself for not getting more done. I keep telling her she can let others do the work now, but so much of her identity is tied up in duty/usefulness that she won’t accept it. Made of steel, these nonagenarians.
They say people hold on for some milestone and then let go. Betty wanted that 15th prime minister bad. Or maybe she just didn’t want Boris announcing her death.
what is going on in that second photo with the huge medal right on her maj’s bewb?! I can’t believe Cecil didn’t notice that and have her move it. it looks like a pastie!
love these beautiful vintage photos tho.
Those pins and sashes all have specific places where they are supposed to go. Of course, the assumption is that it will be a man in a suit wearing them. Looking at this, TQ decided to wear an off the shoulder gown, the sash had to be pinned to the shoulder, which left the medal no where to go but the “apex of fullness” as the dressmakers say. I think she started wearing gowns with shoulders for this reason, at least when she was wearing all the medals.
I’m guessing that medal’s placement is designated to be placed over the heart and her boobs just made it awkward.
They really made a handsome couple back in their time.
It is interesting to think of how planned out her funeral etc are. Philip’s obviously was as well but then COVID changed things; I wonder how much the Queen changed (if anything?) after his funeral?
I like that they will be interred together. My grandfather died before my grandmother and we didn’t bury him (ashes) until my grandmother died two years later, and I liked seeing them laid to rest together. they were married 69 years, so I liked to see them go into the ground together, as morbid as that might sound.
What a weird family.
The monarchy is a farce.
“Finally”? I mean it really wasn’t an option until yesterday.
LOL. I mean, you can’t really beat the melodrama of these people right now.
I love these old photos! They looked so happy on their wedding day. I know their marriage wasn’t perfect, but they hung in there together for over 70 years.
I’ve read London Bridge etc. How long would she have been passed on, before it was announced?