The nation watched quietly as the news of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II broke during the afternoon of Thursday 8 September 2022.
The Death of HM Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen, aged 96, passed away during her stay at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, as her family rushed to her side. The new Prime Minister Liz Truss was notified at 4.30pm, with the news was announced by the BBC at 6.30pm.
She’d been under medical supervision there, at her traditional summer home, following concerns over her health. Only two days earlier, on Tuesday 6 September 2022 she’d accepted the resignation of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, welcoming Liz Truss in his place.
Prince Charles automatically succeeds his mother as King Charles III. On Saturday 10 September an Accession Council at St James’s Palace in London formally proclaimed him as King. Camilla is now Queen Consort. Charles was the country’s longest serving heir to the throne and becomes the 62nd British monarch.
The Queen’s death follows that of her husband Prince Phillip in 2021. He passed away at the age of 99 on 9 April.
Operation London Bridge
The government has long held a plan for the day when the Queen should die, named ‘Operation London Bridge’. It covers every detail from the moment of her death. It triggered an official period of mourning for the nation.
The Prime Minister and ministers welcomed the coffin on the flight from Scotland. After this King Charles embarked on a tour of the nations of the UK for condolence and memorial events.
The Queen lies in State
Queen Elizabeth lay in state at Westminster Hall where hundreds of thousands of people queued for hours to file past. This is the oldest building in Parliament, with a 240ft-long hammer beam roof, first built in 1097 under William II, son of William the Conqueror. The Queen Mother, George V, Winston Churchill and William Gladstone have all lain in state there, in coffins resting on a raised platform in the centre of the stone floor. The platform, or catafalque, was covered with purple cloth and flanked by 24 hour military guard. The Imperial State Crown, orb and sceptre were placed on the coffin once in the Hall.
The state funeral at Westminster Abbey attracted huge crowds across London. The funeral was declared a Bank Holiday and day of national mourning, with a two minutes silence held at midday.
Funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II
On Sunday 11 September, the Queen’s coffin travelled from Balmoral to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. There, the Queen rested overnight in the Throne Room of the official Scottish residence to allow staff to pay their respects. Then on Monday 12 September the coffin moved to St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh to enable the public to pay their respects.
Princess Anne flew to London with her mother on Tuesday. On Wednesday, King Charles III and Princes William and Harry accompanied the cortege on foot in a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the laying in state. Hundreds of thousands of people filed past the coffin to pay their respects, with a huge policing operation in place.
The state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II took place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19. Prior to the funeral, the Queen lay in state for four days to allow the public to pay their respects.
The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 19 September at 1100hrs BST. A Committal Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, will take place later the same day at 1600hrs.
Funeral arrangements
- On the morning of the State Funeral, the Lying-in-State ended at 06:30 hrs as the final members of the public were admitted.
- At 10:44 hrs the coffin was borne in Procession on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral.
- The King, Members of the Royal Family and members of The King’s Household immediately followed the Coffin.
- The Procession arrived at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey at 10:52 hrs. There, the Bearer Party lifted the coffin from the State Gun Carriage to carry it into the Abbey for the State Funeral Service.
- Towards the end of the Service, at approximately 11:55 hrs the Last Post sounded. This was followed by two minute’s silence, observed in the Abbey, and throughout the United Kingdom. The National Anthem brought the State Funeral Service to a close at approximately 12 noon.
Laid to rest
Queen Elizabeth II was buried in the King George VI memorial chapel, in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The chapel is next to the North Quire aisle in the building, built between 1968 and 1969. It commemorates its namesake – King George VI, the Queen’s father.
Her Majesty’s coffinis now laid to rest alongside her father, the Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret. King George VIs coffin was originally placed in the Royal Vault following his death in February 1952. But it was later transferred to the chapel upon its completion on 26 March 1969.
Mourning the Death of HM Queen Elizabeth II
Following the announcement, the notice of her death was posted on the gates of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The palace is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Another notice was posted on the gates of Buckingham Palace. An official 10 day period of mourning followed, lasting until the funeral.
Many businesses and shops chose to remain closed on Friday 9th September, with other events cancelled. The BBC announced cancellation of the Last Night of the Proms, due to take place on Saturday 10 September, along with the Friday night concert. Sporting and cultural events have been cancelled or postponed, including Friday’s football and racing fixtures. The rail and postal workers’ unions called off planned strikes.
Lights were dimmed and books of condolence opened. Landmarks and theatres switched off their lights. Flags were flying at half mast. Official periods of mourning were declared in Canada where the Queen was head of state and in Brazil, where she wasn’t.
The Lights go out, Attractions Close and the Fireworks Change
The Blackpool Illuminations were turned off as a mark of respect on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th September. In tribute, The Tower was illuminated in red, white and blue throughout the mourning period.
Illuminations organiser VisitBlackpool said the full display will resume on September 10. On the night of the funeral they once again remained unlit, resuming in full the following day.
They also confirmed the postponement of the first round of the World Fireworks Championship. The first event, due to take place on the night of September 17, was rescheduled to October half-term.
Blackpool’s main attractions remained CLOSED on Bank Holiday 19 September for the Queen’s State Funeral. The Blackpool Tower, Sea Life Centre, Madame Tussaud’s, Sandcastle Water Park, Blackpool Zoo, Central, South and North Piers, Coral Island, Golden Mile Amusements. Many other places were also closed.
For whom the bell tolls
The Church of England urged churches across the country to toll muffled bells for an hour from noon. Protocol following the death of a monarch includes urging churches with flag posts to fly flags at half-mast until the day of the funeral, other than for a period following the proclamation of the new King.
Flags flew at half mast on UK Government buildings in tribute to the Queen from her death until the morning after her funeral. However, even after the Queen’s death, the Royal Standard is never flown at half mast. There is always a monarch on the throne – with the role passing to her son the King.
Suspension of Government
Under the Succession of the Crown Act, 1707, Parliament is due to meet soon after a monarch’s death for tributes. Parliament was then adjourned until after the state funeral.
Public-facing government activity almost completely ended during the period of national mourning. Ministers cancelled visits, interviews, press conferences and press releases with only essential activities allowed to go ahead.
The exception is the energy bills package, announced by the PM shortly before it became clear that the Queen’s condition was worsening. Due to the severity of the cost of living crisis, the Government wanted to ensure people have the information they need about energy support.
King Charles III Proclamation Ceremonies
Prince Charles automatically succeeded his mother as King Charles III. On Saturday 10 September an Accession Council at St James’s Palace in London formally proclaimed him as King. Camilla becomes Queen Consort. Charles was the country’s longest serving heir to the throne, now the 62nd British monarch.
Blackpool’s Public Proclamation Ceremony
Blackpool formally marked the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and accession of King Charles III with a proclamation ceremony at 3pm on Sunday 11 September.
Taking place in St John’s Square it coincided with similar ceremonies in towns and cities across the country.
The short event is an opportunity for the community to come together including words from the Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Kathryn Benson.
Flags are at half-mast during the national period of mourning. They followed tradition by flying at full-mast for the national proclamation on Saturday, until shortly after Blackpool’s local proclamation on Sunday.
Elsewhere on the Fylde Coast
Lancashire held a County proclamation on Sunday 11 September at 1pm. The High Sheriff of Lancashire read the proclamation from the steps of the Harris Museum in Preston.
The Mayor of Wyre proclaimed the King’s name and his accession on Monday 12 September, at 10am, at the front of Wyre Council’s Civic Centre in Poulton. Afterwards, the book of condolence was available for signing at the Civic Centre.
Flower laying was also welcomed at Lytham Windmill, where a section was cordoned off. The Windmill itself lit with deep purple and Fylde Council teams wearing black armbands as a mark of respect. A book of condolence was opened at the Town Hall. The Mayor of Fylde, Councillor Ben Aitken made a proclamation in Fylde at the Town Hall in St Annes at 3pm on Sunday 11 September.
Time to go…
Following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, tributes immediately poured in from around the world, flooding social media. This heartfelt poem by J.Boyle was widely shared.
Philip came to me today,
and said it was time to go.
I looked at him and smiled,
as I whispered that ‘I know’
I then turned and looked behind me,
and saw I was asleep.
All my family were around me,
and I could hear them weep.
I gently touched each shoulder,
with Philip by my side.
Then I turned away and walked,
with my angel guide.
Philip held my hand,
as he led the way,
to a world where Kings and Queens,
are Monarchs every day.
I was given a crown to wear
or a halo known by some.
The difference is up here,
they are worn by everyone.
I felt a sense of peace,
my reign had seen its end.
70 years I had served my Country,
as the people’s friend.
Thank you for the years,
for all your time and love.
Now I am one of two again,
in our palace up above.
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