'The queen is dead. (1926-2022) Long live the king.' TV programmes had already been cancelled in the afternoon of Thursday September 8th 2022 when the family were summoned to Scotland. She died at Balmoral in Scotland.
Who Heard?
The members of the royal family were told she was failing fast and were called to Scotland.
A TV presenter was already wearing a black tie. In fact, all the BBC presenters were in black from the time of the announcement about the queen being under medical supervision.
The flag, the Union Jack, on Buckingham Palace, was lowered to half mast. Phones began pinging with alerts about the news.
A back-edged announcement appeared on the gate.
What Next?
Next will be the funeral. In London, England, UK.
But for everyday life in the UK, and overseas, what does this mean?
1 UK passports will change. Anything with the words queen will change to king. This means
2 Notes and coins.
3 Postage stamps.
4 Pillar boxes. (Post boxes. Americans say mail boxes.)
5 Magazines, newspapers and books and postcards with stories and photos about the queen and her era.
6 TV programmes on history.
7 Uniforms of the military.
8 Stamps around the world.
9 Souvenirs - postcards, tee-shirts, mugs.
10 Next Christmas we will have the king's message.r countries around the world will be making changes to stamps - as well as souvenir shops.
In addition to postage stamps and regalia in the UK,
Why so many changes? All so costly. Unnecessary. We have always been the UK, not the UQ.
The Queen's body will be displayed in Scotland, where she died, displayed at a religious building, then moved to London.
In London the coffin will move from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in Westminster Palace (which is across the road from Westminster Abbey) where she will lie in state so that the public can file past and see her for the last time.
On the day of the funeral members of the royal family will follow the slow transfer of the coffin down The Mall.
The funeral service will take place in Westminster Abbey, with former Prime Ministers of the UK and heads of state from overseas. Expect security to be tight.
Afterwards, the coffin will be taken in a hearse (carriage for the coffin) to Windsor.
The final place will be St George's chapel. The royal family, guests will observe a choir singing hymns. The body will be lowered into the vault below the quire. (Centre or crossing point of the arms of the cross shape of the building.)
On the day of the funeral any sports events previously planned for that day will be cancelled. So will strikes. It will be a bank holiday and schools will be closed.
Who will be affected?
Cancellations
Horse racing, cycling, golf, football. The Last Night of the Proms, an evening of patriotic and jolly music, cancelled. the good news is that strikes will be cancelled.
Certain flags will fly at half mast for a brief period (quite complicated as to which flags and how they are raised when the new king Charles III is being proclaimed - sworn in?), and events will be televised around the world.
Additions
Bells will be tolled. Canons will be fired (in Wales).
Glossary
casket - American term for the box for a dead body, strictly speaking a basic four-sided rectangle
catafalque - platform for a coffin
coffin - a fancy six-sided box for a dead body (the term coffin is the most usual one used in the UK)
quire - area where the choir (or group of singers) is seated (also a sheaf of paper)
King Charles III
Queen Consort Camilla
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Places To Visit
UK
London
Buckingham Palace, London, England
Flowers from members of the public.
The Mall
(Black taxi cabs gathered with lights on.)
Piccadilly - pictures of the queen
Scotland
Edinburgh
USA
Times Square
Paris, France - Eiffel Tower
Tel Aviv
Australia - Sydney Opera House picture of queen on the sails, Friday 10th Sept and Saturday 11th Sept nights.
Useful Websites
On You Tube I was offered links to subscribe to the UKs BBC news and America's NBC news.
Plans for the funeral, from the BBC
Map of St George's Chapel, Windsor
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60617519
Changes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Elizabeth_II
Sights
Angela Lansbury, English language expert and speaking and language trainer, travel writer specialising in places: countries, museums, restaurants (wine and dine), romantic destinations, people (famous), and events. Practical, amusing and entertaining books, articles and blogs.
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