Members of the British royal family rushed to Scotland on Thursday after Buckingham Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth II was "under medical supervision." The palace statement said the 96-year-old monarch "remains comfortable."
If the Queen's health deteriorates, however, courtiers and the U.K. government will turn to a plan known as "Operation London Bridge," which sets out how her death would be announced, plus what would happen in the hours, days and even weeks afterwards.
First, the Queen's private secretary Sir Edward Young will call the British prime minister and say "London Bridge is down."
Following that call, civil servants will be informed. They have an official script they must read to their ministers: "We have just been informed of the death of Her Majesty The Queen."
Next, the leaders of the 15 governments where Queen Elizabeth II still serves as head of state will be informed, along with other Commonwealth nations.
When it comes to alerting the media, the Press Association will receive a public announcement. At the same time, a footman will exit the palace to post a black-edged notice to the gates.
The royal family's official website will change to a somber single page announcing the news.
At the BBC the "radio alert transmission system," an alarm designed to survive any attack on the nation, will sound.
BBC TV presenters will wear black suits and ties, and the broadcaster's networks will halt their programming and screen their respective logos, before merging into one network providing news coverage.
Listeners to BBC Radio 4 and Radio 5 will hear the phrase "This is the BBC from London," before being told of the Queen's death.
At commercial radio stations the blue "obit lights" will flash to alert DJs that something major is about to be announced and they will play appropriate music before switching to the news.
Radio stations of all sizes have playlists ready called "Mood 2" or "Mood 1" for use in the aftermath of the announcement.
In a 2011 article, BBC radio producer Chris Price revealed which song to listen out for as a clue. "If you ever hear 'Haunted Dancehall (Nursery Remix)' by Sabres of Paradise on daytime Radio 1, turn the TV on," he wrote for the Huffington Post.
"Something terrible has just happened."
Royal commentators have told Newsweek that the palace statement issued on Thursday is unusual because courtiers usually try to play down health concerns and keep details secret out of respect for the Queen's privacy.
The wording underscores the seriousness of the situation, as does the statement from the U.K.'s new prime minister, Liz Truss. She said: "The whole country will be deeply concerned by the news from Buckingham Palace this lunchtime. My thoughts—and the thoughts of people across our United Kingdom—are with Her Majesty the Queen and her family at this time."
Members of the royal family began arriving in Scotland on Thursday afternoon.
At 4 p.m. a private jet arrived at Aberdeen airport, close to the Queen's Balmoral estate, carrying Prince William and Elizabeth's younger sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, with Edward's wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Prince Charles and Princess Anne are reported to already be with their mother, along with Charles' wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who had been due to attend the WellChild Awards in London on Thursday evening, are also heading to Balmoral. A spokesperson told Newsweek: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be traveling to Scotland."
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more
