Britain will enter a 10 day period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The period of mourning will begin tomorrow (Friday) and end when her funeral is held, The Mirror reports.
On Thursday, Buckingham Palace announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty passed away at Balmoral. Crowds gathered at Buckingham Palace to pay their respects following the sad announcement.
Confirming the death at around 6.30pm, The Palace said: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
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Elizabeth became Queen on February 6, 1952, following the death of her father George VI. The United Kingdom's longest-reigning monarch, she is the only one to have celebrated a Platinum Jubilee.
Her husband and consort, the Duke of Edinburgh, died in April 2021. They had been married 73 years.
Prime Minister Liz Truss was due to chair a meeting in Downing Street tonight of senior ministers, police and representatives from the royal household involved in the planning what comes next.
The country’s 10-day mourning period begins at midnight and will last until the Queen’s funeral, with the UK thrust into a grief-filled limbo, when the business of Government and Parliament will dramatically change.
Here's what comes next.
Government goes into a silent vacuum
Flags will be lowered to half-mast on all government buildings and remain that way until the funeral, which is expected to be 10 days later.
Public-facing government activity will almost completely end during the period of national mourning.
Ministers will cancel visits, interviews, press conferences and press releases, with only essential activity taking place.
One exception is the energy bills package, which was 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 wants to ensure people have the information they need about energy support.
Officials and ministers will examine if the Government can rush emergency legislation through Parliament which maybe needed so the energy price freeze can come into force as planned on October 1.
The Government will be hard at work on the logistical arrangements for a state funeral at Westminster Abbey, which could attract unprecedented crowds to London.
Regular meetings will be chaired by Cabinet Office Minister Nadhim Zahawi in the coming days to coordinate events.
The mourning period is unlikely to jeopardise Ms Truss’s planned attendance at the United Nations General Assembly later this month, which is likely to come after the official grieving ends.
Decisions on whether party conferences can go ahead are matters for party leaders. Only the Lib Dems’ conference falls within the mourning period - they are due to gather in Brighton from next Saturday.
Parliament meets for tributes - then doesn’t sit until after the funeral
Under the Succession to the Crown Act 1707, Parliament would meet soon after a monarch’s death for tributes.
After condolences, Parliament looks set to be adjourned throughout the morning period until after a state funeral.
The Commons will sit tomorrow and on Saturday to allow MPs to give their tributes to the Queen.
The Speaker will determine the timetable during the coming days, but it is expected to drastically reduced.
It is thought MPs would not have to swear new oaths, because they swear allegiance to “heirs and successors”, but they could do so if they wanted.
So what happens to energy bills?
The government and Parliamentary mourning raises questions about the government’s ability to push through emergency laws and an emergency budget.
This includes help for energy bills - which Liz Truss was midway through a debate to announce when the Queen was taken ill.
The Ofgem price cap was meant to be replaced from October 1, but it was thought this would take legislation.
It was also thought Liz Truss had pencilled in plans for an emergency “fiscal event” (a budget of sorts) on Monday 19 September, 11 days from now.
A source speculated that MPs might be recalled to pass a budget for a day before Parliament’s conference recess, currently due to begin on Thursday 22 September. Government sources said it was too early to say.
Prime Minister meets King Charles
The PM spoke to the new King tonight shortly after she made her statement in Downing Street.
She is expected to meet King Charles but no details have been shared yet on when this might be.
Mr Truss is also expected join privy counsellors at 10am on Friday to proclaim King Charles the new sovereign.
Plans previously leaked to Politico suggest the PM and Cabinet would hold an audience with the new King that day.
Two days after the death, the PM and ministers would welcome the coffin on the Royal train or plane from Scotland.
After this King Charles would embark on a tour of the nations of the UK for condolence and memorial events.
Queen lies in state in the Palace of Westminster
The arrangements are thought to be for the monarch to lie in state for three days, from around five days after death.
This would most likely happen in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in Parliament whose 240ft-long hammer beam roof began work in 1393.
The Queen Mother, George V, Winston Churchill and William Gladstone have all lain in state in the hall, in coffins resting on a raised platform in the centre of the stone floor.
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