On 8 September 2022, Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms, the longest-living, and longest-reigning British monarch, passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland at the age of 96. We made a statement announcing her death at 18:30 British Standard Time, followed by reactions from world leaders. Charles III was her eldest child of her and succeeded her.
Following the Queen’s death, Operation London Bridge was initiated, a series of plans that included arrangements for her funeral, and Operation Unicorn, which set protocols for the Queen’s death in Scotland. It is customary for the United Kingdom to observe a period of national mourning lasting ten days.
Westminster Abbey will conduct a state funeral service at 11:00 BST on 19 September 2022, followed by a committal service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle later that day. We intend that they will inter the Queen in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s. During the time of her state funeral, there will be a national bank holiday in the United Kingdom.
Background
Most of the Queen’s life was spent in good health. In October 2021, the British media reported that she had begun using a walking stick during public engagements since the death of her husband, Prince Philip.
Due to the Queen’s overnight stay at King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London on 20 October, scheduled visits to Northern Ireland and to the COP26 summit in Glasgow were canceled. The National Service of Remembrance in 2021 was not possible for her due to a sprain she sustained in November.
Queen Elizabeth II was one of several people at Windsor Castle who tested positive for COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in England in February 2022. As a result of the illness, she described her symptoms as mild and cold-like, and she later stated that one is “extremely tired and exhausted” as a result of it.
In light of the fact that COVID-19 and long COVID tend to have more severe health impacts on the elderly, the health of the monarch became a source of concern for many commentators.
