News broke this morning that Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.
Tributes have flooded in immediately for the UK’s longest-serving monarch with her son, now King Charles III, saying the death of his beloved mother was a “moment of great sadness” for him and his family and that her loss would be “deeply felt” around the world.
In addition to great sadness, Her Majesty’s passing has also raised a lot of questions, specifically what happens next now that the Queen has died.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, different plans were put in place depending on where Her Majesty passed. Given that the Queen died in Scotland, ‘Operation Unicorn’ will be underway to bring her home.
Queen Elizabeth II will have publicly-funded state funeral with details released in the coming days – approximately 19 September. In the meantime, ten days of mourning will begin. Her Majesty died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, so she will need to be transported back to England where her coffin will be guarded by members of the British armed forces.
Queen Elizabeth II will be interred in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. The body of her husband Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, will be moved so they may lie together.
Is Prince Charles automatically King?
Prince Charles automatically became King upon the death of his mother. It is believed he will now be known as King Charles III.
The Accession Council will now meet at St. James’ Palace to proclaim him king and Charles will take the accession declaration. A proclamation of the new sovereign will then be read out from the balcony at St James.
Some chose to adopt a ‘regnal name’, something Queen Elizabeth II famously chose not to do. If Charles does so, it will likely be one of his middle names, Philip, Arthur or George.
Charles is now head of state not just in the UK but in 14 other Commonwealth realms including Australia and Canada. He will also become head of the 56-member Commonwealth.
He has also become head of the British Armed Forces, the judiciary and the civil service, and he is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Charles is the Fount of Honour, which means all honours, such as knighthoods, will now be given in his name.
Camilla will be the Queen Consort after the Queen gave her blessing in February 2022.
Image: Getty
