You might have heard that Queen Elizabeth has plans for everything. Well, that means really everything, including her death, which, as she envisions, will be after a short illness. Once that day comes, her plan is to leave her gastroenterologist in charge of her final moments, and then 12 days of mourning will follow. During that time, the BBC is not allowed to play any fun programs. Now, what about her husband, Prince Philip? Of course, she has plans for the days after his death, too. So, here’s what will happen when the Duke of Edinburgh passes away, hopefully, in not so near future.
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The BBC will announce Prince Philip’s death
It has been debated how long will it take to announce Prince Philip’s death. It all depends on the time when this sad moment comes. According to the New Zealand Herald reports, if it happens so that the Duke passes away in his sleep, the news will most likely be announced at 8 a.m. the following morning. Whenever it happens, the BBC is expected to be the first to find out and the first to announce, though social media and modern technology may change the tradition this time.
Prince Philip doesn’t want to lie in state at Westminster Hall
Most people would expect Prince Philip’s body to lie in state at Westminster Hall at the Houses of Parliament, but he doesn’t want so, he wants to lie in state at St. James’s Palace, just like Princess Diana, and doesn’t want the public to be allowed to see his body.
He doesn’t want a full state funeral, just a ‘low-key’ service
Even though he is entitled to a full state funeral as the Queen’s husband, according to the New Zealand Herald, the Prince doesn’t want to make a “fuss,” but he would rather have a “low-key funeral” instead. Even though the Queen herself would rather choose to honor Philip’s service to the nation with a full state funeral, he wants a more modest, military-style service held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, and she will respect his wishes. He will be buried in the secluded Frogmore Gardens, far away from the public.
Queen Elizabeth II will mourn Prince Philip for eight days
If we assume that the Queen will outlive her husband, she will spend eight days mourning him. And not just the Queen – the staff at the palace will mourn him during that period, as well. All state affairs will have to wait, as the Queen won’t be working for those eight days, meaning she won’t be able to give her Royal Assent to new laws, among other things. According to The Independent, a further period of mourning will last for 30 days more. Once that period is over, officially, the Queen goes back to her routine and resumes her royal duties, though we’re sure she won’t stop mourning for the rest of her life.
Flags will fly at half-mast when Prince Philip dies
When Prince Philip dies, flags at important institutions and military establishments will fly at half-mast, which is a common way to show mourning, respect, or distress in Britain. The only exception will be the Royal Standard flag which shows when Queen is in residence, given that this flag is a symbol of the continuity of the monarch. Since there is always a sovereign on the throne, it is never lowered to half-mast, and that won’t change when Prince Philip dies, either.
There won’t be any constitutional implications, but the Queen could abdicate
Prince Philip’s death won’t lead to any constitutional implications, but there is one major change that is expected to happen, and that is Prince Edward inheriting his title. There have been some speculations that the Queen might abdicate the throne after her husband’s death. Even though she planned never to retire, such a sad occasion might change her earlier plans, as some imply that she might retreat to Balmoral, while the public will have to accept Charles and Camila (though they are not that fond of Charles becoming a king for now). These are only speculations for now, so it still remains to be seen what the Queen’s final decision about this issue will be.
Source: cheatsheet.com
