Operation Menai Bridge

Plan following the death of King Charles III

Menai Suspension Bridge (pictured in 2009), the plan's namesake

Operation Menai Bridge is the code name for plans related to the death of King Charles III. The name refers to a suspension bridge in Wales. The plan includes the announcement of his death, the period of official mourning, and the details of his state funeral. Planning for the King's funeral began almost immediately after Charles's accession to the throne upon the death of his mother and predecessor, Queen Elizabeth II.[1][2]

Background

When King George VI died, it was communicated by using the phrase "Hyde Park Corner", to avoid Buckingham Palace switchboard operators learning the news too soon. For Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Operation Tay Bridge was put into motion upon her death. For the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh the code name was Operation Forth Bridge, and for Queen Elizabeth II, the code word was "London Bridge is down". Since Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Operation Unicorn was also put into effect upon her death.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ Cruse, Beth (29 April 2021). "Royal death codenames and what they mean". BristolLive. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Operation Menai Bridge: Funeral plan for King Charles III underway, security expert says". Nine News. 20 September 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  3. ^ "'London Bridge is down': the secret plan for the days after the Queen's death". The Guardian. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. ^ "What happens when the Queen dies - 'Operation London Bridge' explained". The Independent. 15 September 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
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