Queen Elizabeth II dies: Will there be a bank holiday and how many days of mourning will there be?

Queen Elizabeth II is the nation’s longest serving monarch and her death will be reported on across the globe.

The United Kingdom has entered into a 10 day period of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral on Thursday.

Following the sad announcement of the Queen’s passing, there is now a strict protocol that will be followed.

So, what will happen during the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II?

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown placed on top, is carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, during the ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday. Picture date: Wednesday September 14, 2022.

Here’s everything we know about Operation London Bridge and Opration Unicorn.

Will there be a bank holiday following the passing of the Queen?

According to the Operation London Bridge plan, the day of the Queen’s funeral will be declared a national day of mourning.

There will only be subtle differences from a usual bank holiday, but the day will not be officially declared as one.

If the funeral falls on a Saturday or Sunday there will be no bank holiday. However, should the funeral take place on a weekday, that day will effectively be a bank holiday.

However, the government is understood to not be planning to order employers to give their staff a day off.

How many days of mourning will there for the Queen?

There will be 10 days of national mourning.

Following the formal announcement of the Queen’s passing, parliamentary business has been suspended for at least six parliamentary days.

Operation London Bridge and Operation Unicorn have both been activated, and detail the ten days following the Queen’s death up until her state funeral.

It’s said that on the Coronation of Prince Charles there will also be a UK-based bank holiday where employees are given the day off.

On D-Day+1 Royal Salutes will be fired in London today at 1300hrs BST in Hyde Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company. One round will be fired for each year of The Queen’s life.

Flags will be held at half mast until the day after the Queen’s state funeral.

What is Operation Unicorn?

Operation Unicorn is the plan now in place following the the Queen’s passing in Balmoral, Scotland.

Due to the Queen passing in Scotland, rather than at Buckingham Palace, there will be further procedure needed before moving the Queen to her final resting place.

Scottish Parliament was immedately suspended and there is a 36 hour preparation period for a motion of condolence.

These details incude moving the Queen’s coffin to Edinburgh via a special train where she will rest at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The Queen’s coffin will be carried up to St Giles’ Cathedral on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile where people will be able to pay their respects.

The Queen will then be transported by Royal Train from Waverley Station to London.

What is Operation London Bridge?

Operation London Bridge is the plan that will be put in place following the Queen’s passing.

The plan will run in parallel with Operation Unicorn, which is the plan that will be executed should the Monarch die in Scotland.

What is Operation Spring Tide?

Operation Spring Tide is the plan for the Prince of Wales’ ascension to the throne, starting the day after the Queen’s death when he will be proclaimed the new king by the Accession Council at St James’s Palace.

That evening MPs will swear allegiance to the new Monarch, followed by proclamations by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish administrations the day after.

On the third day the new monarch would receive the motion of condolence at Westminster Hall in the morning and then depart for a tour of the United Kingdom, attending services in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff before returning to London.