Top secret plan for Queen's death revealed: 'Operation London Bridge' says flags will be lowered to half-mast within 10 minutes, the Royal Family's website will go black and King Charles will address the UK
The ten-day diary only given a small group of people reveals that all Government flags must be lowered to half mast within ten minutes followed by a TV address and UK tour by Prince Charles and a pre-planned memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral for ministers that will be made to look 'spontaneous'. It sets up a potentially uncomfortable meeting for the Prime Minister tomorrow, as Boris and Carrie Johnson will be meeting Her Majesty this weekend at Balmoral despite courtiers' mounting concerns over protecting the monarch from Covid. 'Operation London Bridge' was leaked to POLITICO after being updated during the coronavirus pandemic with the day she passes away being called 'D-Day'. It was first hatched in the 1960s but has never been published in such granular detail. But there is no suggestion that Her Majesty, 95, is in poor health and there are major questions about how documents so sensitive could be made public. In more embarrassment for the Government, Operation Spring Tide, the closely-guarded plan for Prince Charles' accession to the throne, was also included in the leak. It does not include details of his coronation, which could be several months later. The Cabinet Office will now investigate who leaked the paperwork. Today's leak reveals the first person outside Buckingham Palace to be told the sad news will be the Prime Minister, who will be telephoned by the Queen's Private Secretary, before a 'call cascade' to members of the cabinet, members of the privy council and senior figures including in the Armed Forces, who plan gun salutes across the country hours later. They will all be given the same scripted message: 'We have just been informed of the death of Her Majesty The Queen. Discretion is required'.