What Queen Elizabeth’s special coded operations mean
London is bracing itself for a security operation never seen before - and spy chiefs fear danger will lurk in the massive crowds farewelling The Queen.
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It’s never happened before – well, not like this.
The countless wellwishers seeking to pay respects to their monarch, combined with the arrival of foreign dignitaries, including US president Joe Biden, heralds an unprecedented security risk for London.
Will London get too “full”? Pounding the path of Horse Guards Rd, dodging gangs of prams and families, while negotiating piles of horse manure, suggests saturation point is nigh.
But it’s more than crowd logistics. How do you prevent threats, from animal liberationists to something more sinister, from upsetting this royal Mecca in ordered chaos?
And will the necessary security arrangements hamper everyday efforts to farewell the Queen?
After all, activists and terrorists are opportunist disrupters. Given the world is fixated on London, what better time for belligerents to act?
In response to threats, real or imagined, stands the biggest security operation in British history.
Nick Aldworth is a former counter-terrorism national co-ordinator who oversaw armed police operations in during the 2012 Olympics.
He says security plans were drawn up years ago.
The UK’s terrorism threat level is currently “substantial”, which assumes attack is “likely”. Queues will be mapped so that people cannot be crushed and vehicles cannot be driven into them.
Bombs were less likely, Mr Aldworth said, because they were made to order.
“We always think about vehicles and blunt or bladed weapons as being the most likely because they’re easy to get hold of and don’t require any skill or planning to use,” he told the PA news agency.
It is believed that specialist police teams and intelligence officers have cancelled holiday leave under an elaborate cross-agency security operation.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said officers in the force “to a man and woman” supported 12-hour shifts and missed holidays.
There had been had no “gripes or groans” about the extra efforts expected, he said.
So far, the very visible police presence has been welcomed. Officers appear to share the wider mood and perk up for a chat, even at crowd choke points.
Up to 10,000 officers will be deployed in coming days. “Having the time of my life,” said a bobby stationed on The Mall on Monday, poking fun at the absence of unrest.
It’s thought up to 1500 soldiers will help control crowds, while thousands of stewards will line procession routes.
Philip Ingram, a former military intelligence officer, told the London press that the “nature of the event, widely publicised days in advance and just about every world leader possible coming into London”, rings obvious alarm bells.
“Vladimir Putin would love this to go wrong with the UK’s support for Ukraine,” he said. “Or whether it’s animal rights protesters, it will attract every level of threat, but the security services will be working very hard to mitigate any of these threats,” he said.
Sir Paul Stephenson, a former Met Police commissioner, said the police would meet the challenge.
“It will take huge resources to ensure the event is carried out with a sense of enormous dignity and without any interference whatsoever,” he said.
The sight of snipers on Edinburgh rooftops, when the Queen’s coffin arrived on Sunday, was a harbinger of the possibilities ahead. There, police guards circling the Palace of Holyrood House and St Giles’ Cathedral were described as “rings of steel”.
The London press is reporting that MI5 and MI6, the domestic and foreign security branches, will heighten monitoring of potential terror networks and possible “lone wolf” attacks.
If city crowd numbers become untenable, public transport operators can tell prospective passengers not to come to London. They have warned that Tube stations could be temporarily closed to avoid overcrowding.
Perhaps 750,000 will seek to pay respects to their Queen lying in state at Westminster Hall. Estimates put the projected queue at about eight kilometres.
It’s far more than the 300,000 people – and a queue extending 6.4km – to farewell King George VI in 1952.
About 200,000 farewelled the Queen Mother in 2002.
It’s estimated that crowds on the streets on Monday might triple the million or so people who turned out for Princess Di’s 1997 funeral.
Those hoping to glimpse the Queen lying in state should be prepared to stand through the night, perhaps for 20 hours.
Bring food and drink, they’ve been urged. The kids can come, but only if they can manage a very long wait. Bring portable phone chargers.
Under the plans, as far they go, everyone must bring a sturdy bladder. If too many turn up, as a last resort, the queue can be officially closed.
The Queen’ closed coffin, which will be draped in a royal flag and a crown, will be guarded by the Sovereign’s Bodyguard, the Household Division or Yeoman Warders of the Tower of London.
Nothing, bar a small bag, can be taken in to Westminster Hall, once patrons go through a security screen. They cannot take photos. They cannot wear political messages or carry flags, nor can they bring flowers, candles or soft toys.
How many will turn up? This is the question. As a security source told The Times newspaper: “There’s just no way of knowing.”
CODE-NAMED OPERATIONS BEGIN
The ‘men in grey suits’ within the palace walls, Whitehall officials, the British army and the police, have all helped to choreograph plans for what must happen in the event a British monarch dies.
The various coded operations have names, such as ‘London Bridge’, ‘Dragon’ and ‘Feather’ which were all triggered following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
Here’s a guide to what they all mean.
OPERATION LONDON BRIDGE
When the last British monarch George VI died in 1952, the code word was ‘Hyde Park Corner’. For the Queen, another suitably British landmark was used – London Bridge, made famous by the 17th century nursery rhyme.
Before her death, it had been revealed that the Prime Minister, which is now Liz Truss, would be informed of the monarch’s passing on a secure phone line with the code message, “London Bridge is Down”. It’s not been confirmed whether that was how Ms Truss was informed.
Nevertheless, the moment of the Queen passed away, Charles automatically became King and Operation London Bridge was activated and is ongoing.
The plan sets out on what date and order everything should happen, including King Charles’ first address to the nation, when he was proclaimed king, when the Queen lies in state and the funeral itself.
OPERATION UNICORN
Though many people were already aware of Operation London Bridge, because the Queen died at Balmoral in Scotland, Operation Unicorn was launched.
It covers everything from moving the body to Scotland’s capital and the ceremonial events in Edinburgh, and the return of the monarch’s coffin to London.
OPERATION OVERSTUDY
If the Queen had died overseas, it would have triggered this operation. It details how the Queen’s body would have been transported back to Britain.
OPERATION LION
Operation Lion is a plan for any royal death, of which London Bridge is part.
‘Lion’ includes ‘London Bridge’, as well as ‘Forth Bridge’ which was the specific code name for the late Prince Philip’s death.
OPERATION MARQUEE
Operation Marquee covers managing the four days of the Queen lying-in-state at Westminster Hall.
OPERATION FEATHER
Thousands are expected to queue as they wait to see the monarch’s coffin on its catafalque.
Operation Feather deals with logistics outside Westminster Hall including managing the public.
OPERATION SPRING TIDE
Among the first of King Charles’ duties as monarch is visiting Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This operation lays out how these trips will happen within the 10-day time frame of Operation London Bridge. Each country has its own operational names within Spring Tide. ‘Kingfisher’ is the code name for Scotland, ‘Dragon’ is Wales and ‘Shamrock’ is Northern Ireland.
OPERATION GOLDEN ORB
This operation relates to the coronation of King Charles III.
The coronation could be several months to a year away. Queen Elizabeth II was not crowned until 1953, a year after her father’s passing.
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