What'll happen when we hear 'London Bridge is down'

A public holiday, a new king and one very big funeral.

A public holiday, a new king and one very big funeral.

"London Bridge is down." 

Those will be the words uttered by the Queen's private secretary to alert the authorities that she has died.

That haunting phrase will trigger an extensive commemoration period for Britain and the rest of the Commonwealth, as we mourn the loss of a brilliant, stylish and long-standing monarch.

18 year old Elizabeth.

You may be hearing more about the Queen’s death than usual

And that’s because her health is deteriorating.

Just last week she pulled out of attending the Royal Ascot horse race due to ongoing mobility issues.

Her Majesty, 96, loves the races but was replaced by Prince Charles, Camilla and Peter Phillips (her oldest grandson).

She was forced to miss the Epsom Derby and a service at St Paul's Cathedral during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, but appeared briefly on the Buckingham Palace balcony.  

The Queen at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The Queen has also reportedly summoned Charles and William to her side at Windsor Castle to begin the process of handing over control of the monarchy to her heirs.

“The Queen only managed to spend about 30 minutes in public for her jubilee,” a source told New Idea. 

“Sadly, the mobility issues she’s suffering from are getting the better of her, and it’s clear she can no longer perform her duties as needed. If the jubilee felt like a grand send-off for an incredible woman, that’s because deep down she knew it was. She is stepping aside for her son and grandson, even if not formally.”

So what happens when she dies?

Lengthy plans have been leaked to The Weekend Australian detailing the precise arrangements for “D-Day”. 

These plans included:

• A national day of commemoration, likely to be a public holiday
• Our prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will be informed about one hour before a statement is made announcing the death of the Queen. 
• Four official Australian mourners and 10 to 12 ­notable Australians will be invited to the Queen’s funeral

D-Day day will be followed by 10 days of mourning and remembrance, known as D+1 through D+10. This process is known as “the demise of the crown”.

Plans for the funeral

On the day of the funeral (D+10) Big Ben will chime at 9am. 

The crown jewels will be cleaned that morning, before the coffin arrives at Westminster Abbey at 11am. The country will fall silent for two minutes at 12pm. 

The funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey and there will be processions both in London and Windsor, with a committal service taking place at St George’s Chapel.

The Queen will be buried at the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor.

Who is the next monarch?

The Queen’s son Charles will become King Charles III immediately after the Queen’s death, and members of the Accession Council will meet to officially proclaim him King at St James’s Palace at 10am on the day after the Queen’s passing.

Charles is the eldest son of the Queen and Prince Phillip, and is married to Camilla Parker-Bowles. 

“It's not easy sometimes, but we do always try to have a point in the day when we meet," Princess Camilla told British Vogue last week, in an interview honouring her 75th birthday.

"Sometimes it's like ships passing in the night, but we always sit down together and have a cup of tea and discuss the day."

The royal couple were said to have had an instant connection when they first met at a polo match in 1970. Their close friendship was sustained throughout their respective marriages - Charles to Diana, Princess of Wales, and Camilla to Andrew Parker-Bowles - until their romantic affair became public to the press in 1992. 

Prince Charles And Princess Diana pictured in November 1992, during a visit to Seoul. It would be the couple's last official trip together. Picture: Getty Images

A brief section to remind you 'Tampongate' was a thing

An excruciating phone transcript between Charles and Camilla was published in 1993 - a month after the prince's separation from Diana.

It's important to note this conversation was leaked to the press and published four years after it took place in 1989, when Charles and Camilla were both still married.

We won't say much more, but here's the transcript: 

The press are prepared

Major news outlets across the globe have obituaries prepared well in advance. 

As morbid as it sounds, it makes sense to be prepared, and coverage of this death will be one for the ages.