Queen Elizabeth II, Great Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died Thursday at her Balmoral estate in Scotland — putting in motion a special plan for memorial events dubbed “Operation Unicorn.”
What happens under Operation Unicorn?
With the Queen’s passing at her beloved Balmoral, her body will be taken via royal train to Edinburgh where she will rest in state at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Mirror reported.
Her coffin will then be taken to St Giles’ Cathedral, also in Edinburgh, for a brief period.
Holyroodhouse and St Giles’ Cathedral are expected to be the main sites where mourners can pay their respects in Scotland.
Under the plans, the late monarch’s coffin will then make a final, five-hour journey back to London on the royal train.
After returning to the capital, the Queen’s body will be taken to the throne room of Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth was surrounded by family members during her final hours. POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesHow this changes Operation London Bridge
Operation London Bridge is the all-hands protocol that is in place if the Queen is to die in London and set in motion a 10-day mourning period ahead of her funeral.
Members of the public file past the coffin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth I, the Queen Mother, as she lies in state in Westminster Hall, London, in April 2002. AP
A service for the queen will be held at Westminster Hall.
Queen Elizabeth II of England at Balmoral Castle with one of her Corgis in 1952. Bettmann ArchiveThe London Bridge plan will see the Queen’s coffin rest at Buckingham Palace for three days before a procession through London to the Palace of Westminster, where Parliament sits.
A service will be held at Westminster Hall when the coffin arrives and the Queen will lie in state there for three additional days.
Under the plan, the Queen’s funeral would take place at Westminster Abbey 10 days after her death.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh raised a flag following the statement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. REUTERS