Operation Menai Bridge is code for the plans related to King Charles' death. Though details about the plan are tightly guarded, his passing will trigger immediate changes in both the monarchy and the UK. Here's what will happen.
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00Operation Manai Bridge.
00:05That's the code name for when King Charles dies.
00:08King Charles took the throne immediately following his mother's death, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022.
00:15At age 73, he became the oldest person in British history to do so.
00:21But planning for his death had already begun way before he was officially crowned in 2023.
00:27I'm Joy Marie McKenzie, Business Insider's Editor-in-Chief of our Life Division.
00:32Operation Manai Bridge refers to the suspension bridge built in Wales in 1826.
00:37The location holds real significance for Charles.
00:40He's the longest-serving Prince of Wales.
00:46Details about the plan have been kept really under wraps,
00:49but it's expected to be a rerun of what happened when Queen Elizabeth died.
00:53So here's what's going to happen.
00:57As soon as the king dies, the palace will promptly notify British officials, from the Prime Minister to government members.
01:04Then the Foreign Office will tell the governments where King Charles is head of state
01:08and inform the nations within the Commonwealth where he holds a symbolic role.
01:13Then the royal household will issue an official notification to the public.
01:17There will also be a notice on the gates right outside at Buckingham Palace.
01:21Then the news will be spread throughout the province.
01:26When King Charles dies, the Union Jack will be lowered at half-mass.
01:30It'll happen in places with significance, like Whitehall, where most government offices are located,
01:35as well as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
01:39His death will put an immediate halt to parliamentary proceedings, not just in England,
01:43but also in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
01:47Many businesses will suspend operations, too, as the nation enters a period of mourning.
01:53Buckingham Palace will become the central place for people to express their condolences.
01:58The most devoted royal fans will make their way from far around the country and even all over the world
02:04as they pay their respects to King Charles.
02:06It's exactly what happened when Queen Elizabeth passed away.
02:09Charles' coffin will lie in state at Westminster Hall for the public to pay their respects.
02:14While the Queen's coffin was there, around 250,000 people waited for hours in line to send their condolences.
02:24The funeral will probably take place around 10 days after his death.
02:28Given that the funerals for the Queen, Princess Diana and the Queen Mother all happen at Westminster Abbey,
02:35it's likely that Charles' funeral will be there, too.
02:38The UK Treasury said that the British government spent roughly £160 million on the Queen's funeral and the surrounding events.
02:46Even if Charles does opt for a smaller funeral, it'll probably still cost millions.
02:51After the service, a procession will take Charles' coffin from London to Windsor Castle.
02:56That's the place where Charles will be laid to rest.
03:01The minute King Charles dies, his son, Prince William, immediately becomes king.
03:06Royal experts say that one of William's first official duties will be to address the nation.
03:11In his address, it's expected that he will, of course, acknowledge his father,
03:15but also acknowledge his role as the new head of the monarchy.
03:19Within 24 hours, the Accession Council will meet to officially make William king.
03:27Shortly after, he'll swear his loyalty to Parliament, to the Church,
03:31and then he'll become the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
03:35The oaths go both ways, though.
03:37After William ascends the throne, the members of both houses of Parliament must also swear their loyalty to him.
03:44While he immediately becomes king, William probably won't be coronated right away.
03:49That'll happen a few months later.
03:51He'll be crowned at Westminster Abbey, a tradition that's been held for the last 900 years.
03:57Meanwhile, the wife of the new king, Kate, will become Queen Consort.
04:01She won't be known as Queen Regent, like Queen Elizabeth, since she's not head of a monarchy.
04:06If King Charles' wife, Camilla, outlives him, she'll then be known as the Queen Dowager.
04:12That's typically the title given to the widow of a king.
04:15Kate and William's son, Prince George, will then be next in line to the throne.
04:20He'll automatically receive two titles, Duke of Cornwall and Roxy.
04:24But he may only hold those titles briefly.
04:27Typically, the monarch's heir is known as the Prince of Wales.
04:30Meanwhile, George's siblings and the rest in line for the royal throne will each move up a rank.
04:36A royal expert told us that Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis may no longer carry the title of Wales.
04:42Instead, they'll be addressed as the Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
04:51With the succession, the Bank of England will print new currency.
04:55British banknotes always bear the likeness of the current monarch.
04:59So Charles' image will be phased out and replaced by William's.
05:03But it may take several years before we see Charles completely gone from everyday coins and banknotes.
05:09Passports and stamps will also be updated with the new monarch.
05:12But that will probably happen slowly, too.
05:14In the course of William's reign, if there's any new mailboxes installed, for instance, those will bear his personal emblem, too.
05:21Police officers and even soldiers will eventually receive updated uniforms with William's insignia.
05:27But that may take some time as well.
05:29Although the monarchy is waning in popularity, there's no doubt that King Charles dedicated his life to the monarchy.
05:36And in his death, the monarchy will pay their respects to him.