The official preparations for dealing with the death of the head of state (Queen,) Operation London Bridge, included the chance that she may pass away at Balmoral, one of her favourite locations for a very long time. These official preparations were developed in response to the death of the head of state.
Operation Unicorn, the codename for the arrangements in Scotland (a different country in the United Kingdom), was revealed some time ago, indicating that it is probable that her coffin would be brought by road to the Palace of Holyroodhouse two days following her death. The fact that Operation Unicorn was revealed indicates this.
The preparations are reported to include a procession through Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to St. Giles’ Cathedral, followed by a ritual attended by royal family members and 24 hours of public viewing.
The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022
After which it is expected that the coffin will be flown back to London, where it will be transported to Buckingham Palace before the huge ceremonial procession scheduled for “D+5” (D-day plus five days) of the 10-day funeral arrangements in the capital city, which would include the Queen laying in state. The parade will begin at “D+5”.
Members of the royal family have a tradition of spending July through September and October at the Queen’s Aberdeenshire highland estate, where she spent most of her summers.
Balmoral, like the Queen’s other property Sandringham, is not a royal house that is part of the crown domain but rather the monarch’s private residence. Many years of royal memories were created there, including family picnics when the Duke of Edinburgh cooked, and the Queen cleaned up.
After marrying in 1947, Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth elected to spend a portion of their honeymoon in Birkhall, a hunting lodge on the Balmoral estate. In 1852, Prince Albert acquired Birkhall for Queen Victoria, and it has been handed down through the royal family ever since.