Death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II: Preparations for State Funeral and further information

Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, all official flags, including the Union Flag, should be half-masted from as soon as possible until 08.00 the day following The Queen’s State Funeral. Flags may be flown overnight during this period but should remain at half-mast.

Official flags in this instance are defined as national flags of the home nations, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories, Ensigns and Ships’ colours.

Any non-official flags flying or due to be flown, such as the Rainbow Flag or the Armed Forces Day Flag, should be taken down and replaced with a Union Flag at half-mast. Other official flags scheduled to be flown can be flown as normal, but at half-mast.

Half-mast means the flag is flown a third of the way down the flagpole from the top, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the flagpole.

On poles that are more than 45° from the vertical, flags cannot be flown at half-mast and should not be flown at all.

The Union Flag must be flown the correct way up – in the half of the flag nearest the flagpole, the wider diagonal white stripe must be above the red diagonal stripe. Please see the College of Arms website

Royal Standard

The Royal Standard is never flown at half-mast even after the death of a monarch, as there is always a Sovereign on the throne and it would therefore be inappropriate for it to fly at half-mast.

The Union Flag will be flown at half mast on all Royal Residences.

UK PARLIAMENT

Following the announcement of the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the House of Commons, the House of Lords and everyone at UK Parliament extend their sympathies to the Royal Family.

Statement from the Speaker of the House of Commons, The Rt Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle:

‘For all of us, the Queen has been a constant presence in our lives – as familiar as a member of the family, yet one who has exercised a calm and steadying influence over our country. Most of us have never known a time when she was not there. Her death is not only a tragedy for the Royal family, but a terrible loss for us all.

During her 70 years on the throne – and even before that, as a teenager, reassuring and engaging with children and families disrupted by the Second World War – she has given our lives a sense of equilibrium. While her reign has been marked by dramatic changes in the world, Her Majesty has maintained her unwavering devotion to the UK, the British Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth of Nations – and her gentle authority and sound reason have been felt throughout.

She has travelled the world extensively, modernised the Royal family, and is credited with inventing the royal ‘walkabout’, which enabled her to meet people from all walks of life during her visits. As Head of State, she has provided advice and the benefit of long experience to 15 prime ministers during her reign – and met more than a quarter of all the American presidents in the history of the US.

The Queen has been involved in everything that is important to us and which makes us who we are – from state occasions to Royal weddings, and especially at Christmas, with her wise words and reflective annual message.

She has been a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother – but she has been our Queen, and we will miss her beyond measure.’

Statement from the Lord Speaker, The Rt Hon. Lord McFall of Alcluith:

‘Following the death of the Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the nation and the whole Commonwealth is united in deep mourning.

For 70 years she has been a loyal and steadfast presence in the national life of the United Kingdom.

Her integrity, unique record of public service, deep sense of faith and commitment to her role have ensured that she will be regarded as a supreme example of a constitutional Monarch.

Her vital relationship with our Chamber, where the three elements of Parliament come together during the State Opening, ensures that she will be forever remembered and cherished by the House of Lords.

Today my thoughts, and indeed those of the whole House, will go out to His Majesty the King and to the members of the Royal family, for whom this feeling of loss will be profound.

Today the nation reflects on the service Queen Elizabeth II gave to the Crown and to her people, and gives thanks for her life.

Members may wish to be aware that information about arrangements for the House will be issued by Black Rod and the House authorities shortly.

In fondest remembrance of a Queen dedicated to Her nation and Her people.’

MPs will have the opportunity to pay tribute at a special parliamentary session at Westminster this afternoon:

Business

Tributes to Her late Majesty The Queen.

12:00pm – 10:00pm

ROYAL MOURNING

Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, it is His Majesty The King’s wish that a period of Royal Mourning be observed from now until seven days after The Queen’s Funeral. The date of the Funeral will be confirmed in due course.

Royal Mourning will be observed by Members of the Royal Family, Royal Household staff and Representatives of the Royal Household on official duties, together with troops committed to Ceremonial Duties.

Flags at Royal Residences

Flags at Royal Residences were half masted yesterday, Thursday 8^th September, and will remain half-masted until 0800hrs on the morning after the final day of Royal Mourning.

The half-masting of flags at Royal Residences does not apply to the Royal Standard and the Royal Standard in Scotland when The King is in residence, as they are always flown at full mast.

Guidance on flags at other public buildings has been issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Royal Gun Salute

Royal Salutes will be fired in London today at 1300hrs BST in Hyde Park by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and at the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company. One round will be fired for each year of The Queen’s life.

Closure of the Royal Residences

Royal Residences will close until after The Queen’s Funeral. This includes The Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, and The Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh. Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, The Queen’s private estates, will also close for this period. In addition, Hillsborough Castle, The Sovereign’s official residence in Northern Ireland, will be closed.

Floral Tributes at the Royal Residences

Following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, the following guidance is given to members of the public who wish to leave floral tributes at Royal Residences:

At Buckingham Palace members of the public will be guided to lay floral tributes at dedicated sites in The Green Park or Hyde Park. Flowers left outside the gates of Buckingham Palace will be moved to The Green Park Floral Tribute Garden by The Royal Parks. Further guidance will be issued by The Royal Parks.
At Windsor Castle, floral tributes can be left at Cambridge Gate on the Long Walk. These flowers will be brought inside the Castle every evening, and placed on the Castle Chapter grass on the south side of St George’s Chapel and Cambridge Drive.
At the Sandringham Estate, members of the public are encouraged to leave floral tributes at the Norwich Gates.
At Balmoral Castle, floral tributes can be left at the Main Gate.
At the Palace of Holyroodhouse, members of the public are encouraged to give floral tributes to the Wardens at the entrance to The Queen’s Gallery. Those flowers will be laid on the Forecourt grass in front of the North Turret of the Palace.
At Hillsborough Castle, floral tributes may be laid on the Castle Forecourt, in front of the main gates.

Information on Floral Tributes at other public buildings and locations will be issued by the Cabinet Office.

Books of Condolence at the Royal Residences

There are no physical Books of Condolence at the Royal Residences.

An online Book of Condolence for those who wish to leave messages is available on the Royal website: https://www.royal.uk/send-message-condolence.

OPERATION UNICORN

Since the early 1960s plans have been in place in the event of the death of the Queen. These have undergone numerous changes in the decades since. As Her Majesty the Queen died in Scotland, “Operation Unicorn” will now be triggered.

Details of “Operation Unicorn” were first reported to the public in 2019, although the codename appeared in the Scottish Parliament’s online papers in 2017.

Holyrood Palace, St Giles’ Cathedral, and the Scottish Parliament will serve as the focal point of gatherings. A condolence book will be open to the public and set up at the Parliament building.

It’s reported that the Scottish Parliament will be suspended to allow authorities to prepare for the Queen’s state funeral.

The Queen’s coffin will initially lie in repose at the Palace of Holyrood, before being carried to St Giles’ Cathedral where there will be a service of reception.

Thousands of people are expected in Edinburgh to pay their respects and they will be encouraged to gather around the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace and St Giles’ Cathedral.

More details to follow.

Edinburgh road closures and public transport information

Road closures are in place in the city centre, with further closures planned in the coming days.

We expect significant disruption in the city over the next few days. We will update this page with further details of which roads will be closing and public transport information.

Keep up to date on public transport changes

@edintravel

@ScotRail

Road	What’s happening
Carrington Road at Crewe Road South	Road closed
Carrington Road at East Fettes Avenue	Road closed
Fettes Avenue	Road closed
Queens Drive – east of the roundabout (Holyrood Gait entrance)	Road closed
Holyrood Park entrance at Meadowbank Terrace	Road closed
East Market Street at Junction with Jeffrey Street	Road closed
New Street South of Entrance to Waverley Car Park	Road closed
Old Tollboth Wynd	Road closed
Calton Road at Abbeyhill Crescent	Road closed
Abbeyhill at Abbeyhill Crescent	Road closed
Abbeyhill at abbey Lane	Road closed
Abbey Mount at Regent Road	Road closed
Canongate at St Mary Street / Jeffrey Street	Road closed
Calton Road at Leith Street	Local access only
High Street at George IV / The Mound	Road closed
High Street at Cockburn Street	Road closed
St Giles Street at North Bank Street	Road closed

MBE for Spartans’ Douglas Samuel

Queen’s Birthday Honours list announced

The Spartans Chief Executive Douglas Samuel is among Scots to receive an Honour to mark the Queen’s Brthday in Platinum Jubilee year. Dougie is awarded an MBE.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to the recipients in Scotland in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in the year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

Among those receiving Knighthoods are Professor Sheikh Aziz, for services to COVID-19 research and policy; James Nicol Walker, for services to the food industry and author Ian Rankin, for services to literature and to charity. Professor Sally Mapstone will receive a Damehood for services to higher education.

Jacqui Reilly, Professor of Infection Prevention and Control is among those being awarded a CBE, for services to Healthcare and Public Health.

British Olympic Curling captain Eve Muirhead is amongst those receiving an OBE, while her team members have been honoured with MBEs.

Those receiving MBEs include Julie Young for services to dance, Walter Smith for services to youth enterprise and Chloe Lawson for services to vulnerable and disadvantaged young people

Rhona Gibson and William Dove are among those honoured with a BEM.

Irene Ralston, Superintendent, and Stephen Tanner, Police Constable, will receive The Queen’s Police Medal. The Queen’s Fire Service Medal will be awarded to Roy Dunsire, Group Commander, John Fraser, Firefighter and Stevie Maybanks, Crew Commander of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Donna Baillie, Resilience Manager of the Scottish Ambulance Service, will receive The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal.

The First Minister said: “The Queen’s Birthday Honours list illustrates the outstanding contributions of the people of Scotland who have made a difference to their communities, throughout the country and beyond. It is particularly pleasing to see their work recognised in this year of celebration in honour of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

“From those who contribute to the creative industries, communities and charities, to those who have excelled in the field of science and medicine, the Honours highlight their exceptional service to the people of Scotland. I am delighted to see Scotland’s athletes who were outstanding during both summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo as well as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, so well represented.

“I am also pleased to see that those individuals who worked against the coronavirus pandemic, its far reaching impact and those working for our recovery, have been recognised. I know we are all incredibly grateful for their selfless actions and it’s right that their outstanding efforts have been acknowledged in this way.

“I also want to extend my congratulations to those personnel who have been awarded The Queen’s Fire, Police or Ambulance Service Medals. Our emergency services have displayed incredible fortitude throughout the pandemic, and deserve our continued appreciation for keeping people and communities across Scotland safe, every day of the year.”

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said: “In the year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, my whole-hearted congratulations go to all those across Scotland who have been recognised for their extraordinary public service. They truly exemplify the dedication, ambition and generosity of spirit that has defined the Queen’s 70-year reign.

“We were all gripped by the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing, as our curlers swept to gold and we topped the podium in Alpine skiing. Eve Muirhead is awarded an OBE, while the rest of the team get MBEs, along with Alpine skier Neil Simpson and his brother and guide Andrew.

“One of Scottish literature’s most recognisable names, Ian Rankin’s knighthood is richly deserved; his Inspector Rebus novels have kept us in entertained and in suspense for decades.

“It’s great to see recognition of Scotland’s fantastic food and drink. James Walker of Walker’s Shortbread is being knighted, and OBEs are given to Ian and Michael Urquhart from the family-run Gordon and MacPhail whisky company.

Honours also go to those whose dedication and resilience helped make Glasgow’s hosting of COP26 safe and successful, including a well-deserved knighthood for Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Iain Livingstone.”

Platinum Jubilee book to arrive in English primary schools from mid-May – but it’s September for Scotland

Primary school children across the UK will begin to receive ‘Queen Elizabeth: A Platinum Jubilee Celebration’

Children in state-funded primary schools across the United Kingdom will, from mid-May, begin to receive a free commemorative book to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.

Designed as an official once-in-a-lifetime commemoration of the Platinum Jubilee and written in collaboration with royal experts and historians, the book will tell the story of a young girl, Isabella, visiting her Great Granny Joyce who tells her about the Queen and this year’s Jubilee.

In the story, Isabella sifts through Great Granny Joyce’s treasure box of souvenirs, which act as introductions to the contents of the book. These include recent and historical events across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, inspirational people, landmark innovations and inventions, and a selection of the best art, design, and culture.

The book will also include famous quotes from the Queen, facts on the coronation ceremony, content on the lives of famous Commonwealth figures such as Nelson Mandela, notable kings and queens and a timeline of Queen Elizabeth’s life.

Children will be invited to personalise their individual copies of the illustrated reference book, by signing a ‘this book belongs to’ section at the beginning of the book. The page reads: ‘During [the Queen’s] reign, the world has changed in so many ways… [This book] will help you understand the amazing life and times of our Queen and the magic of the unique, unshakable bond she shares with the people she serves.’

The book will also help children understand how the four nations came together as one United Kingdom, including details such as Owain Glyndwr’s rebellion against the English in 1400 to take the title of ‘Prince of Wales’, on the journey to the Queen’s reign which continues to this day.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “Queen Elizabeth II is the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee and Her Majesty’s dignity, commitment and grace continues to inspire people all over the world.

“Millions of children will soon receive their own commemorative Jubilee book, celebrating and showcasing the Queen’s incredible living legacy. I hope all our pupils are as excited as I am to read about Her Majesty’s amazing life and the people and events that have shaped history during the last 70 years.”

On the request of the Scottish and Welsh Governments, schools in Scotland and Wales will be asked to opt-in to receive copies of the book, which will then be delivered in late September.

‘Brilliant bookmarks’ from the Reading Agency are to be distributed with every book, to support and encourage reading for pleasure amongst children at school and over the summer. The book is also featured within the National Literacy Trust’s Platinum Jubilee Royal Reading Challenge.

The book goes on private sale from 23 June.

Schools can expect to hear from the Department for Education (in England) or DK Books (in Northern Ireland) in the coming days about delivery details, and those in Scotland and Wales should already have had information on how to place their book orders.

The book was commissioned by the UK Government and is being published by DK Books. It has been designed for a reading age of nine to 10 years, but will be accessible to all primary school age children, for example if parents, carers or teachers read with them.

It forms part of the wider programme of events and activities planned for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, including a concert, street parties, and an extra bank holiday for the Jubilee weekend itself from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June 2022.

A Message from Her Majesty The Queen

As Philip and I arrive at Windsor today, we know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty.

We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them.

At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.

We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals – today and in the coming days, weeks and months.

Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.

ELIZABETH R