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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Zoe Forsey

New details of 'Operation London Bridge' for when Queen dies revealed after protocol panic

New details about how churches across the UK will mark their respects when the Queen dies have been revealed.

Operation London Bridge, the plan for the days following the Monarch's passing, will see the country enter a period of official mourning.

Royal Household to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers will request that religious buildings ring their bells with muffles in order to create a more solemn sound.

However many churches have now realised their leather muffles are rotten as they have not been used since King George VI's death 70 years ago.

As a result, leatherworkers have been inundated with orders as churches rush to ensure they're ready for the sad day, reports the Mail on Sunday.

The royal family will lead the UK in an official mourning period (FilmMagic)

Sales have reportedly doubled in the past few months.

Vicki Chapman, from the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers, told the newspaper that adding the muffle turns the bells' normal "dong, dong, dong" into more of a thudding sound.

She said: "We have spent a lot of time talking to the Royal Household and Lambeth Palace about the day the monarch passes, which we hope will not be any time soon. It is important as it is about paying due reverence to the service of the monarch and commemorating her life.”

Prince Charles will become King and the line of succession will change (AFP/Getty Images)

Last year full details of Operation London Bridge were leaked, giving a full day-to-day run down of what will happen when the Queen passes away.

The day will be known as D Day, with the days following called D Day plus the number of days that have passed. For example the second day will be D Day Plus One.

Prince Charles - who will become King upon his mother's passing - will address the nation on the day of her death, while the Prime Minister will be the first government member to issue a statement.

Government departments have been instructed to have flags at half mast within 10 minutes of the announcement, with Cabinet members set to be called with the sad news and urged to show "discretion".

The funeral will be a much bigger affair than Prince Philip's, which had to be scaled-back due to the Covid pandemic (Getty Images)

The Queen will be buried 10 days after she dies, it is expected, and Charles will embark on a tour of the UK before the burial is held.

The sovereign's coffin will lie in state for three days at the Houses of Parliament, with authorities anticipating hundreds of thousands of people to descend on London - sparking fears over gridlock, policing and even food shortages.

Any other Parliamentary business is set to be suspended for 10 days, it is reported.

Operation London Bridge will come into force when the Queen dies (Getty Images)

The day of the funeral will be a Day of National Mourning, but employers will not be compelled to give staff a day off.

The service will take place at Westminster Abbey, and a two minute silence will be held across the UK at noon.

A committal service will be held at St George's Chapel, which is at Windsor Castle, where the Queen will be buried at King George VI Memorial Chapel.

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