A Royal lesson on preparation
Death is the only certainty in life… yet, only a few prepare for this inevitable outcome. The consequence is that many bereaved people are thrown into chaos and confusion when a loved one dies. At a time when people should be thinking about supporting each other and processing the pain of grief, instead they are plunged into a paperwork and administrative nightmare. In contrast, we have just seen the seamless transition from the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II to the new world of King Charles III.
Seventy-five years ago, the Queen made a promise to the nation:
‘I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be short or long, shall be devoted to your service.’
Little could she have imagined, as a girl of only 21 years old, that she would inherit the position of Queen and Head of State in five years, or that she would live to be 96 years old.
Order in an unstable time
The outpouring of emotion 70 years after the Queen’s accession is testament of her integrity and the fact that she kept her original promise, whilst adapting to changing times. Yet, one thing that she learnt from her early inheritance, was the importance of preparation. One of the great advantages of a seamless transition between monarchs has been that there was no “inter-regnum”, no search for a new Head of State and no involvement of politics or elections. Instead the focus of our attention was centred on the post-death formalities and necessities: the movement of the body, the lying-in-state at Westminster Hall and the funeral. Not only that, but the plans for the Queen’s death were executed concurrently with Operation Spring Tide, the plan for the accession of King Charles III, his post-death tour of the nation and the related receipts of condolences.
One benefit of the detailed plans behind the events following the death of the Queen has not been so obvious but is equally vital. Planning everything in advance meant that we experienced order during the time of national mourning. The carefully laid-out plans, first set out in the 1960s and code-named Operation London Bridge, created order in a potentially chaotic and unstable time. It is hard to imagine the depth of the detailed plans… secretly notifying key individuals, recalling people back to the UK from overseas, mobilising the royal hearses to Balmoral, ensuring that London was safe from potential air-strikes. The plans were carried out with military precision, highlighting the benefits to us all of planning for death and illness. When a loved one dies, many people find themselves rudderless because the deceased often leaves no indication of what they would like in the way of will, funeral plans and letter of wishes.
Frequent reviews
What is not talked about much is the fact that there was one vital component to the planning that meant on the day everyone achieved the incredibly high standards that were attained… this key component to success was that the plans were reviewed frequently. In fact they were reviewed three times a year by a combination of government department officials, the police, broadcasters and of course the monarch herself. The Queen and her advisors would take into consideration changing ideas and fashions and ensure that Operation London Bridge was always current and achievable. At all times, musicians were familiar with the music; the military rehearsed their roles; the security was kept in line with developing potential threats; the Prime Minister was aware of the plans; and the web of people and organisations that would be caught up in the pageantry always had a plan that could kick in at a moment’s notice.
From the moment that the Royal doctor announced the concerns for the Queen’s health and the news stories became solely reports about the medical supervision and the sad subsequent death… the code phrase “London Bridge is down” initiated a faultless plan. Having become a widow myself, I can only imagine the peace of mind that these detailed instructions brought to the Royal Family who had lost a much-loved mother, grandmother and fond relative. My husband died of cancer, meaning that we had the gift of time to create lasting memories and plan for his death, at yet there were still things we overlooked. Becoming an Ambassador of the charity WAY (Widowed and Young), I have subsequently met many bereaved individuals whose loved one died suddenly, through illness, accident and suicide. There is no doubt in my mind that prior preparation makes an incredibly painful and emotional time just a bit easier.
Through my Rainbow Hunting business, it is my passion that we talk about tricky subjects such as grief, death and trauma and that we all prepare for the only eventuality awaiting us all. To find out more about how I can help you and your loved ones, please check out my challenges, courses and One-to-One services. I believe that one thing which can make traumatic and difficult times easier is having the support of someone who “gets it”. If you’d like to contact me directly, please message me via email to: emma@rainbowhunting.co.uk.