UK plan for 10-day mourning period after Queen's death

UK is entering a period of mourning to mark the passing of the Queen after an extraordinary 70 years on the throne.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that the monarch died peacefully at Balmoral Castle yesterday afternoon. Her eldest son becomes King Charles III, with his wife Camilla as Queen Consort.

As tributes flood in from around the world, long-made plans to mark the Queen’s death are being rapidly put into action.

Prime Minister Liz Truss had a meeting in Downing Street last night with senior ministers, police and representatives from the royal household involved in the planning of what comes next.

The country’s 10-day mourning period began at midnight and will last until the Queen’s funeral, with the UK thrust into a grief-filled limbo, when the business of Government and Parliament will dramatically change.

Flags will be lowered to half-mast on all government buildings and remain that way until the funeral, which is expected to be 10 days later.

Public-facing government activity will be almost completely suspended during the period of national mourning.

Ministers will cancel planned visits, interviews, press conferences and press releases, with only essential activity taking place.

Civil servants will continue with their work and have been asked to wear appropriate clothing. Government websites will have black mastheads.

Sporting and cultural events are likely to be cancelled, but this isn't mandatory. Schools are expected to stay open but will be given guidance about how to mark events.

One exception is the energy bills package, which was announced by the PM on Thursday shortly before it became clear that the Queen's condition was worsening.

Due to the severity of the cost of living crisis, the Government wants to ensure people have the information they need about energy support.

Officials and ministers will examine if the Government can rush emergency legislation through Parliament which maybe needed so the energy price freeze can come into force as planned on October 1.

The Government will be hard at work on the logistical arrangements for a state funeral at Westminster Abbey, which could attract unprecedented crowds to London.

Regular meetings will be chaired by Cabinet Office Minister Nadhim Zahawi in the coming days to coordinate events.

The mourning period is unlikely to jeopardise Ms Truss’s planned attendance at the United Nations General Assembly later this month, which is likely to come after the official grieving ends.

Decisions on whether party conferences can go ahead are matters for party leaders. Only the Lib Dems’ conference falls within the mourning period - they are due to gather in Brighton from next Saturday.

Parliament meets for tributes - then doesn’t sit until after the funeral

Under the Succession to the Crown Act 1707, Parliament meets soon after a monarch’s death for tributes.

The Commons and the Lords will sit on today and Saturday to allow MPs and peers to give their tributes to the Queen.

The last business will be consideration of a formal humble address to the King, expressing the deep sympathy of the House on the death of the Queen.

After condolences, Parliament looks set to be adjourned throughout the morning period until after a state funeral. Parliament had been due to go into a party conference recess from September 23 to October 17.

The Speaker will determine the timetable during the coming days, but it is expected to drastically reduced.

It is thought MPs would not have to swear new oaths, because they swear allegiance to “heirs and successors”, but they could do so if they wanted.

So what happens to energy bills?

The Government and Parliamentary mourning raises questions about the Government’s ability to push through emergency laws and an emergency budget.

This includes help for energy bills - which Liz Truss was midway through a debate to announce when the Queen was taken ill.

The Ofgem price cap was meant to be replaced from October 1, but it was thought this would take legislation.

It was also thought Liz Truss had pencilled in plans for an emergency “fiscal event” (a budget of sorts) on Monday, 19 September, 11 days from now.

A source speculated that MPs might be recalled to pass a budget for a day before Parliament’s conference recess, currently due to begin on Thursday 22 September. Government sources said it was too early to say.

Prime Minister meets King Charles

The PM spoke to the new King shortly after she made her statement in Downing Street on Thursday evening.

She is expected to hold her first audience King Charles today but no details have been shared yet on when this might be.

The PM is also expected join privy counsellors at 10am on Friday to proclaim King Charles the new sovereign.

Plans previously leaked to Politico suggest the PM and Cabinet would hold an audience with the new King that day.

Two days after the death, the PM and ministers would welcome the coffin on the Royal train or plane from Scotland.

After this King Charles would embark on a tour of the nations of the UK for condolence and memorial events.

The arrangements are thought to be for the monarch to lie in state for three days, from around five days after death.

This would most likely happen in Westminster Hall, the oldest building in Parliament whose 240ft-long hammer beam roof began work in 1393.

The Queen Mother, George V, Winston Churchill and William Gladstone have all lain in state in the hall, in coffins resting on a raised platform in the centre of the stone floor.