Queen Elizabeth II has died: What happens next?
Nothing has been left to chance about the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which was confirmed on Thursday afternoon.
The details of what happens next have been planned out years, even decades in advance, and protocol dictates a strict timetable of events, a formal series of ceremonies and procedures that should unfold solemnly but seamlessly.
Upon her death, Prince Charles becomes king -- he will be known as King Charles III -- and the senior palace official who is in charge of succession planning informs Britain's new prime minister Liz Truss with the codewords "London Bridge is down". The news is then sent globally to the countries where the Queen was head of state, and to other Commonwealth countries.
"Charles was king immediately. The succession is instantaneous. The moment one monarch's heart stops beating, the next person in line takes over," said Professor Andrew Blick from King's College London, a senior adviser at The Constitution Society.
The rest of the world find out in a newsflash sent by Britain's Press Association, but even in this time of instant communication, a footman in mourning clothes posted a notice on black-edged paper outside Buckingham Palace.
Now there will be nine days of carefully choreographed events, including the recall of both houses of parliament in Britain, and a tour of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by Charles, who will make his first address as head of state on the evening of his mother's death.
Flags across Britain will be lowered to half staff, and church bells will toll. On the first day after the Queen's death those flags will go up again, and at 11 am Charles will be proclaimed king, and swear oaths.
"It's a big event, it's a historical event, and I think if from the
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