Operation Menai Bridge Protocol 2024

Operation Menai Bridge

Introduction
Operation Menai Bridge is the codename of the plan for what will happen in the days following
the death of HM King Charles III or another senior national figure.

Following the official announcement from Buckingham Palace, 10 days of state mourning will fol-
low. D day is death day and D10 is the date of the full state funeral in Westminster Abbey, unless
D10 falls on a Sunday in which case the funeral will be held on D11 Monday.

This protocol document had been drawn up to prepare Hellesdon Parish Council (HPC) for the
death of a senior national figure. It applies to:

H.M. The King (The Sovereign)
H.M. The Queen (Camilla)
H.R.H. The Prince of Wales (William)
H.R.H. The Princess of Wales (Kate)
H.R.H. Prince George of Wales
H.R.H. Princess Charlotte of Wales
H.R.H. Prince Louis of Wales
H.R.H. The Earl of Wessex (Edward)
H.R.H. The Princess Royal (Anne)

The following appendices are included:

Appendix 1 - Guide for Flying Flags at Half-mast
Appendix 2 - Chairman’s Statement

Guidance should always be sought from official sources in the event of the death of The King or
another senior figure, to ensure there are no changes to this protocol

Implementation of the Protocol
Plans to mark a death should be implemented only when a formal announcement has been made.
So, for instance, if news agencies are saying that “reports are coming in of the death of ...” it must
be treated with caution. If possible, wait for a more definite announcement (perhaps along the
lines that “it has been announced by Buckingham Palace / Downing Street that…”

This protocol for HPC identifies those who are authorised to implement the plans. For the Sover-
eign or another senior member of the Royal Family the decision will be delegated to the Parish
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Clerk or duly authorised Deputy, in consultation with the Chairman. For other figures, there may
need to be consultation at the time on the appropriate ways in which the death should be marked.

The day of the death of the Sovereigns will be known as D-Day, then D+1, D+2 etc. through the ten
days of national Mourning. The state funeral will be held on D+10, except if this date falls on a
Sunday, when the funeral will be on D+11.

Following the Death of the Sovereign

Day National HPC National and HPC
Flags
D (Day of Formal Announcement HPC website homepage up- Flag lowered to half
death) dated (SA). mast
Chairman’s Statement pub-
lished on website and social
media (Clerk/SA).
Grounds staff to ensure war
memorial is clean and tidy for
flower laying (Grounds).
Flowers ordered and to be laid
by Chairman at the earliest op-
portunity (Chair).
D+1 Books of condolence Book of Condolence opened at Flag returned to full
opened HCC (Clerk). mast at 11am and
Online book of Condolence throughout D+1 until
Proclamation Day, St James’ opened (SA) 1pm on D+2
Palace
HPC to liaise with church to
11am (2pm if Sunday) and ensure details of services can
noon at the Royal Exchange be publicised (Clerk).
Check war memorial in the
morning and afternoon
(grounds)
Check book of condolence at
the end of each day (caretak-
ers)
D+2 Regional Proclamations If HPC is to make a proclama- Flag returned to half
take place (Cardiff, Edin- tion it should be done at 4pm mast at 1pm
burgh and Belfast at noon) Check war memorial in the
morning and afternoon
Second reading in Edin- (grounds)
burgh at 12.30pm

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 Proclamation by the High Check book of condolence at
Sheriff at County Hall be- the end of each day (caretak-
tween 12.30 and 12.45pm ers)
(Borough/District Councils
at 12.50)

D+5    Lying-in-State at the Palace   Check war memorial in the       Flag remains at half
       of Westminster                 morning and afternoon           mast
                                      (grounds)

                                      Check book of condolence at
                                      the end of each day (caretak-
                                      ers)
D+6    County Service of Com-         Check war memorial in the
       memoration at Norwich Ca-      morning and afternoon
       thedral                        (grounds)

Check book of condolence at
the end of each day (caretak-
ers)
D+7 Local Services of Commem- Check war memorial in the
oration morning and afternoon
(grounds)

                                      Check book of condolence at
                                      the end of each day (caretak-
                                      ers)
D+10   Lying-in-State concludes,      Check war memorial in the
       Procession to Westminster      morning and afternoon
       Abbey                          (grounds)

Two-minute silence at Check book of condolence at
11am the end of each day (caretak-
ers)
State Funeral Service (if
Sunday, this is deferred to
Monday)

State Procession to Windsor
via Wellington Arch

Private burial in King
George VI Memorial Chapel

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 D+11 Books of Condolence close Book of condolence closes. Flag returned to nor-
at 5pm Flowers are collected for com- mal at 8am
posting

Following the Death of a Senior Member of the Royal Family

Day National HPC National and HPC Flags
D (Day of Formal Announce- HPC website homepage Flag lowered to half mast
death ment updated (SA).
Chairman’s Statement
published on website and
social media (Clerk/SA).
Grounds staff to ensure
war memorial is clean and
tidy for flower laying
(Grounds).
Flowers ordered and to be
laid by Chairman at the
earliest opportunity
(Chair).
D+1 Books of condolence Book of Condolence
opened opened at HCC (Clerk).
Online book of Condo-
lence opened (SA)

HPC to liaise with church
to ensure details of ser-
vices can be publicised
(Clerk).
Check war memorial in
the morning and after-
noon (grounds)
Check book of condolence
at the end of each day
(caretakers)
D+6 Local Services of Com- Check war memorial in
memoration take the morning and after-
place noon (grounds)

Hellesdon Parish Council – Operation Menai Bridge Protocol
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 Check book of condolence
at the end of each day
(caretakers)
D+8 Funeral at St George’s Check war memorial in
Chapel, Windsor the morning and after-
noon (grounds)

Check book of condolence
at the end of each day
(caretakers)
D+9 Books of Condolence Book of condolence Flag returned to normal at
close at 5pm closes. 8am
Flowers are collected for
composting

Flag Flying
Flag flying will adhere to national guidance.

Proclamation Day Schedule
In the case of the death of the Sovereign, the day following the death D+1 will be Proclamation
Day, which is the day the new Sovereign is proclaimed.

D+1 - The Proclamation will be made at St James’s Palace at 1100hrs (or 1400hrs if it is a Sunday).
The Proclamation will then be ‘cascaded’. At noon on Proclamation Day it will be read at the Royal
Exchange in the City of London.

D+2 – At noon on D+2, it will be read: in Edinburgh by Lord Lyon King of Arms at Mercat Cross and
at the drawbridge to Edinburgh Castle; in Cardiff by Wales Herald Extraordinary at Cardiff Castle
and in Belfast by Norroy and Ulster King of Arms.

Once these Proclamations have been made it is appropriate for the Proclamation to be read at
County, City, Borough and then at Parish level. High Sheriffs will read the Proclamation at County
level along with Lord-Lieutenants. Most High Sheriffs are expected to make their readings at
1400hrs on D+2. It is suggested that local civic leaders should therefore make their readings at or
after 1600hrs.

Proclamation Day
On Proclamation Day flags will, at the start of the day, be flying at half-mast.
All flags will then be flown from the mast-head from 1100hrs on Proclamation Day (D+1) to coin-
cide with the reading of the Principal Proclamation, until 1630hrs the following day, (D+2). This is
Hellesdon Parish Council – Operation Menai Bridge Protocol
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due to the official schedule of the Proclamation (see below for more details), it will be read in Lon-
don on Proclamation Day (D+1), then read at noon in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff on the day fol-
lowing Proclamation Day (D+2). Once those Proclamations have been made at 1400 hrs on D+2,
High Sheriffs will then read the Proclamation at County level and Lord-Lieutenants will be along-
side them.

Proclamation Day Protocol
Having flown at half-mast since the announcement of the death of the Sovereign, all flags will be
raised to full-mast at 1100hrs on D+1 (the day after death), when the Proclamation is read at St
James’s Palace in London. They will continue to fly at half-mast until 1300hrs on D+2 to allow for
the Accession Proclamation to be read out in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh. These times are fixed
as part of the National plan for mourning and should not be interpreted locally. It is important that
all flags are raised to full-mast at 1100hrs on D+1 and are returned to half-mast following the High
Sheriffs Proclamation reading on D+2.

Books of Condolence
Books of Condolence will be opened on the first working day after the day of death D+1.

All books will be placed in an easily accessible location Hellesdon Community Centre (room to be
confirmed) though it is important the place is quiet enough to enable those signing the books a
moment of privacy and quiet reflection.

Books will be placed on a good-sized table, covered with a suitable cloth, a chair, a supply of pens
along with a suitable framed photograph on the table and a small arrangement of flowers.

A good supply of paper, hole-punched to fit in a loose-leaf binder will be provided and kept well
stocked. A loose-leaf folder offers an opportunity to act if the book is defaced or offensive com-
ments included. Pages including any questionable comments should be quietly removed until such
time as a decision can be taken by the Chairman, on whether they should be permanently ex-
cluded.
The Chairman may wish to agree a form of words for a message, expressing sorrow at the news of
the death. This may be the form of words included in a press release, Twitter or Facebook mes-
sage or on the home page of the website.

Dependent on local circumstances it is suggested that Books of Condolence should be closed at
the end of the day following the day of the funeral (i.e. if the funeral falls on a Thursday, Books
should close at 1600hrs on the Friday). Books of Condolence are essentially a local record of the
sentiments expressed by local people on the death of a national figure. As such, they should form
part of the Parish Council archive, so that future generations are able to gain access to them easily
and find out the way in which national events were marked in the area.

It is simply not feasible for every book from all sad occasions to form part of the Royal Archives.
However, in a letter of condolence from the Chairman reference should be made to the Book of
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Condolence and its existence in the local archives. The letter will then be stored in the Royal Ar-
chives and act as an effective cross reference.

On-Line Book of Condolence
HPC will be accepting online submissions for the Book of Condolence through a link on our web-
site: www.hellesdon-pc.gov.uk The submissions will then be collated and included in the Book of
Condolence. Alternatively, a link to the Buckingham Palace e-Book of Condolence will be included
on the website: www.royal.gov.uk

Events During the Period of Mourning
From the day of the death until the day after the funeral, careful thought will be given to the types
of events and activities which the Chairman should host or attend. Scheduled Parish Council meet-
ings will be reviewed for postponement or rescheduling. Also, any Civic Lunches, dinners, recep-
tions and so forth, may not fit with the mood of the nation and as a mark of respect may need to
be cancelled or postponed. This is a local decision and one which need to be reached with great
sensitivity.

Church Services
Hellesdon Parish Councillors will be sent details of all Church services being held in the Parish. (The
Clerk will liaise with Rev Alder)

Flowers
The War Memorial will be the designated area allocated as a place for residents and visitors to lay
flowers during the period of mourning.

Should residents wish to lay flowers during this time, they may do so. It is important to note that
all of the plastic wrap should be removed before laying them. At the end of the mourning period,
at 9am the day following the funeral, there will be a ceremonial removal of the flowers. Any mes-
sage cards will be kept with the Condolence Books as part of the local archive. The flowers will be
taken away to compost. The compost produced will then be used to plant a memorial tree.

Dress Code
A view will be taken locally on what is the correct dress in the event of the death of a senior na-
tional figure. Whilst flags are at half-mast, it will be appropriate for black ties, ribbons and arms
bands to be worn by Council members. A supply of armbands for councillors and staff on duty will
be held by the Clerk.

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Marking a Silence
On the death of the Sovereign there will be a two-minute silence at 1100hrs on the day of the fu-
neral (D+10). Which will be a public holiday (unless D+10 is a Saturday).

It may be that silence will be kept for other member of the Royal Family, perhaps on the day of the
funeral as part of the funeral service. However, action on a silence for members of the Royal Fam-
ily other than the Sovereign should await an announcement from Buckingham Palace.

Website
After the official announcement from Buckingham Palace HPC will activate a website holding page
with a black background featuring: a photograph of the deceased, the year of birth to the year of
death, and links to the following information: Council Services, Condolence Books, Church Ser-
vices, Flowers and Flying of Flags. The holding page can be closed, for visitors to then access the
main homepage. Each of the links will lead to a website page with the relevant information.

The page will be activated as soon as an official announcement is made.

Public Holiday
On the day of death workers can be sent home early.
The day of the state funeral will be a public holiday unless it falls on a Saturday.

Letters of Condolence
It is usual, in the case of the death of a member of the Royal Family, for letters to be sent to the
Private Secretary of the deceased, asking that condolences be passed to the next of kin and other
members of the Royal Family. Except in the case of the Sovereign’s death, in which case they
should be sent to the new Sovereign’s Private Secretary asking that condolences be passed to the
new Sovereign. In each case, other than exceptional local circumstances, one letter of condolence
only should be sent.

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Appendix 1 - Flying Flags at Half-Mast

Authoritative information on flag flying can be found on the website of the Department for Cul-
ture, Media and Sport.

Half-mast means the flag is flown two-thirds of the way up the flagpole, with at least the height of
the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the flagpole. Flags cannot be flown at half-mast
on poles that are more than 45° from the vertical, but a mourning cravat can be used instead (see
the Flag Institute’s website for further details).

When a flag is to be flown at half-mast, it should first be raised all the way to the top of the mast,
allowed to remain there for a second and then be lowered to the half-mast position. When it is be-
ing lowered from half-mast, it should again be raised to the top of the mast for a second before
being fully lowered.

When a British national flag is at half-mast, other flags on the same stand of poles should also be
at half-mast or should not be flown at all. Flags of foreign nations should not be flown, unless their
country is also observing mourning.

Appendix 2 - The Chairman’s Statement

A statement will be issued by the Chairman on the announcement of the death of a senior na-
tional figure or other prominent figure.

The statement should begin with a suitable expression of the sadness of Hellesdon Parish Council
on hearing the announcement.

Suggested statement:

Chairman's Message Of Sympathy:
It is with great sadness that Hellesdon Parish Council and the residents of the parish mourn the
passing of [title], much loved servant of our great nation. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies
are with family members at this sad time.
A book of condolence will be available at the parish office between the hours of [9.30am – 4pm
Monday to Friday] until [date].
Flowers, without cellophane coverings, can be laid at the war memorial.

The Parish Council will continue to offer services as usual and conduct its business and meetings
during the period of mourning. Please check this page for further information which will be
posted when arrangements for commemoration events have been confirmed.

[Name] Chairman of Hellesdon Parish Council

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