Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Would it be possible in this day and age to keep a huge news story private?

200 replies

homeownerwannabe · 14/11/2021 14:37

Trying not to give a dramatic misleading title to this post and don't want to be disrespectful to the queen who I have a lot of respect for....

But...

There is rumours circulating that she has died and the news will be released on Monday. Now I'm thinking this is just conspiracy theories and there's been plenty of them about her before but would it be possible to keep something like this quiet? In a house with so many staff and the fact that there is procedures that are put in place right away (I know someone who used to cover the duty phone on rotation for when senior members of the royal family pass away) you'd think it would be leaked pretty quick?

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 14/11/2021 15:23

Imagine if your death had to be announced to the nation by Boris Johnson though.....

I know he is an absolute bufoon !

I can imagine I'd it was delayed today would be because of the rememberence services , because I think they would have to be cancelled.

EsmeraldaFudge · 14/11/2021 15:23

I doubt this has really happened.

I did notice that Charles looked extremely sad though on laying the Queens wreath. Maybe she is more unwell they just a "strained back" but I do not believe she is dead

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 14/11/2021 15:24

Doubtful. Very doubtful.

The queen dying triggers a flurry of activity. Prince Charles would also have to immediately be referred to and confirmed as King.

Skiptheheartsandflowers · 14/11/2021 15:25

If the queen dies, which she hasn't, it won't be BoJo announcing it!!!!

If ever there was motivation not to kick the bucket, avoiding that clown announcing your passing would beit.

Grin at both these. I hope the Queen has issued very specific instructions that Johnson is to have no speaking part in anything to do with her death and funeral, on pain of haunting all concerned.

I don't think they could keep a death like this quiet, and also, I'm not sure why they would. No other news or events are going to be considered more important than this in the UK, when it happens.

CreepySpider · 14/11/2021 15:25

If it was Boris announcing it then yes, because of his appalling timekeeping, the announcement would be delayed.

SomepeopleareTERFSgetoverit · 14/11/2021 15:26

I’m sure I have read that if the Queen were to pass away over the weekend the announcement would be held back until Monday morning. It was described as being so that people wouldn’t have their weekends ruined - all of those who would have to lower flags, write tributes, arrange the books of condolences etc.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 14/11/2021 15:27

If Charles looked sad maybe it’s because he lost his dad this year. It’s normal for personal grief to hit you when you are supposed to be grieving someone else.

lydia2021 · 14/11/2021 15:27

Not until Monday...well who in their right mind would destroy Remembrance Sunday at the Centotaph.
All it would mean is TV cancelled.. and I never watch TV. All smoke and mirrors..

2021healthissues · 14/11/2021 15:27

@AutumnOrange

Surely the op is just asking if it would be possible, in this day and age, to keep a major event secret? They aren’t saying it has happened.
It certainly could. There’s been many things politicians have swept under the carpet, the Royals included.

Frankly more people than you think wouldn’t care enough about the queen’s death to find her passing a major event. She has led a long and fulfilled life after all, so it wouldn’t come as a shock like Diana’s

LakieLady · 14/11/2021 15:28

@KittenCatcher

They interrupted all the days TV to announce the death of PP so I doubt they will leave it up to BJ to tell us during a news conference at 5pm,
That pillock couldn't be trusted to impart solemn news without making some sort of lame joke.
LadyZoom · 14/11/2021 15:30

Sounds like there will be a cohort of very disappointed people out there when HMQ appears in public again, looking frail but doing OK. Although no doubt that will be dismissed as her doppelganger or some such.

HostaFireAndIce · 14/11/2021 15:31

All those pointing out that this is a common rumour etc etc are right, but that isn't the OP's question. In answer to the question, I think it would be possible, yes, certainly for a day. I don't know why they would bother though.

SoupDragon · 14/11/2021 15:31

All this speculation is getting ridiculous! It's in incredibly poor taste too.

Lockheart · 14/11/2021 15:32

It's also worth remembering that unless she suddenly dies from e.g. a heart attack, a bulletin will be posted from the palace to let the nation know that she's very ill or dying, just as was done for her father. Unless it's a sudden death, there will be notice given.

SoupDragon · 14/11/2021 15:32

but that isn't the OP's question.

It's literally all her OP is about.

musicstand · 14/11/2021 15:32

Proclamation day is 1 day after the date of death of the sovereign (which is different to other senior members), so if the queen had passed away today it wouldn't be announced until 11am tomorrow.

I could imagine HMQ giving orders to alter that if the proclamation was meant to be on Remembrance Sunday, as in if she passed away on Saturday, as it is so important to her.

Having said that I don't think that she has passed.

WonderfulYou · 14/11/2021 15:33

I think they could keep it quiet for a certain amount of time maybe a couple of days, definitely no longer than a week.

But I’m not sure why they’d want to. I think it would be a breaking news headline and they’ll be fully prepared to deal with the public.

Lockheart · 14/11/2021 15:34

*grandfather, not father.

WonderfulYou · 14/11/2021 15:36

If Charles looked sad maybe it’s because he lost his dad this year. It’s normal for personal grief to hit you when you are supposed to be grieving someone else.

I agree.
Especially during Remembrance Day I can imagine he would think about his dad then.

TurquoiseDragon · 14/11/2021 15:37

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

If Charles looked sad maybe it’s because he lost his dad this year. It’s normal for personal grief to hit you when you are supposed to be grieving someone else.
I can agree wth this. I watched some of the footage this morning, and while I was thinking about people who served, my thoughts wandered to memories of my late mother, who died 3 years ago. sometimes it can be hard to stop memories cropping up.

And no, I don't think, in this age of mass communications, that they'll be able to hold back news of the death of the Queen for long. It's possible it's more than just a bad back, since she's so dedicated to doing her duty, but I doubt she's passed.

ABCeasyasdohrayme · 14/11/2021 15:38

When she does die, which will be in the next few years for sure, so many people are going to start with "I told you so, I knew she was dead"- "I saw a newsreader wearing a black tie, so I just knew" - "My old neighbours cousin delivered a paper to the Palace and knew a week ago". Its tedious.

userisi · 14/11/2021 15:38

Why would they lie? What would be the benefit?

BalloonSlayer · 14/11/2021 15:40

There is no way they would be singing God Save the Queen if she had died.

The monarchy never dies - the instant one King/Queen dies the heir becomes King/Queen.

Poor Queen. Because of all this shit speculation she is going to have to be brought out to be put on display in some way to prove she is still alive when she should be in a cosy armchair with a rug on her knees watching the racing,

CalamariGames · 14/11/2021 15:40

It shows how dedicated the Queen is if she misses one event and everyone is convinced she is dead.

KirstieAllsoppsAlterEgo · 14/11/2021 15:41

There was someone on another Queen thread who said they have big freezers in Windsor Castle.

Anyway, my husband's brother's uncle's dog's father is very high up in the royal household, so she can't be dead yet, as he would have told me.

Swipe left for the next trending thread