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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:
Starwind74 · 14/11/2021 15:42

Possible reason for deferring announcement of her death until Monday (when people are at work/school) could be to reduce the number of people going to stand outside Buckingham Palace or whatever. However like a pp said, I think she is probably not dead but more unwell than they are letting on.

Crunchymum · 14/11/2021 15:42

I guess until the Queen does actually die, there'll be an abundance of these types of threads Shock

Aderyn21 · 14/11/2021 15:42

I think it would be possible to sit on this for 1 day - journalists would possibly know but there could realistically be a news blackout. The Queen would probably not be in favour of cancelling Remembrance Sunday events, so I could easily believe that the decision could be made to delay an announcement on those grounds.
That said, I believe she is unwell but I don’t believe she has died.

Crunchymum · 14/11/2021 15:44

@KirstieAllsoppsAlterEgo

What us the relevance of big freezers? Unless that is where they'll be keeping the body Grin

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 14/11/2021 15:46

@CalamariGames

It shows how dedicated the Queen is if she misses one event and everyone is convinced she is dead.
Very true.
CathyorClaire · 14/11/2021 15:47

Probably possible to keep a lid on it for a few hours at most but aiming for the next day would be a push.

I don't think she has died though she may well be more frail and unwell than the palace are letting on.

godmum56 · 14/11/2021 15:49

@SomepeopleareTERFSgetoverit

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.
I am sure that I have read that there is a guy works down the chipshop swear's he's Elvis
Echobelly · 14/11/2021 15:49

My grandfather in his early 90s and not even in particularly frail health couldn't be sure of getting out of the house on any given day, it's entirely plausible that the queen's not up to being out and about every day at 95 and I really wish the media would get used to it.

Guacamole001 · 14/11/2021 15:50

I am no staunch royalist but I will be very sad when the Queen does pass.

Lovelyapplecrumble · 14/11/2021 15:52

I am a journalist.

The news will almost certainly be announced very soon after it has happened, because everything that will happen next has already been so meticulously planned, so there's no need to keep it secret. It will be the most important news story in the country no matter what else is going on or what time of day it happens.

However there's likely to be an embargo/press blackout for a few minutes, possibly up to an hour, between the official news being given to journalists and the agreed time for it to be announced, so that all TV and radio stations can cut to news and scramble their key broadcast teams to announce at the same time. This is what happened when Prince George was born and when Prince Philip died, for example, so we can imagine the same thing will happen for this. So yes it might be a secret for a bit, but we're talking, like, a few minutes.

Obviously the really sad thing will be that a much-loved woman has died, and it will be up to her family to decide how long to leave it between her actual death and telling anyone else what has happened. I imagine they'll want a few hours together as a family first before doing anything official.

Evelyn52 · 14/11/2021 15:55

Well I think theoretically it's perfectly possible but I just can't see why anyone would bother, what would be the point of delaying the news? What would a few days delay actually achieve, I mean she's 95, it's not like everyone would be thrown into shock and no plans made, it's all been in place for decades now.

Lovelyapplecrumble · 14/11/2021 15:55

@SomepeopleareTERFSgetoverit

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.
Sorry, but I think this is nonsense. It won't matter what day of the week it is. It's in the greater public interest to know asap, even if they "have their weekends ruined".

BUT I can imagine if it was Christmas Day they might want to leave it until the following day, maybe. But that's pure speculation.

KirstieAllsoppsAlterEgo · 14/11/2021 15:55

[quote Crunchymum]@KirstieAllsoppsAlterEgo

What us the relevance of big freezers? Unless that is where they'll be keeping the body Grin[/quote]
I think that was the implication @Crunchymum Grin

donquixotedelamancha · 14/11/2021 15:57

I did notice that Charles looked extremely sad though on laying the Queens wreath.

Well, there we go then, she's not dead. He's pissed off he's still not King.

musicstand · 14/11/2021 15:57

Not true Lovely, most local authorities have published protocol on the death of a senior member of the royal family. There will be a delay and a proper timetable will be followed. Google it - it is out there.

ABCeasyasdohrayme · 14/11/2021 15:57

@Guacamole001

I am no staunch royalist but I will be very sad when the Queen does pass.
I won't, she has lived to a great age and she's had an incredible life. There's nothing to be sad about, she has literally lived the dream.
SickAndTiredAgain · 14/11/2021 15:57

I can sort of see the argument for not wanting to announce in Remembrance Sunday, they’d basically have to cancel the cenotaph service.
And I think theoretically yes, it would possible to keep it a secret.

I don’t think that’s what happened though. Partly because if that had happened I don’t think they’d have said “back sprain”, it’s such a specific lie. They’d say “medical advice” or something vague.
And also, while I can see the argument about delaying for the cenotaph, I’m not convinced they’d actually do it.

Evelyn52 · 14/11/2021 15:57

Of course when she does actually die they'll be loads of theories that she's not really dead!

TableFlowerss · 14/11/2021 15:58

@HeartsAndClubs

It’s all bollocks.

There are very clear protocols for when the queen dies, and keeping it a secret isn’t one of them.

A, why would it be kept a secret anyway?

And B, why until Monday?

Seriously I think people who believe this shite are as bad as the ones who perpetuate it, but given we live in a social media age, it’s really easy to start a rumour circulating and to get a few hundred and then thousands jumping on the bandwagon, and before you know it it’s being circulated as truth.

Spot on!
KirstieAllsoppsAlterEgo · 14/11/2021 16:00

@CathyorClaire Probably possible to keep a lid on it for a few hours at most

Are we talking about the freezers again?

Slightly different point, but why do people say "passing away" or (worse) "passing"? What is wrong with saying "X has died" / "X is dead"?

FourTeaFallOut · 14/11/2021 16:02

@Evelyn52

Well I think theoretically it's perfectly possible but I just can't see why anyone would bother, what would be the point of delaying the news? What would a few days delay actually achieve, I mean she's 95, it's not like everyone would be thrown into shock and no plans made, it's all been in place for decades now.
Well, I agree with pp, (and also, fwiw) believe the queen hasn't died, but I can see why you might delay it just long enough so that people could pay respects for those who died in service on Remembrance Sunday with a level of peace which would just not be possible when the full media machine cranks up to report the death of the Monarch.
IncompleteSenten · 14/11/2021 16:05

Why would they?

There's a very detailed plan in place. Everyone who needs to do something knows exactly what to do. Isn't it "London bridge is down" or something? It's all already sorted. There's no reason to delay anything.

Fact is she is an elderly woman whose health is quite naturally failing and yes, she's not got years and years left. But when she dies, it won't be sat on for days.

musicstand · 14/11/2021 16:09

The plans include an organised delay.

FourTeaFallOut · 14/11/2021 16:10

@Evelyn52

Of course when she does actually die they'll be loads of theories that she's not really dead!
This is true.
roses2 · 14/11/2021 16:13

@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,
To be fair he probably died 1-2 weeks before the announced date. Otherwise its a huge coincidence he died just before social distancing covid rules were relaxed in time for his funeral.