Do govt employee find out early about the Queen’s death?

[Ginandpink]

My brother said they were told early, doesn’t make sense?

Yes. My DNiece who is in the Met knew a bit earlier than the announcement

Gov worker covers a lot of people and job titles, so it depends.

No.

Home office briefed ‘a significant event involving a core member of the royal family’ last Friday.

I imagine so and this also gives the lie to all those “DH has been told there will be an announcement…” posts - as in by the time those came along it had been obvious for some hours that something serious was happening and programming had already been suspended on BBC1. Nobody is sneaking around with knowledge that will drop entirely out of the blue!

Yes, the press, Gov and MOD are all notified prior as part of the OP London Bridge script. The announcement was always going to be at dinner time regardless of what time she died.

Apparently government officials knew at 1pm.

I'm a civil servant and heard the news when everyone else did.

It massively depends on the government department.

Friend is in the Forces and has a ceremonial role. He was called early this morning & asked to make his way down to Portsmouth for the next few days.

Nope it's just people like to believe that's true. And it spreads. So you'll hear e.g.

'My cousin's neighbour's sister-in-law's son's friend works high up in the police and he knew waaaay before anyone else'.

It's nonsense.

Beth Rigby just posted on Twitter that Liz Truss was told by Simon Case at 4:30pm.

@coldandverytired
I very much doubt the Home Office had some advance notice that it was imminent
All government depts have detailed plans which are reviewed regularly.
My dept had review meetings last week and this week, not because we had special inside knowledge but because at age 96 it could have happened at any time.
Activity picked up dramatically when the Palace made the announcement and the statement was made in the house.
Even the PM was not aware till that point.

Seniors in government would have been. Anyone involved in the ceremonies and processions over the next few days would have been.
General dogsbody (like me) weren't told.
I do love reading things like 'yes X Y Z are all told' no.... no they aren't.

A small number will find out early, most won’t.

No. And let's be honest, 'Govt employee' probably accounts for about 20% of the workforce. There are almost 6 million people in public sector roles.

It stands to reason that there has to be a hierarchy when it comes to news like this.

The bbc has reported that the PM and Stamer were notified at 16:30. So if true, then yes, they are notified earlier than the official notice. But, aren’t all such notification announced by Buckingham palace at either 9am, 1pm or 6pm ? -

My husband works in media tech, part of his job directly relates to what happens after the death of a senior royal. He was on high alert and doing last-minute final checks all day, but he got the actual news about ten seconds before my aunt, who was following it on tv.

Why Portsmouth?

She didn't die until after 4pm so that was impressive of whoever told them.

Yes. Only the senior ones, though.

Home office briefed ‘a significant event involving a core member of the royal family’ last Friday.

How does that make any sense?
She was alive and working on Tuesday so how could they have predicted things last Friday?

If true it was far more likely to be the PM visits or to do with Harry and Megan in the country.

No. They are not told. There are, however, many protocols that mean that preparations mean that it is more or less known.

My weekend plans are now cancelled because one of our hosts works in close association with the Royal Family, but he didn't know any sooner than the rest of us.

I know a council employee who had been doing a London Bridge exercise last weekend but it’s just a coincidence - bit an unlikely one though given that it’s something that was bound to be needed fairly soon.