We're being prepared aren't we? Message about the Queen being under medical supervision

[SpringCalling]

It feels like we're being slowly prepared for her passing away. I feel unexpectedly tearful.

I'm not tearful as she's near 100

or the fact that I don't bloody know the woman. I still cringe when I think of the race to grieve for Diana, it was offensive to the people who actually knew her like her sons.

There is even a vid on youtube of an American gang of friends watching it and it's just cringy. You'd swear they knew the woman personally.

It's shit tho isn't it. Imagine having to give an address to the world on the eve of your parents death and then go on a round trip to hear the condolences of total strangers whilst remaining stoic is moist eyed. No spending time with your own kids who will be broken hearted or your own grand kids who are so young and will be confused and upset. And yy he's trained, prepped for it etc but can you train for the pain of your Mom's death?

@SunflowerOrange I’ve just noticed this and the newsreader is in all black.

You don't have the right to the only reaction to the news. Sorry.

I don’t get the idea that we’re being prepared. What does that mean? It’s in the news. The Palace are providing updates which is no doubt what the Queen wants.

Is the 6pm announcement officially what's done if she dies or what mn are saying?

Would it need to be announced by Charles rather than Huw.

I would hope the family are allowed a little time before having to present themselves and the news to the world.

In effect, that's what's happening. The BBC have suspended programmes to livestream the family gathering and summarise the events leading up to this point and comments from leaders and public figures. The announcement will be at 6.

Operation London Bridge? Not sure whether it's the same:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/16/what-happens-when-queen-elizabeth-dies-london-bridge

So would the media "know" if its happened? I'm curious how it works.

I feel unexpectedly emotional, not because a 96 old woman I never knew has (possibly) died but because it marks the end of an era. Change is unsettling.

No royalist here, but I find it moving that she was working until yesterday. I imagine she would have wanted to go out like that.

Project Unicorn is in place - some inside people saying that she's already died - it's usual to have a monarch die a few hours before the public are told via Reuters / wires. So sad I love her :(

I was hoping she'd outlive Charles. That would have been hilarious.

I take "being prepared" to mean that the news is imminent, but rather than have an out of the blue announcement they are getting people used to the idea by putting out short bits of information.

It's been standard in the past not to make an immediate announcement - the Queen's father George VI died in his sleep and was discovered at 7.30am but no announcement was made until about 10.45 that morning.
George V's death was "hastened" (injected with morphine and cocaine I believe) so that his death could make the morning papers.

Yes, that. I don't feel grief for an elderly lady who lived longer than any of my own grandparents but similarly I'm William and Kate age, even Charles has always been old to me. It's just a feeling of unreality and wondering what will actually change

All BBC in black and most seem, close to tears. They know.

I feel so emotional about this I actually had a little cry, which is not like me given that I'm no real fan of the royals.

You're right though, it's the end of an era and I feel its a shit time to go when everything is in such a mess. It would have been nice to have had our house in order a bit more, instead of being panicked to billio about energy prices, war and the environment.

She's been our steadfast head of state all this time. I hope Liz Truss was able to reassure her of things during her visit the other day.

Yes they would know, they are given advance notice (minutes or hours who knows) so that they can get their protocols in place - sombre music, video footage, presenters in black, etc. They are constantly updating the obituaries for senior royals and leading politicians so that if something happens unexpectedly they are ready to go.

I understand from a friend of my DD who is in the media, Sky I think, that yes she has died, and they're just grouping the family together before official announcement

How fantastic that only 2 days ago she was on her feet and smiling.
No awfully painful death like many of us on here will have lived through with family members. It's what we would wish for ourselves and those close to us

Watching BBC live news, the bottom banner turned black for a bit. Back to red now but they are testing…

Surely it's all Boris' fault. Didn't covid start just after he started and now he's left and this. A curse on all of your houses

Taking the road sign down.

Yes.

Just watching this... why?

Man up a ladder. Putting sign up?