Such apparently was the code to be used to announce Queen Elizabeth II’s death to court and government.

OK, I’m not going to rehash any of the general outpouring of grief, reflection and remembrance that appears to be gripping the country – as regular readers know, such is not my style.

My comment is really just that this does feel somewhat surreal.

I’m old enough to have now lived in the reign of three monarchs. I was just a year old when George VI died, so although “I was there” I remember nothing of it. Nor do I remember QEII’s coronation in June 1953, when I would have been 2½ – although I’m told I was taken to a neighbour’s to watch the event on TV.

So effectively I have only ever known Elizabeth II as monarch. She was there; always; “part of the furniture” as it were. And it seemed she always would be there; like the Queen Mother before her she seemed immortal – and then suddenly she wasn’t.

What struck me as odd was how quickly it all happened. OK, so the Queen was frail, but on Tuesday she was meeting the outgoing and incoming Prime Ministers (admittedly at Balmoral, making them travel) and looking frail; and two days later suddenly she’s gone, with effectively no real warning. One had expected that her demise would be drawn out over maybe a week of final illness. So perhaps all was not as good underneath as it seemed, and her “mobility issues” were as much to do with (say) heart or cancer as just worn out joints. No doubt the truth will emerge – eventually.

There will, naturally, be a period of national mourning at least until the state funeral, which is unlikely before Monday 19 September (what a security nightmare that will be). Fortunately there are fairly advanced plans in place which can be rolled out – albeit with many final details to be resolved – the logistics are essentially already in place (this is one role of the Earl-Marshal and the College of Arms, qv. for items on protocol). It is going to be very interesting to see what gets cancelled, postponed or closed over the coming days.

So now we have King Charles III. I admit I thought until a year or so ago that he’d probably duck and we’d go straight to William, although I came to the conclusion that Charles wouldn’t pass. I’ve also come away from the view that Charles might abdicate in favour of William after 5 or 10 years; I now don’t think he will do that either, although he may reassess this if his health deteriorates.

Many thought Charles would not reign as Charles III, given the history of Charles I and Charles II. But I thought it unlikely he’d choose to be known as anything other than Charles (in the way his grandfather, Albert Frederick Arthur George aka. King George VI, had).

And so to a Coronation. It’ll be a few months away, they say. No, it will be many months away. The late Queen’s coronation took almost 18 months to arrange, and I can’t see Charles’s being any easier (if nothing else it will be an even bigger security nightmare). So it is very unlikely before this time next year, and they’d want to avoid the anniversary of the Queen’s death, as well as having left a suitably respectful period. They’ll also want to avoid the winter weather, as any coronation is a big display of pageantry. So my money is on Spring/early Summer 2024. We shall see.

A new monarch will mean a lot of work for quite a few businesses. All the printed copies of the national anthem have to be updated; potentially hymn books and prayer books; all government document formats and websites; all royal warrants; many flags (especially if the Royal Standard is changed). Not to mention commemorative merchandise, especially for a coronation. The list goes on and on and … That could well keep the country out of the otherwise impending recession – let’s not say the Queen didn’t always do her best for us!

And eventually our money and postage stamps will need to be updated. That though will take time; there’s no great rush as the precedent is for existing money to continue to be legal tender for years to come (basically until it has to be withdrawn through wear and tear). Stamps are likely to happen sooner; but again there’s no great rush and existing stocks can probably be used for some while – the challenge will be any upcoming commemoratives, including Christmas stamps.

Meanwhile …

We do indeed live in interesting times.