Even though it might seem like King Charles is getting better, experts say he is still very ill, and the palace is preparing for his funeral.
The plan for dealing with the king’s passing, known as Operation Menai Bridge, is already in place. This plan is being prepared because there is a chance the 75-year-old king, who is fighting cancer, might not recover.
Read on to find out why the plans for the king’s funeral are moving quickly!
When Queen Elizabeth II became queen in 1952, preparations for Operation London Bridge began soon after. This plan covered everything that would happen after her death, including how to announce it, the period of mourning, her state funeral, and how King Charles III would become king.
Despite just becoming king in 2022 after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles III’s time on the throne has been overshadowed by his health issues. As royal experts report that he is still very sick, preparations for his funeral are moving forward. This situation is bringing urgency to the plans, known as Operation Menai Bridge, which outline the steps following the king’s death.
In January 2024, less than a year after his coronation in May 2023, King Charles underwent a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. However, by February, the palace announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
In a statement shared on February 10, 2024, through the royal family’s social media, Charles expressed his gratitude for the support and well wishes he received, noting that such kind thoughts are a great comfort to those affected by cancer.
In his statement, King Charles also mentioned how sharing his cancer diagnosis has helped raise awareness and support for cancer organizations. He expressed deep admiration for the work of these organizations, which has grown stronger due to his personal experience with the illness.
During King Charles’s treatment for cancer, the king’s eldest son, Prince William, took on additional royal duties. He also provided emotional support to his wife, Kate, who announced her own cancer diagnosis in March 2024.
A source reveals that Prince William has taken on more responsibilities and is now involved in many of the decisions, as King Charles continues to struggle with his health.
The king has recently resumed public appearances, but he’s finding it difficult. According to the source, his appearances are shorter than usual. After each engagement, he is quickly transported by helicopter and then needs to rest.
The source also notes that, despite it being an uncomfortable topic, the plans for King Charles’s funeral are being prepared due to his worsening health.
The Daily Beast reports that there’s growing concern in the palace, with friends finding it hard to stay positive. A close friend said, “Of course, he is determined to beat it and they are doing everything they can, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.”
Operation Menai Bridge, the plan for the king’s death, is being regularly updated, similar to the plan for Queen Elizabeth II’s passing. This plan ensures a smooth transition of power and includes specific codewords for all members of the royal family.
When the time comes, the late king will lie in state at the Palace of Westminster for mourning, and he will likely be buried in the royal vault at King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The palace is preparing a funeral fit for a king. “The palace may seem to suggest that Charles is improving, but he’s still very sick,” an insider told In Touch in an August 2024 interview. “Officials are making sure the funeral meets his wishes and proper protocol.”
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Prince William and Princess Catherine are marking 14 years of love while visiting Scotland’s Isle of Mull on their wedding anniversary.
The ferry sliced through the calm, grey-blue waters, leaving a frothy wake behind it. On the deck, the wind whipped at their hair, carrying the scent of salt and distant heather. Prince William stood with his arm around Princess Catherine, both gazing towards the approaching green and rugged shores of the Isle of Mull. Fourteen years. It felt like a lifetime and a blink of an eye all at once.
They had chosen Mull for a quiet escape, a place far from the usual pomp and circumstance, to mark their wedding anniversary. A place where the wild beauty of Scotland could offer a backdrop to their own enduring connection.
As they disembarked and drove along winding coastal roads, the landscape unfolded like a tapestry of emerald hills, dramatic cliffs, and hidden coves. Sheep dotted the hillsides like scattered pebbles, and the air was filled with the cries of gulls.
Their destination was a secluded cottage overlooking a loch, a place of simple comfort and breathtaking views. That evening, as the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple, they walked hand-in-hand along the rocky shore.
“Remember that rain shower on our wedding day?” Catherine mused, a smile playing on her lips. “Everyone was so worried, but it felt… like a blessing.”
William squeezed her hand. “It did. And look at us now. Fourteen years, three wonderful children, countless adventures.”
They talked of their early days, the nervous excitement of their engagement, the joy of their wedding day, the overwhelming love they felt holding each of their babies for the first time. They spoke of challenges faced together, of moments of quiet strength found in each other, and of the shared purpose that guided their public lives.
Mull seemed to hold its breath around them, the silence broken only by the gentle lapping of the water and the distant call of a bird. It was a silence that allowed for reflection, for gratitude, for the quiet reaffirmation of a bond forged in public but deepened in private moments like these.
The next day, they hiked across windswept moors, the vastness of the landscape mirroring the depth of their journey together. They visited ancient standing stones, feeling the weight of history beneath their feet, and picnicked by a cascading waterfall, the sound a soothing symphony.
As their short escape drew to a close, they stood once more on the ferry deck, watching Mull recede into the distance. The island had offered them not just a beautiful setting, but a sanctuary, a space to simply be William and Catherine, a couple celebrating fourteen years of a love story that continued to unfold, strong and true, against the backdrop of their extraordinary lives. The journey ahead held its own unknowns, but looking at each other, they knew they would face it together, just as they always had.
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