Operation Menai Bridge
{{Short description|Plan following the death of King Charles III}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
File:Menai Suspension Bridge Dec 09.JPG (pictured in 2009), the plan's namesake]]
Operation Menai Bridge is the code name for plans related to the death of King Charles III. The name refers to a suspension bridge in Wales. The plan includes the announcement of his death, the period of official mourning, and the details of his state funeral. Planning for the King's funeral began almost immediately after Charles's accession to the throne upon the death of his mother and predecessor, Queen Elizabeth II.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/royal-death-codenames-what-mean-5354408|title=Royal death codenames and what they mean|first=Beth|last=Cruse|date=29 April 2021|website=BristolLive|access-date=20 September 2022|archive-date=15 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115222914/https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/royal-death-codenames-what-mean-5354408|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/world/operation-menai-bridge-funeral-plan-for-king-charles-iii-underway-security-expert-says/57dce01b-e6db-4a48-8776-34eff9999cea|title=Operation Menai Bridge: Funeral plan for King Charles III underway, security expert says|date=20 September 2022|publisher=Nine News|access-date=9 March 2023|archive-date=14 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514150706/https://www.9news.com.au/world/operation-menai-bridge-funeral-plan-for-king-charles-iii-underway-security-expert-says/57dce01b-e6db-4a48-8776-34eff9999cea|url-status=live}}
Background
The death of King George VI was communicated by using the phrase "Hyde Park Corner", to avoid Buckingham Palace switchboard operators learning the news too soon. For Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Operation Tay Bridge was put into motion upon her death. Other code names used were Operation Forth Bridge for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and Operation London Bridge for Queen Elizabeth II. Since the latter died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, Operation Unicorn was also put into effect upon her death.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/16/what-happens-when-queen-elizabeth-dies-london-bridge|title='London Bridge is down': the secret plan for the days after the Queen's death|date=17 March 2017|website=The Guardian|access-date=21 September 2022|archive-date=15 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715133315/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/16/what-happens-when-queen-elizabeth-dies-london-bridge|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/london-bridge-is-down-operation-unicorn-queen-b2167672.html|title=What happens when the Queen dies - 'Operation London Bridge' explained|date=15 September 2022|website=The Independent|access-date=21 September 2022|archive-date=16 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216121443/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/london-bridge-is-down-operation-unicorn-queen-b2167672.html|url-status=live}}
Post-accession
Following the accession of Charles III, planning for his funeral began "in earnest" on 20 September 2022, the day following the Queen's state funeral.{{Cite news |last=Sykes |first=Tom |date=2024-04-25 |title=King Charles' Funeral Plans Dusted Off, as His Health Remains a Mystery |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/king-charles-funeral-plans-dusted-off-as-his-health-remains-a-mystery |access-date=2024-07-31 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}} As of 2024, details for Operation Menai Bridge continued to be regularly updated and reviewed, in light of Charles's diagnosis with cancer that year.
A 2024 biography of Charles III by Robert Hardman claimed the King's funeral arrangements have "been upgraded" to Operation London Bridge, mirroring those of his mother's. Planning for Charles III's funeral arrangement began shortly after his coronation held in 2023. The biography also claims that the codename Operation Menai Bridge is now being used for William, Prince of Wales, replacing the codename previously used, Operation Clare Bridge.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/news/king-charles-operation-london-bridge-death-funeral-plans-b2643073.html|title=King Charles death plan codename upgraded to 'Operation London Bridge', claims biography|last=Quaguira|first=Salma|date=7 November 2024|website=www.independent.co.uk|publisher=The Independent}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{State funerals in the United Kingdom}}
{{Charles III}}