FIND THE TRAITOR
»»Cabinet Office investigating publication of secret operation »»BorisJohnson faces questions on Balmoral visit with Her Majesty
SECRET plans for the Queen’s funeral have been leaked in a breach branded “deeply disturbing” by royal sources.
Political website Politico published Operation London Bridge, revealing for the first time the fine detail of what will happen in the 10 days after the Queen dies.
Buckingham Palace did not comment on the leak, presumed to have come from Whitehall.
But royal sources said the publication of mourning period plans had drawn “widespread condemnation”.
The Cabinet Office is already investigating the leak, which could lead to an official Government probe.
Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, who previously worked for Prince William, is not expected to make a decision on a formal investigation before next week.
But a Government source said: “Neither the Palace nor the Government are particularly happy when leaks of this nature occur. But it is more annoying than damaging to the plans.”
The leak will be a huge embarrassment for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he and his family spend time with the Queen this weekend on the traditional summer visit to Balmoral in Aberdeenshire.
He will face questions over how the full 10-day programme for what happens after her death came to be published.
Extraordinary details from confidential memos reveal fears that London will become “full” as millions of people flock to the capital to pay their respects.
The plans also reveal that after being proclaimed king, Prince Charles will embark on a tour of the UK in Operation Spring Tide.
The plans were leaked after being updated during the pandemic.
A Cabinet Office source said: “We will look into which version has emerged and be able to determine whether this dereliction of duty requires a formal Government investigation. At the very least it is concerning, unnecessary and upsetting.”
There is no suggestion that the Queen, 95, is in poor health.
The information was known only by a handful of officials and specialist reporters. But the plans are also sent to police, councils, Whitehall departments and the Royal Household in varying levels of detail.
One royal source said: “It is deeply disturbing that such private information, which is not only deeply personal to the Queen but also has widespread security implications, has been revealed.”
Labour MP Neil Coyle said: “The Queen deserves to have this sensitive issue treated with dignity and respect. It is trashy and deeply offensive to leak such information. An inquiry needs to expose the culprit so they can be sacked.”
The Queen deserves to have this information treated with respect NEIL COYLE LABOUR MP ON LEAK OF FUNERAL PLANS
4. SECURITY AND CROWD CONTROL
The Home Office is responsible for security arrangements, while intelligence services will be on high alert for any increased terror threat. The Department for Transport has raised concerns that the number of people who may want to travel to London could cause major problems for the transport network, and lead to overcrowding on the capital’s network. One top secret memo published by the political website Politico warns of a worst-case scenario in which London literally becomes “full” for the first time ever, as potentially hundreds of thousands of people try to make their way there. Accommodation, roads, public transport, food, policing, healthcare and basic services could be stretched to breaking point. Concerns have also been raised about a shortage of stewards for crowd control purposes.
5. THE ROYAL FUNERAL
Exact plans for the Queen’s funeral, which is expected to be held 10 days after her death, will be announced by the Royal Family. The Prime Minister and the queen have already agreed that the date of the state funeral will be designated a day of national mourning. It will effectively be a bank holiday, although it will not be named as such. As it will be called at short notice, planning challenges are expected. The state funeral itself will be held at Westminster Abbey, pictured left. A two minutes’ silence will be called across the nation at midday as a mark of respect for the monarch’s passing. Processions will take place in London and Windsor. There will be a committal service in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, before the queen is buried in the King George VI Memorial Chapel. Prince Philip’s remains are due to be moved to lie with hers there.