Operation London Bridge: the Queen’s End-of-Life Plan
If you’ve been following the Queen’s funeral recently, you may have heard a reference to “Operation London Bridge” (hereafter referred to as OLB). It’s a term that refers to the end-of-life plan that came into effect upon the Queen’s death.
OLB includes plans in the event the Queen falls seriously ill, stipulating who should be informed, what doctors will be present, and what medical treatments, if any, will be administered. The plan also includes details of the Queen’s funeral services, how and where the body will be laid to rest, and plans for the succession of her son Charles to the throne.
The origins of OLB go back to the early 1960s when it was first drawn up. Like diligent end-of-life plan facilitators, the plan has been reviewed at least three times a year to ensure that it fits its purpose according to any changes in the Queen’s life and/or health and family circumstances.
There have been end-of-life plans in place for most of the Royal Family under an overarching plan called “Operation Lion”. All of these plans are named after famous bridges throughout the UK. Operation Tay Bridge described the end-of-life plan for the Queen Mother (Princess Diana’s funeral was modelled on the same) and Operation Forth Bridge described plans for Prince Philip’s demise. Even King Charles III has a plan in place entitled Operation Menai Bridge (named after the bridge that links mainland Wales to the Isle of Anglesey).
Many of the details of OLB were made by the Queen herself while others were left to her son in consultation with other members of the family and Royal officials. Obviously, tradition plays a part so some aspects of the post-death activities that take place are based on historical precedent. The plan also has to take into account how the media, the British public, and the world will be informed. Such a plan is so detailed and meticulous that nothing can remain to chance. OLB must reassure a grieving public and a watchful political world that order is still in place. It must allow for the expression of tribute and grief but also a certain peace of mind that life goes on, that death has been contained in a receptacle of ritual and celebration.
The death of the Queen and the unfolding of Operation London Bridge invite us to ask ourselves, “What would I want in place in the event of my death?” Surprisingly, less than a quarter of people have done anything about their own end-of-life planning. Only about a third have pre-planned their funeral; and it’s estimated that about 68% of people do not have a completed or up-to-date will.
During the last two years of the pandemic, many people died in hospitals or care homes alone, without the family support they might have wished for. Many died on ventilators unable to speak their final wishes. COVID visitor restrictions often made it difficult for powers-of-attorney for health care to carry out their duties. Not all victims of the pandemic were elderly; many were younger–at an age where many think they don’t need end-of-life plans–and ended up in hospital in intensive care. Many of those died without any kind of end-of-life care or treatment plan in place.
You don’t have to be a member of the Royal family to have an end-of-life plan in place. You can create your own version of Operation London Bridge that includes the following:
- A will that identifies your Executor (including backup) and beneficiaries as well as stipulates what is to be done with your material and financial assets;
- Powers-of-attorney for health care and finances (in the event you can’t speak for yourself);
- Funeral plans that stipulate how and where you want your body disposed of and what kind of service you would like or not want;
- Advance care plans for your future health care and treatment;
- Digital legacy plans that instruct a “digital executor” to delete or memorialize your online accounts and secure your digital assets (e.g. photos, documents, emails, etc)
- Personal legacy document or other creative projects that expresses how you would like to be remembered (e.g. photo album, recipe book, memoir, artwork, video/audio recordings etc).
While your life may not be as complex as the Queen’s, you can still use a little guidance and support. End-of-life planning facilitators can help you complete your own personal plan. They can provide you with information and resources so that you can make informed decisions that meet your and your family’s needs. Having a complete end-of-life plan in place will help bring everyone peace of mind and avoid misunderstandings and disagreements at a time when they should be grieving and supporting one another.
What to do next?
For further information go to https://www.myendoflifeplan.ca or to arrange a no-obligation interview to discuss your thoughts about end-of-life planning, contact me at michael@myendoflifeplan.ca.
I can also offer you a training opportunity with Before I Go Solutions (www.beforeigosolutions.com) where you can study to become a licensed End-of-Life Planning Facilitator.
