Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, died Thursday at her Scotland estate, Balmoral Castle. She was 96.
Upon her death, her elder son, Charles, became king.
“The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” King Charles III said Thursday in a statement shared by Buckingham Palace. “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.”
Obituaries:Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96; Prince Charles takes the throne as king
London travel is extremely busy,but not impossible if you plan ahead
Elizabeth’s funeral plans have been in place since the 1960s. It has been 70 years since the last monarch’s death, and the ceremonies and processesions will be a big draw for spectators and tourists. Here’s what to know if you are planning to travel for the queen’s funeral.
What are the funeral plans for the queen?
The queen’s state funeral will take place on Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.
The queen’s funeral plans are known as Operation London Bridge because of the heavy involvement of the military in organizing and executing processesions and ceremonies. Details about what would happen in the 10 days of mourning leaked for the first time in The Guardian in May 2017.
In the coming days, there will be a procession of the casket from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster, with a service at Westminster Hall to follow. Elizabeth will lie in state at Westminster Hall for four days before the state funeral, and during that time “members of the public will have the opportunity to visit Westminster Hall to pay their respects to The Queen,” according to the statement.
Because the queen died at Balmoral Castle, her body has remained in Scotland and will be moved to England on Sept. 13.
Operation London Bridge is expected to overtake the country’s attention for some time before the coronation of the new monarch – which could be in months.
In the wake of her death, a “number of people” showed up at Aberdeenshire estate at night to pay their respects and lay flowers at the gates.
Although mourners are welcome, Balmoral police warned that the area is “not the safest location to be so late,” according to Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen.
They are asking mourners to plan their visit during the weekend between 8 am and 7 pm when park and ride facilities are open at Monaltrie Park in Ballater and Braemar Castle.
What are the United Kingdom’s entry requirements for Americans?
US travelers visiting the UK must have a valid passport for their entire trip, according to the US State Department’s website. Tourists do not need a visa if they are staying for less than six months.
If travelers are going to visit other destinations after leaving the UK, many countries require their passports to be valid for another six months at least, the State Department notes.
The UK dropped its remaining COVID-19 travel rules in March, allowing all visitors to enter the country without showing proof of a negative test or filling out a passenger locator form.
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What to expect when traveling to the UK
Tim Hentschel, co-founder and CEO at HotelPlanner, said the company has seen a 20% increase in searches for London hotels from IP addresses in North America over the past 12 hours, and about a 32% increase in bookings.
He said HotelPlanner has also seen about a 10% to 20% jump in room rates over the past 12 hours, particularly among four- and five-star hotels, the latter of which he said are going for £1,000 a night (or about $1,160 ). HotelPlanner is forecasting that rates will double in the next few days across hotel categories, Hentschel said.
London travel is extremely busy,but not impossible if you plan ahead
He said the easiest path into London is through Heathrow Airport, where travelers will find the most selection of flights. He recommended visitors also consider hotels in that area – close to Windsor Castle – as they are typically 50% to 60% less expensive than those in the city center.
Transportation providers in London are expecting “unprecedented travel demand” this week, according to a joint statement by Network Rail, the Rail Delivery Group and Transport for London.
Travelers should expect London’s public transport and roads to be “very busy” and to plan for “short-term safety measures” like changes to the way you exit a station or non-stopping trains. People are urged to plan their “journeys ahead of time using real-time travel information” and allow for extra time.
People riding the London Underground are being recommended to avoid Green Park station, which is closest to Buckingham Palace, and are instead recommended to try Victoria, Piccadilly Circus and St. James’ Park, all of which are within walking distance of the Palace. There will also be a special service on the Elizabeth line between Paddington and Abbey Wood on Sunday, with 12 trains running per hour.
And while a trip to London is cause for excitement, American visitors should also keep in mind that this is a somber time.
“People should be reminded that it’s not a party,” Hentschel said.
