Elizabeth II has died – what happens now?

A Plan Nobody Wanted But Was Always Necessary

Queen Elizabeth has died – what happens now is something that has been known about for many, many years.

The Queen’s funeral plans, nicknamed ‘London Bridge’ now comes into operation.

This well-thought through plan will be followed by all those involved in managing the lead up to the funeral. There are numerous articles explaining in detail the contents of London Bridge.

So in this blog post, I am using the fact that Queen Elizabeth has died, and her own funeral plans,  to help you consider where you are queen or king of your own realm.

Because you are.

Just think about it.

You may not consider most of the world your family, as Queen Elizabeth did, but you have a family.  Even if it is a family of friends, not blood relatives, it’s still a family.

Who amongst them would know what to do when you die?

Would they know what to do, in the immediacy of your death?

Would they know what kind of funeral you want, if indeed you want one at all?

Queen Elizabeth’s death has triggered a long list of pre-planned instructions, so everyone knows what to do.

If you had died yesterday, would your family and friends know just what to do?

These are pertinent questions for anyone who is pragmatic enough to realise they need answers. And the Queen was one pragmatic lady, albeit with a huge sense of humour and flexibility. (For instance, she would have approved the alteration of the Land rover jeep carrying her husband’s body after he died).

Being Pragmatic Is Quintessentially British

Pragmatism, a sense of practicality about everything, is necessary when contemplating the inevitable.

Because it will happen. One day, your body will give up the ghost and not be alive any longer.

Does that mean you are dead?  Does that mean you don’t exist any more?  It certainly means you are no longer present in the form of a human body. This all bears examining now, especially if you are afraid of dying.

And funnily enough, facing that fear allows it to begin to disappear.

One really useful way of doing that is to consider the practicalities involved when there is a body but the person who inhabited it is no longer there. 

That body needs to be taken care of – recycled if you like.

And that whole process is made a lot easier when it has been thought through in advance.

Exactly like Queen Elizabeth did.

Her funeral cars, her place of burial, her funeral service have all been written down and will be followed to the T.
It means those mourning can do so without all the hassle involved in trying to make decisions about what she would have wanted.

And that’s what I invite you to do too.

Here’s a post that will help you find a funeral director.

and one that tells you about keeping costs of a funeral down:

And to make sure you cover everything, take a look at my Before I Go Workbook and End of Life Planning Cards bundle – it’s an easy way to get all you need to know about taken care of.