# 'London Bridge is Down': official plans following the death of QEII **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340 "2017-03-16T20:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/21 "2017-03-17T01:20:51Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > “The Queen is Dead” And what if George is playing London Bridges? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/22 "2017-03-17T01:28:22Z")
About the dogs, I know she has loved them for decades. I wonder if their numbers are deliberately down because now the dogs could, in all likelihood, outliver her. Who would take the survivors? ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/23 "2017-03-17T01:49:31Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > About the dogs, I know she has loved them for decades. I wonder if their numbers are deliberately down because now the dogs could, in all likelihood, outliver her. Who would take the survivors? Somehow I doubt you’d have a hard time finding someone to care for the queen’s pure bred dogs. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/24 "2017-03-17T01:51:50Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > And what if George is playing London Bridges? Or Jeff Bridges is playing Jack London? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/25 "2017-03-17T02:20:13Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > “The Queen is Dead” Long Live the King! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/26 "2017-03-17T02:23:22Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > “The Queen is Dead” Long Live the King! > [@glee](#): > > I’m proud to say that our Queen has a sense of humour! Looks like the Queen takes after her great-parents. Edward VII and Queen Alexandra were known for their love of practical jokes. 🙂 (Royalty history is fascinating. Everybody complains about Charles? He’s _nothing_ compared to his ancestors!) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/27 "2017-03-17T02:32:10Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > So, what do they report if London Bridge does fall down? Build it up with wood and clay, Wood and clay, wood and clay, Build it up with wood and clay, My fair lady. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/28 "2017-03-17T03:14:35Z")
I know it’s wrong, but I’m actually kind of looking forward to seeing all that. This must be how Prince Charles feels. I thought the line about Brexit was a unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/29 "2017-03-17T04:26:36Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I know it’s wrong, but I’m actually kind of looking forward to seeing all that. This must be how Prince Charles feels. I thought the line about Brexit was a unnecessary. You think Prince Charles is looking forward to the death of his mother, a woman who is quite healthy for a person of her age and not in any pain as far as is understood by the public at large nor mentally infirm? ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/30 "2017-03-17T04:39:34Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > About the dogs, I know she has loved them for decades. I wonder if their numbers are deliberately down because now the dogs could, in all likelihood, outliver her. Who would take the survivors? She has [reportedly](http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/591307/Queen-Corgi-dog-stops-breeding-Pembroke-Welsh-Corgis) decided that she is getting too old to have puppies underfoot, since a fall at her age could be devastating. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/31 "2017-03-17T06:10:43Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > About the dogs, I know she has loved them for decades. I wonder if their numbers are deliberately down because now the dogs could, in all likelihood, outliver her. Who would take the survivors? She’s never had any difficulty offloading dogs. She’s a registered breeder; she passes dogs on all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/32 "2017-03-17T12:03:45Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > “The Queen is Dead” Smiths fan, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/33 "2017-03-17T13:08:30Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Is she a human being? 😃 There’s no future in this line of thought. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/34 "2017-03-17T13:38:22Z")
When is the part where they boink her on the head with a silver hammer to make sure that she is dead? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/35 "2017-03-17T13:39:45Z")
Ref this snip from the OP’s quote of the _Guardian_ article: > [@](#): > > … > the demise of George VI was conveyed in a code word, “Hyde Park Corner”, to Buckingham Palace, to prevent switchboard operators from finding out. For Elizabeth II, the plan for what happens next is known as “London Bridge.” … I think the article has pretty well queered the value of that particular code phrase. Might be time for another one. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/36 "2017-03-17T13:54:42Z")
I think the code word should be “Norwegian Blue”. Beautiful plumage. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/37 "2017-03-17T14:07:42Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Ref this snip from the OP’s quote of the _Guardian_ article:I think the article has pretty well queered the value of that particular code phrase. Might be time for another one. 😃 It strikes me that “Hyde Park Corner” was never a good code phrase in the first place, since that location is right outside the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Call the palace switchboard and declare “Hyde Park Corner” and they’ll probably say “what about Hyde Park Corner?” or “Sorry sir, you have the wrong number. This is Buckingham Palace.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/38 "2017-03-17T14:19:52Z")
You missed the procedural process. Try this: The King has just retired to the Choir Eternal. Somebody from his staff in attendance calls from the Palace or hospital or wherever he is/was to 10 Downing Street. And once connected to the PM or personal secretary or some such announces “Hyde Park Corner”. The intent is to pass the news without tipping off the eavesdropping telephone operators you must assume exist. In modern cyber-parlance you must always assume the enemy is listening to all comm channels all the time. The message is protected by some encryption. The message isn’t its own addressing process. What’s hard to prevent is the enemy learning at least the outlines of your actions by the shape of your addressing traffic. Since that has to be passed in the clear to serve its function of getting the message to the correct recipient. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/39 "2017-03-17T14:20:35Z")
Isn’t predicting or speaking of the king’s (or queen’s) death treason? I know Henry the 8ths doctors were unwilling to tell the king his prognosis due to that law. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340/40 "2017-03-17T14:22:53Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > It strikes me that “Hyde Park Corner” was never a good code phrase in the first place, since that location is right outside the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Call the palace switchboard and declare “Hyde Park Corner” and they’ll probably say “what about Hyde Park Corner?” or “Sorry sir, you have the wrong number. This is Buckingham Palace.” I don’t think they said it directly to the operator but at the time when an operator had to connect each call manually they would often listen to the line in order to know when to clear the line (and for good gosip). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-bridge-is-down-official-plans-following-the-death-of-qeii/782340.md?page=3)