Why is it called Operation Menai Bridge? | UK News

Brits being Brits there is a plan for everything, and when King Charles III dies then the UK will embark on Operation Menai Bridge.

The plan involves all parts of the UK government, the police, military and intelligence services as well as private organisations related to King Charles III.

It will be designed to ensure the transition of power is handed over in the smoothest way possible as the country enters a long period of mourning.

The King – who Buckingham Palace announced had cancer today – has been head of state since September 8, 2022, following the death of the Queen.

It comes after Charles spent a number of days in hospital when it was announced he had an enlarged prostate.

But what is Operation Menai Bridge and what actually happens when King Charles III dies?

Where is Menai Bridge?

It is between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales

What is Operation Menai Bridge?

Plans for King Charles’ death and state funeral are referred to as ‘Operation Menai Bridge’ – which is named after a suspension bridge in Wales.

What is the Menai Suspension Bridge?             

The Menai Suspension Bridge (Welsh: Pont y Borth or Pont Grog y Borth) is a suspension bridge spanning the Menai Strait between the island of Anglesey and the mainland of Wales.

Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826, it was the world’s first major suspension bridge. The bridge still carries road traffic and is a Grade I listed structure.

What is Operation London Bridge?

Operation London Bridge was the funeral plan for Queen Elizabeth II. The plan included the announcement of her death, the period of official mourning, and the details of her state funeral.

The plan was created as early as the 1960s and revised many times in the years before her death in September 2022.

As the former Prince of Wales, Charles has a connection to the bridge and to Wales in general, and was involved in various organisations and causes in the country before he ascended to the throne

What are the code names for other members of the royal family?

While the Queen was known as ‘London Bridge’, other members of the royal family are also given code names that are used to refer to plans when they die.

Code names for royal deaths were initially introduced to prevent the news of a royal family member’s death leaking before the official announcement. Using code prevented Buckingham Palace switchboard operators learning of the news before it was made public.

However, most royal funeral plans have been so longstanding that the codenames have become common knowledge.

Arrangements for the Queen Mother’s – codenamed Tay Bridge – were 22 years old by the time she died at the age of 101.

Prince Philip’s death was referred to as ‘Operation Fourth Bridge’.

King Charles’ codename is Menai Bridge.

While there are no official codenames for the deaths of other members of the royal family, it has been reported that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are known as ‘Danny Collins’ and ‘Daphne Clark’. The initials DC represent their titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

And, though technically no longer royal family members, The Sussexes were reportedly known by the codenames ‘David Stevens’ and ‘Davina Scott’.

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Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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