Queen Elizabeth II dies - follow the latest news as the world mourns
Operation London Bridge has swung into action, dictating how the British state handles the coming days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The plans set out how the country's royal family, now led by King Charles III, Prime Minister Liz Truss ― in office herself for less than a week ― the civil service, military and media should handle a changing of the guard that has not occurred for seven decades.
A 10-day timetable has begun ― the day the queen dies is known as D-Day ― and will culminate in a state funeral and her burial alongside her husband, Prince Philip, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Flags have been lowered to half-staff and Prime Minister Truss made a statement, under the guidelines for D-Day. Plans are in place to ensure official websites and social media channels are used respectfully.
Prince Charles acceded to the throne the moment the queen died, a principle expressed by the motto: “The queen is dead, long live the king.” Ms Truss made the declaration in her remarks at Downing Street.
King Charles III's accession will be marked with formal ceremonies during the mourning period and he will address the nation, and the world, on Friday.
What happens today?
On Friday, a period of royal mourning was confirmed, starting from now until seven days after the funeral, the date of which will has not yet been confirmed.
The king and queen consort are returning to London after staying at Balmoral overnight and he will have an audience with Prime Minister Truss.
Funeral plans will be tackled and the new king is expected to meet the Duke of Norfolk, who is in charge of the accession and the funeral.
They are also expected to announce that the funeral day will be a public holiday in the form of a day of national mourning.
Bells and gun salutes will be staged, including at Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and Windsor Castle. Churches across the country are being urged to ring bells at noon.
While other flags are at half-staff the royal standard, which represents the sovereign and the United Kingdom, stays flying.
King Charles's first televised address will be at 6pm where he will pay tribute to the queen and pledge his duty to serve as the new sovereign.
The prime minister and senior ministers will attend a public service of remembrance at St Paul's.
What happens next?
An accession council made up of senior politicians and officials will convene at St James’s Palace in London on Saturday to formally proclaim his succession. Prince William is now the new heir apparent.
King Charles holds his first Privy Council, accompanied by Camilla and William who are also privy counsellors, and makes his personal declaration and oath.
The first public proclamation of the new sovereign is read in the open air from the Friary Court balcony at St James's Palace.
King Charles's coronation at Westminster Abbey, where monarchs have been crowned for hundreds of years, will not take place for some time. The queen waited more than a year before her coronation in the summer of 1953.
It is believed the new monarch will embark on a tour of the UK during the mourning period and could visit sites including the Scottish Parliament and attend a church service in Edinburgh.
The queen’s coffin will be moved to Buckingham Palace before being taken in a procession to the Palace of Westminster, where she will lie in state for three days.
The palace will be opened for mourners to file past the coffin. The queue is likely to evoke memories of the days after Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in 1997.
When the queen’s husband Prince Philip died in 2021, the funeral plans were impaired by the coronavirus pandemic and the queen attended the ceremony alone.
But in the absence of virus restrictions, many mourners and foreign dignitaries will arrive in London to pay tribute to the queen.
Concerns have been raised over whether the city's transport network can handle so many visitors.
The code name London Bridge is so well known that it barely adds any secrecy to the operation, but some parts of the plan have their own titles, such as Feather and Spring Tide.
Tributes will pour in from presidents, prime ministers, religious leaders and a British public that for the most part has never known life without the queen. The Ministry of Defence will arrange gun salutes.
The media has its own plans in place, with officials aware of how the BBC was caught cold when the queen’s mother died in 2002 and one of its presenters was criticised for wearing a burgundy tie rather than black.
Rehearsals have taken place for years and it has been suggested that the BBC maintains a Cold War-era emergency alert system for moments like this.
Obituaries for Britain’s longest-serving monarch were written a long time ago.
The queen’s funeral is expected to take place at Westminster Abbey, where services were held for Diana and the queen mother. The service will be accompanied by a two-minute silence across the country.
The queen's body will then be moved to Windsor for burial. She will be laid to rest alongside her grandfather King George V, her father King George VI, her mother Elizabeth and her husband.
The specs
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Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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The currency conundrum
Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”
Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.
This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.
Five healthy carbs and how to eat them
Brown rice: consume an amount that fits in the palm of your hand
Non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli: consume raw or at low temperatures, and don’t reheat
Oatmeal: look out for pure whole oat grains or kernels, which are locally grown and packaged; avoid those that have travelled from afar
Fruit: a medium bowl a day and no more, and never fruit juices
Lentils and lentil pasta: soak these well and cook them at a low temperature; refrain from eating highly processed pasta variants
Courtesy Roma Megchiani, functional nutritionist at Dubai’s 77 Veggie Boutique
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
