Following the Queen’s death, here’s everything that will change
She is the only British monarch most of us ever known, and now Queen Elizabeth the second has passed away at the age of 96.
Emotional mourners gathered outside Buckingham Palace in huge numbers to pay their respects, lay flowers and light candles. They also sang ‘God Save the Queen’ in honour of the witty, genuine and caring woman who has been part of the fabric of our lives for decades.
But as Her Majesty is laid to rest, a new era begins.
When Elizabeth’s father George died on February 6 1952, the former Princess immediately became Queen. The same process has now happened with her son, Prince Charles, who takes the new title of King Charles the third.
Next are the many royal symbols which will also officially change, heralding the reign of the new monarch.
First, there’s the flags
From those flying on naval ships to the ones sitting above police stations, they will all need to be replaced. There’s also a chance that the flag which flies wherever the monarch is in residence, could also change.
The current version sports a a lion for Scotland, a harp for Ireland and three lions for England. But it fails to recognise Wales. This is because the Queen has reigned for so long, it has been in use before the country even had its own national flag.
It’s likely Charles will opt to incorporate a Welsh element.
When it comes to bank notes, there are 4.5 billion circulating with Elizabeth’s face on them.
Replacing these will be a big task, and one which will likely take at least two years.
Then there’s this famous tune
Britain’s national anthem ‘God Save the Queen’ is now ‘God Save the King’. For 70 years, Britons have recited the same lyrics, so changing this habit might take some time.
There’s also a few changes that most of us won’t notice – like barristers who have previously held the title of Queen’s Counsellor.
As per tradition, in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, senior trial lawyers are known as a King’s Counsel during the reign of a king, or Queen’s Counsel during the reign of a queen.
While there’s not yet been any official indication that we will in fact see these changes, history has shown us that when a new monarch emerges, so do the tributes that appear in their honour.
