Inside ‘Operation Tay Bridge’: what happened after the Queen Mother died?

Her death triggered Operation Tay Bridge, which continued until her funeral on 9 April. Prince Charles and then-Prince Andrew were informed and rushed home from their holidays (in Switzerland and Barbados, respectively). The Queen Mother’s body lay at the altar of the Royal Chapel of All Saints, close to Royal Lodge, where the royal family gathered for an evensong the day following her death.

Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, met with the public, with the then-Duke of York describing his grandmother as a ‘very, very special’ person. Prince William spoke of his ‘inspirational’ great-grandmother in an interview, and the Archbishop of Canterbury praised her ‘marvellous example of service and duty’ in a speech to the House of Lords.

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But the most poignant reflections came from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles.

‘I count myself fortunate that my mother was blessed with a long and happy life. She had an infectious zest for living, and this remained with her until the very end,’ the late Queen said in a public address.

The Queen Mother had been determined to attend the funeral of her daughter, Princess Maragret, months before she died

Prince Charles, who was incredibly close to his grandmother, said: ‘For me, she meant everything and I had dreaded, dreaded this moment along with, I know, countless others. Somehow, I never thought it would come. She seemed gloriously unstoppable, and, since I was a child, I adored her.

‘Her houses were always filled with an atmosphere of fun, laughter and affection, and I learnt so much from her of immense value to my life.’

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Similar statements came from across the globe, with US President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and French President Jacques Chirac sending their condolences to the royal family, who also received messages from King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and King Gyanendra of Nepal.