Thriller with the health of King Charles: Why they are “dusting off” the funeral plans – Newsbomb – News

“How sick is King Charles after all? It is the question that seems to preoccupy both the palace circles of Britain and many people who have positive feelings about him.

“King Charles’ health is not good”, is the whispered answer of people who are close to him, according to what the international press reports. However, officially this has not been made clear by the palace, following the admission of King Charles that he is suffering from cancer. The stage of the cancer was never disclosed, except that he himself has prostate cancer.

It appears that King Charles regularly visits London for radiation therapy, which can be used to treat many different types of cancer. Of course, if Charles were a private person, his health would be nobody’s business but his own. But he is the leader of the monarchy, a head of state who can only be removed by death (or abdication, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen).

The government department responsible for state funerals, the Cabinet Office, declined to comment on claims that the Operation Menai Bridge document (as King Charles’s funeral plan is codenamed) is regularly updated.

Family friends and family insiders are genuinely upset at the prospect that the UK could lose its king much sooner than anyone had imagined, but are trying to remain positive.

An old friend of the family, for example, told The Daily Beast that “of course King Charles is also determined to beat cancer. Everyone remains optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than some people think.”

The funeral plans are being dusted off

The same source told The Royalist that the late Queen Elizabeth was dying of bone marrow cancer in the months before she died, which was later confirmed by royal friend and biographer Gyles Brandreth.

Compounding the sense of sadness, multiple sources told The Daily Beast that officials are now regularly reviewing copies of the several hundred-page “Menai Bridge” document.

All members of the royal family have code words based on bridges to be used upon their death – Queen Elizabeth’s death plan was famously ‘Operation London Bridge’. The Menai Bridge is a dramatic suspension bridge that connects the island of Anglesey to mainland Wales.

Sources said the notes are regularly reviewed by the palace and the military. “The plans have been dusted off and are constantly being updated.” Another source, who knows a senior official directly involved in planning the royal funerals, said: “Of course they are looking at every aspect of the Menai Bridge. The queen’s funeral took place like clockwork and set the bar high. It’s not sentimental, it’s a job, taken seriously.” Also, a military source said the plans were under constant review.

“This is a large-scale operation!”, while pointing out that “serious planning for Charles’ funeral began the day after the Queen’s burial.”

William and Harry have planned their own funerals

Christopher Andersen, the royal editor of The New York Times, told The Daily Beast: “William and Harry were only teenagers when they were asked to plan their own funerals. They are asked to choose their own music, flowers, prayers and who will read them. They cannot escape this macabre fixation on death.”

He added that “King Charles’ reign will by definition be short, but no one can guess how short! Until that happens, gossip and speculation will continue to swirl and conspiracy theories will abound.”

*With information from thedailybeast