The BBC changed its background website color from red to black and its news anchors wore dark clothing on Thursday in the hours before Queen Elizabeth II‘s death was announced.
The network suspended its regular news schedule to focus coverage on the queen’s condition after it was reported Thursday morning that she was placed under medical supervision because doctors were “concerned” about her health. It was announced later in the day that the monarch had died.
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The color changes are believed to be part of the United Kingdom’s Operation London Bridge, which establishes a series of protocols to be followed after the queen’s death. Under the protocols, news outlets are expected to begin immediate coverage of the monarch’s death as soon as it is confirmed, according to British outlets.
Earlier Thursday, the BBC cut into its regular daytime schedule to run a live broadcast centered on the queen’s health. The broadcasting outlet has not responded to a request for comment by the Washington Examiner.
The announcement of the queen’s health comes just one day after she postponed a virtual meeting with the Privy Council on Wednesday, when newly elected Prime Minister Liz Truss was expected to take her oath and be officially appointed to the position. Further details on her health were not available, but doctors described her condition as “comfortable.”
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“After a full day yesterday, Her Majesty has this afternoon accepted doctors’ advice to rest. This means that the Privy Council meeting that had been due to take place this evening will be rearranged,” a palace spokesman said Wednesday.
The news of Elizabeth’s death will mark the beginning of a national period of mourning and the end of the second Elizabethan era. The queen is Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, ruling since 1952 when she ascended to the throne at the age of 25 after her father’s death. She was later coronated in 1953 at 27 years old.
