The First Song You’ll Hear When the Queen Dies
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It may be a bit unnerving but everything about the death of Queen Elizabeth II has been planned precisely.
When the Queen’s father and former King, George VI died, the press did not release any details of his death until a full four hours later. When Princess Diana died 45 years later, it took 15 minutes for the press to broadcast this information to the world. Following the laws of augmentation and taking into account the improvements in technology and communications, we’re likely to be informed of Queen Elizabeth’s passing within seconds of it happening.
In fact, we already know the exact order in which persons and organisations will find out about the Queen’s death. The first official person to be informed of the news will be the Queen’s private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, who will then inform the Prime Minister. There is a likelihood however that the public will know about it before the Prime Minister; communications equipment will detect an enormous wave of activity coming from Westminster and Buckingham and will know immediately that something of paramount importance has happened.
Sir Christopher Geidt.
After the press learn about Queen Elizabeth’s death, archived articles that were written months ago will be published, newscasters will finally deliver the story that for years they’ve been made to rehearse using various hypothetical scenarios, and radio stations will be able to play their pre-planned sets.
Radio stations in the UK have already made playlists for the exact moment they hear about the death of the Queen. Number one on most playlists is this depressing track by Sabres of Paradise.
You would definitely know something was up if this starting playing on your way to work. It’s less sad than it is eery and chilling- something you’d expect to hear on Jeff Wayne’s musical version of the War of the Worlds rather than at the exact moment of the Queen’s death. However, this is the song that was selected to mark the near announcement of a huge national tragedy.
As BBC radio producer Chris Price wrote:
“If you ever hear Haunted Dancehall (Nursery Remix) by Sabres of Paradise on daytime Radio 1, turn the TV on. Something terrible has just happened, possibly involving the death of the queen or an untold number of her subjects.”