Right now we're experiencing the beginning of the end of an era, unfortunately. Sadly, the Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, has passed away, ending over 70 years of public service, and over 70 years of marriage to Her Majesty the Queen.
The death of the patriarch of the Royal family has reminded us that there will be a day when Queen Elizabeth II's reign ends. Nobody wants to think about that day, but unfortunately, it is inevitable and there are already protocols in place for when it happens.
As Britain goes into eight days of mourning, let's look to the future, to a day when the new generation takes up the duties and responsibilities of the monarchy. The senior members of the family have already taken on more responsibilities over the last couple of years, but what exactly happens to them after the longest-reigning monarch dies?
Prince Charles, The Longest Heir-Apparent, Passes On His Titles
There are strict plans for when the Queen dies. Much of it has been planned in advice, as are all the funerals of senior members of the family.
When it happens there will be 12 official days of mourning between the time of death and the funeral, in which the UK will grind to a halt. Even the stock markets and banks will be closed. During this time the BBC will be prohibited from airing any comedies or other humorous programs.
One of the most important things that will happen when the Queen dies is that Prince Charles will no longer be the longest heir-apparent (he became heir-apparent at age three).
He will also relinquish his other titles, including "the traditional titles of The Duke of Cornwall under a charter of King Edward III in 1337; and, in the Scottish peerage, of Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland," according to the Prince's website. Prince Charles is also more notably the Prince of Wales, a title which was invested in him by his mother in 1969.
Essentially he will be King from that moment on, and it will change Prince William and Kate Middleton's lives forever.
When they married in 2011, the Queen "conferred a Dukedom on Prince William of Wales. He received the titles Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus," Prince William's website reads. From then on Prince William and Kate Middleton were known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
"On St. George's Day 2008 The Queen appointed Prince William to be a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and in her Diamond Jubilee year, 2012, The Queen appointed His Royal Highness to the Order of the Thistle," his biography continues.
When Prince Charles becomes King and Prince William becomes the next in line to the throne, however, Prince William will also relinquish his old titles and take on the title of Prince of Wales, becoming the 22nd person to hold it, and Kate will become the Princess of Wales.
The last person to become the Princess of Wales was Princess Diana, who earned the title immediately after she married Prince Charles in 1981. The title should have technically gone to Camilla Parker Bowles when she married Prince Charles in 2005, but she turned it down out of respect to Diana, and instead took the title of Duchess of Cornwall.
They'll Get Bigger Salaries And Their Children's Stations Will Also Change
The royal couple will also take Prince Charles and Camilla's Ducky of Cornwall and thus become the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.
The Ducky of Cornwall "encompasses 135,000 acres of land in southern England as well as an investment portfolio," Showbiz Cheat Sheet writes. Everything from residential areas, farms, and commercial properties bring in money that goes to the Duke. In fact, the Duchy was created in 1337 by Edward III with the purpose of providing an income for the heir to the throne.
Prince William and Kate's children will also make their way up on the line of succession. Prince George will become second in line, with his sister Princess Charlotte and brother Prince Louis following respectively. When he's old enough, Prince George will likely be bestowed with his father's previous title of Duke of Cambridge as will his future wife. He will also likely become Prince of Wales when Prince William becomes king.
As the Queen has gotten older, sources are under the impression that Prince Charles has taken on even more responsibilities. "Planning for Charles to become king has been going on for some time. A transition is plainly already underway. Her Majesty is in her nineties and can understandably only do so much," one source said. It is also likely that Prince William and Kate have begun to take on more responsibilities as well.
But for now, especially in the wake of Prince Phillip's death, let's reflect on the longest-serving royal consort and his incredibly long life with the longest-reigning monarch. Say what you will about the Royal family, they've done and seen so much in their long reign. Long live the Queen.