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Following frightening ill-health; what happens to sport if the Queen dies including Premier League plan

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The Queen has fallen ill and is resting at Balmoral (Image: Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth II is under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors raised concern about her health.

Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement on Her Majesty The Queen’s health status this afternoon after her doctors had raised concern.

The Queen is in currently comfortable at Balmoral and under medical supervision.

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have travelled to Balmoral, while the Duke of Cambridge is also on his way.

A Palace spokesperson said: “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen‘s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision.

The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.” 

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Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for over 70 years, outlasting 12 Prime Ministers and 14 Presidents.

The Queen, 96, celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this year but there have been longstanding concerns over her health and mobility. Her Majesty missed the Royal Ascot for the first time in 70 years this year.

What happens to sport in the UK if the Queen dies?

The planning around the Queen’s death is known as Operation London Bridge and it is a hugely detailed plan that is put in place from the moment she passes away.

And there are implications to UK sporting events.

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The Premier League will be led by the DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) guidance if the Queen dies but footballing fixtures during the weekend of her tragic passing are almost certain to be scrapped.

This includes the English top-flight, EFL, SPL, and Irish and Welsh league games with fixtures postponed – this is expected to be replicated to semi-pro and amateur sporting events.

There also also confirmed protocols in place around horse racing and cricket. If the Queen during Royal Ascot, the meet will be scrapped.

The Marylebone Cricket Club is said to hold insurance for a similar outcome if she passes away during an England Test match at Lord’s.

After the death of George VI in 1952, rugby and hockey fixtures were called off, while football matches went ahead. Fans sang Abide With Me and the national anthem before kick off at matches.

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The National Theatre will close if the news breaks before 4pm, and stay open if not. All games, including golf, will be banned in the Royal Parks.

Following Princess Diana’s death on Sunday August 31 in 1997, the Liverpool vs Newcastle United Premier League match scheduled to kick off later that day was postponed.

Football League fixtures the following weekend were moved to avoid clashing with Diana’s funeral. The Premier League was on an international break.

Prince Charles would become King in the event she passes and he will address the nation in a televised broadcast, usually on the day after a passing.

The Prime Minister, Liz Truss, will hold an audience with Charles, while the Ministry of Defence will organise gun salutes and a minute of silence will be held across the country.

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Her death would trigger an official 12-day period of national mourning with all Union flags flown at half mast.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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