Secret code ‘London Bridge is down’ to alert Queen's death

British officials will use the code words 'London Bridge is down' to inform each other the Queen has died, it emerged today.

The Queen's private secretary will reportedly call the Prime Minister with the coded message after the monarch passes away.

It will start in train a series of carefully planned events over how the death of the Head of State will be handled and reported to her public.

Queen Elizabeth, 90, has ruled for 65 years and has appeared strong and healthy in recent public appearances.

But it emerged today that civil servants have extensive plans in place for when she does pass away, with the leaders of the 36 countries for whom she is a figurehead being the first to be informed after the UK Prime Minister, the Guardian reported.

The coded phrase is understood to be in place to prevent switchboard operators getting the news before those in power.

Once each of the Commonwealth governments have been informed, the media will be told, with TV shows on BBC One, Two and Four interrupted and going to the news. Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live will also go to the news.

Both Houses of Parliament would be recalled, according to plans, which are believed to have been in place since the 1960s.

It is understood that a period 12 days of official mourning will be announced and a funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey.

Her funeral will be held 12 days after her death and she will lie in state in Westminster Hall for four days, with more than half a million people expected to visit.

Around 2,000 people will attend the funeral, before the Queen's body is taken by road to Windsor Castle, where she will be buried in the Royal Vault.

Prince Charles would become King and the current Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, would become the Prince of Wales.

Despite the report of the plans being published today, the Queen is said to be fit and healthy and was in good spirits when she attended a Commonwealth Day service earlier this week.

She also has a busy diary of events over the coming months, including opening the new headquarters of the Met Police next week, visiting the Chelsea Flower Show in May and taking a salute in her birthday parade in June.

Today she attended the reopening of the National Army Museum in Chelsea, where she wore a blue tweed coat and matching hat. (Daily Mail)