Dopo la morte del duca, il piano si attivò con l'avviso alla stampa affisso da [[Buckingham Palace]] su testo del [[Lord Ciambellano]] il quale si è consultato preventivamente con la regina. Con l'affissione dell'avviso, tutte le bandiere del palazzo vennero abbassate a mezz'asta,<ref name="operationforthbridge"/> posizione in cui rimasero sino alle 8:00 del giorno successivo al funerale del duca.<ref name=govflags/><ref name=Iflags/><ref name="operationforthbridge"/>
All'abbassamento delle bandiere sul palazzo reale, sono seguite anche tutte quelle su tutti gli edifici pubblici e di governo, come pure tutte le bandiere delle forze armate.<ref name=govflags>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/flag-flying-to-mark-death-of-his-royal-highness-the-duke-of-edinburgh|title=Flag flying to mark the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh|date=9 April 2021|access-date=14 April 2021|website=www.gov.uk}}</ref> Ad ogni modo lo stendardo reale (che al momento si trovava innalzato sul castello di Windsor) venne lasciato ad asta piena a rappresentare la regina vivente.<ref name=Iflags>{{Cite news|date=9 April 2021 |title=Why flags are being flown at half mast after Prince Philip's death |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/flags-half-mast-meaning-explained-why-prince-philip-death-tribute-when-funeral-950039 |access-date=9 April 2021 |work=I |publisher=Associated News}}</ref><ref name="BBCprime" /><ref name="operationforthbridge">{{Cite web|last1=Traynor |first1=Sian |date=22 February 2021 |title=Everything that will happen in 'Operation Forth Bridge' when Prince Philip dies |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/operation-forth-bridge-everything-happen-19889779 |access-date=9 April 2021 |website=Edinburgh Live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/operation-forth-bridge-prince-philip-death-b1829125.html |title=Prince Philip Dies - Operation Forth Bridge Explained |last=Petter |first=Olivia |date=13 April 2021 |work=Independent |access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk-news/what-happens-after-prince-philips-death-operation-forth-bridge-protocol-and-national-mourning-explained-3194812 |title=Forth Bridge’ protocol and national mourning explained |last=Wilson |first=Sarah |date=9 April 2021 |work=The Scotsman |access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sansome|first=Jessica|date=9 April 2021|title=Why BBC newsreader had to switch outfits to announce Prince Philip's death|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/bbc-newsreader-switch-outfits-wear-20352809|access-date=15 April 2021|website=Manchester Evening News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mal|first=Nisha|date=9 April 2021|title=Reason news presenters wore black to announce Prince Philip's death|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/reason-newsreaders-wore-black-announce-20355993|access-date=15 April 2021|website=WalesOnline}}</ref> Da protocollo tutti i membri del parlamento presero ad indossare cravatte nere quando si trovavano riuniti alla Camera dei Comuni come pure una fascia da braccio di colore nero sulla parte sinistra.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/bank-holiday-prince-philip-funeral-duke-of-edinburgh-death-day-off-uk-state-explained-949362 |title=Why there will not be a bank holiday for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral |date=9 April 2021 |work=I |publisher=Associated News |access-date=10 April 2021}}</ref> Nel periodo degli otto giorni di lutto, come da protocollo, nessuna legge venne approvata.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Mosalski |first1=Ruth |date=9 April 2021 |title=Operation Forth Bridge: What happens now after Prince Philip's death |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/operation-forth-bridge-what-happens-12928762 |access-date=9 April 2021 |website=WalesOnline}}</ref>
[[File:Windsor Castle on 11 April 2021.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Lo stendardo reale sventolava a piena asta sul castello di Windsor l'11 aprile]]
