The Queen is being factored into plans for major international event in a matter of months

Her Majesty could reportedly influence when the final of a huge sporting event will take place in the autumn all thanks to royal protocol…

Queen is being factored into plans, seen here attending an Armed Forces Act of Loyalty Parade
(Image credit: Photo by Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Queen is reportedly being factored into plans for the final of a major international event which will take place within a matter of months.  


The extended Royal Family are known for their love of sports and are frequently spotted cheering on talented competitors and wowing with their occasion-wear looks. From Kate Middleton’s yellow dress at Wimbledon as she joyfully watched the recent Men’s Singles Final, to the Queen beaming with joy at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. Now it seems as though the Queen is being factored into the scheduling decisions for a major upcoming event for an incredibly sad reason. 

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the organizers of the Rugby League World Cup have scheduled not one, but two, potential final dates. The highly-anticipated competition will be held in England from October 15th-November 19th this year. 

Though the publication has claimed that both Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th have been penciled in as possible days for the final. And it’s all down to the Queen, with organizers supposedly keen to adhere to royal protocol if the unthinkable should happen this autumn. 

If Her Majesty were to pass away towards the end of the tournament Operation London Bridge would come into play with the plans for her funeral and death announcement. A Day of National Mourning will take place on the day of the Queen’s funeral and it’s said to be royal protocol that it would be held on a Saturday, like that of Prince Philip was in 2021, making a final on the 19th impossible.

However, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that organizers of the RLWC have allegedly been told that holding the final on the Sunday instead would be “acceptable” to Kensington Palace, if the Queen’s funeral were to take place the day before. 

Queen Elizabeth II watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of Prince Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh into St George’s Chapel

(Image credit: Photo by Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Speaking to the publication, strategic advisor for the Southern Hemisphere for the RLWC, Andrew Hill, is understood to have confirmed the two possible final dates. 

“When the Queen passes, the funeral has to be on a Saturday with a week of mourning. We’ve been given to understand a final on the Sunday is possible,” he declared. 

The RLWC was originally set to be held last year but was postponed until 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. These recent reports come a few months after it was revealed that the monarch has been experiencing “episodic mobility problems”. However, these haven’t stopped her carrying out her extensive royal duties with a smile and delighting fans with her usual warmth. 

Queen Elizabeth II attends The Ceremony of the Keys on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse

(Image credit: Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Just two weeks ago fans got an exciting glimpse of the Queen in Scotland for Holyrood Week 2022 and some claimed the Queen was “sharp as a tack” as she enjoyed a joke at the Rennendo Parade. It’s not known when Her Majesty might next be seen in public, though she’s expected to travel to Balmoral for her annual summer break at some point in the not-too-distant future. 

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!