Radio stations across the UK enter Obit mode for Queen Elizabeth II

Almost every radio station in the UK suspended normal programming around 6.30pm on Thursday to announce the sad death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral on Thursday afternoon.

The King and The Queen Consort remained at Balmoral on Thursday evening and will return to London on Friday.

Radio stations had been on standby for ‘obituary mode’ following news of the Queen’s medical condition was announced at 12.34pm by Buckingham Palace.

Confirmation of her death came via Twitter and the news wires at exactly 6.30pm.

The UK’s largest commercial radio groups followed well-rehearsed procedures to break the news to listeners.

Global brought all their stations together to rebroadcast LBC after each brand announced the news separately.

Each Bauer brand joined for a networked breaking news bulletin followed by a toned-down playlist and presenters looking back at the life of the Queen.

All BBC radio stations joined up for a networked BBC News special on a clock start at 18.36, with BBC Radio 4 and 5 Live breaking the news individually at 18.32.

Other radio groups including Nation and Wireless, independent stations, community, hospital, student and online services broadcast the news and paid their respects by playing more laid-back music mixed with occasional news announcements.

The first radio station to break the news, according to research provided to RadioToday, was Times Radio at 18.31.