The Queen’s funeral will probably be held at Westminster Abbey in central London on Monday 19 September, which has been designated a financial institution vacation.
The authorities has stated that, throughout the nationwide mourning interval, there may be “no obligation to suspend business”.
It added that some companies “may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the state funeral”, however added that this may be “at the discretion of individual businesses”.
So let’s check out a few of the UK’s large companies and discover out what their plans are.
Supermarkets and department shops
The John Lewis Partnership will shut its department shops and Waitrose retailers on the day of the funeral. Chief working officer Andrew Murphy stated the choice was made “as a mark of respect, and because we believe this is the right thing to do for our partners and customers”.
An exception could be made for a “very limited number” of Waitrose shops on the route of the funeral procession to serve members of the general public who will probably be lining it for a lot of hours, however even these retailers will shut for the funeral itself.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson stated Sainsbury’s and Argos shops will probably be closed “in honour of Her Majesty and so our colleagues can pay their respects”.
The closures embody groceries on-line and Argos fast-track supply. Convenience shops and petrol filling stations will probably be open from 5pm till 10pm, whereas choose shops in central London will open to serve these attending the funeral in particular person.
Aldi shops will shut for the day.
Sky News has additionally requested Morrisons, Tesco, M&S, Lidl, Iceland and Asda for his or her plans.
More on the Queen:
How are you able to see monarch mendacity in state?
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What occurs subsequent and what adjustments?
Shopping centres
Overgate Shopping Centre in Dundee stated it might be open as regular, however particular person retailers contained in the purchasing centre will select whether or not they open or shut their retailers.
A spokesman for Landsec stated its purchasing centres could be observing financial institution vacation opening instances however added: “Some of our brand partners may be closed or operating at different times than usual so we ask that guests please double check with them directly before travelling.”
Landsec’s retail areas embody Trinity Leeds, Bluewater in Kent, White Rose Centre in Leeds, Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, St David’s Dewi Sant in Cardiff, Junction 32 in Yorkshire, Braintree Village in Essex, Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow, Lewisham Shopping Centre, West 12 Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush and others.
Westfield London and Westfield Stratford are more likely to stay open, though a spokesperson stated numerous shops inside them would shut for the day.
Manchester’s Trafford Centre stated its plans had not been finalised however any updates could be revealed on its web site.
Hammerson’s purchasing centres will probably be open subsequent Monday and numerous them are anticipated to indicate the funeral on screens, a spokesperson stated. Hammerson’s purchasing centres embody the Bullring and Grand Central in Birmingham, London’s Brent Cross, Highcross in Leicester, Bristol’s Cabot Circus, and Croydon’s Centrale & Whitgift.
Sky News has additionally requested St James Quarter in Edinburgh, British Land (homeowners of purchasing centres together with Meadowhall), Eldon Square in Newcastle, Braehead in Scotland, Victoria Square in Belfast, Metrocentre in Gateshead for his or her plans.
Retailers
A Primark spokesperson stated all of its shops, depots and head workplace within the UK could be shut on 19 September “to give our colleagues the opportunity to pay their respects and watch the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”. They will reopen as regular from Tuesday, 20 September.
Apple shops throughout the UK will reportedly shut for the day.
Lakeland will probably be closing all of its operations, together with its shops, for the day.
All WH Smith High Street shops will probably be closed for the entire day subsequent Monday. All UK WH Smith Travel shops will probably be closed for at the very least the length of the funeral, a spokesman stated.
Halfords stated its shops, garages, and help centre will probably be closed, and Halfords Mobile Experts won’t be working on 19 September “to allow our colleagues to join in the Day of National Mourning”. A spokesperson stated that any clients who’ve booked appointments in shops, Autocentres or with National Tyres will probably be contacted to re-schedule.
All Next shops will probably be closed for the day.
Sky News has additionally requested Boots, H&M, Waterstones, Joules, Clarks, Card Factory, Zara and TK Maxx for his or her plans.
Read extra on the Queen:
Prince Harry’s tribute to ‘granny’
Who will probably be on the Queen’s funeral (and who will not)
King Charles says he feels ‘weight of historical past which surrounds us’ in first tackle to parliament as monarch
Post
Royal Mail has stated its providers will probably be suspended on the day of the funeral, however the image is a bit more difficult on the Post Office.
The Post Office has 11,500 branches however solely 114 of them are instantly managed by the Post Office – these 114 will probably be closed for the day.
Around 2,500 branches are run by the likes of WH Smith, Tesco, Co-Op, Spar, and these companies will determine on their plans, though a Post Office spokesperson stated it was “likely” most of those branches would even be closed.
They added: “The rest of our network of branches are operated by independent postmasters and typically are located in convenience stores. It will be the postmaster’s decision whether to open on the day.
“On weekends, we normally have round 4,000 branches open and would usually anticipate an analogous quantity to be open on an everyday financial institution vacation.
“However, it may be that some independent postmasters, who would normally open their branch on a bank holiday, decide to close their branch on 19 September to mark the passing of Her Majesty.”
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy stated the day of the Queen’s funeral would function in the identical means as different financial institution holidays.
There will probably be no statutory entitlement to day off, though employers can embody it as a part of a employee’s go away entitlement and employers are inspired to “respond sensitively to request from workers who wish to take time off”.
Source: information.sky.com”