Will there be a bank holiday for Queen’s funeral?
It is understood that there had been no decision on Thursday night on whether the day of the Queen’s funeral will be a bank holiday, though it will be treated as an unofficial bank holiday by many, with some businesses closed and workers sent home.
The period of mourning begins on Friday and lasts for 10 days. While the funeral should fall on Sunday 18 September, the palace is yet to confirm a date.
People in the public and private sector involved in planning their organisation’s response to the Queen’s death are expected to be flexible and give employees the day off if they are particularly upset.
The Department for Education has said schools and colleges in England should remain open as normal during the mourning period. In a message to principals and heads, the DfE said it would issue further guidance after details of the funeral are confirmed by the royal household. The DfE said: “Schools and further education settings should remain open. While normal attendance is expected, headteachers continue to have the power to authorise leaves of absence for pupils in exceptional circumstances.” It said schools may want to “consider conducting special activities, holding assemblies or adapting planned lessons” to commemorate the Queen’s life during the mourning period.
Rail strikes planned for the 15 to 17 September have been called off.
Preparations are under way for what is expected to be potentially unprecedented pressure on the transport network in London as large numbers of people converge on the capital in the days before the funeral.
Government memos obtained by Politico in 2021 warned of a worst-case scenario in which London became “full”, as mourners flocked there, with accommodation, roads, public transport, food,
Read more on theguardian.com
