King Charles approves bank holiday for Queen’s state funeral
The bank holiday confirmation came when the King approved an order during a meeting of the Accession Council where he was formally declared head of state.
Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt, said: “Drafts of two proclamations. One – appointing the day of Her late Majesty’s state funeral as a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“Two – appointing the day of Her late Majesty’s state funeral as a bank holiday in Scotland.
“And of two orders in council, directing the Lord Chancellor to affix the great seal to the proclamations.”
Charles answered: “Approved.”
The funeral is expected to take place at Westminster Abbey in central London.
Naval ratings
The original plans are for the Queen’s coffin to process on a gun carriage to the abbey, pulled by naval ratings – sailors – using ropes rather than horses.
Senior members of the family are expected to follow behind – just like they did for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The military will line the streets and also join the procession.
Heads of state, prime ministers and presidents, European royals and key figures from public life will be invited to gather in the abbey, which can hold a congregation of 2,000.
The service will be televised, and a national two minutes’ silence is expected to be held.
The same day as the funeral, the Queen’s coffin will be taken to St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for a televised committal service.
Later in the evening, there will be a private interment service with senior members of the royal family.
The Queen’s final resting place will be the King George VI memorial chapel, an annex to the main chapel – where her mother and father were buried, along with the ashes of her sister, Princess Margaret.
Philip’s coffin will move from the Royal Vault to the memorial chapel to join the Queen’s.
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Oh, well. That will make life a little more difficult for those of us who are Republicans and feel that the Windsor family should be allowed to grieve for their loss in privacy. Given the cost of living and energy crises I cannot see that many firms will be very keen on funding a Bank Holiday. I wonder if Liz Blundertruss has plans to fund it.
Of course it should be a bank holiday. Families will want to watch it together.The queen’s passing is a momentous event. I think the tone of your post is sneery and unpleasant.
No, the end of WW2 was a momentous event.
Sometimes you have to accentuate the positive which for me is that I will be making myself available for work at bank holiday rates on that day as I was on the jubilee weekend a few months ago.
I think there is something rather creepy about families wanting to watch a funeral on TV together. Much rather watch pirates of the Caribbean with my grandchildren, and enjoy some popcorn.
It is weird isn’t it.
I don’t like the institution of monarchy and what it represents but I had nothing against her. She was a lady of her time.
However, there is no way I would mourn a stranger or want to attend their funeral.
Though having that opinion makes us “disrespectful” apparently 🤣
A day to remember the Queen but we can’t have St’ David’s Day off as it will be too disruptive to business.