Retailers to close doors on day of Queen’s funeral
Many shops are due to close on Monday September 19 as a sign of respect to mark the Queen’s funeral.
A bank holiday across the UK was approved by King Charles III for the day of his mother’s funeral.
UK chains such as John Lewis, Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl have said they will close on the day as a sign of respect.
Homebase, WH Smith, B&Q, Primark, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Argos, Ikea and Blue Diamond Garden Centres have all also said that they will close stores on the day.
Sainsbury’s said online grocery deliveries as well as fast-track deliveries from its Argos subsidiary would also be halted. Sainsbury’s convenience stores and petrol filling stations will be open from 17:00 until 22:00 while select stores in central London will open to serve people attending the funeral.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said its decision was “in honour of Her Majesty and so our colleagues can pay their respects”.
Larger Tesco shops will also be closed on the day. The company’s smaller Express shops will open at 5pm.
A spokesperson for fashion retailer Primark said: “Our stores, depots and Head Office in the UK will be closed… to give our colleagues the opportunity to pay their respects and watch the funeral… We will reopen as normal on Tuesday 20 September.”
An Ikea UK spokesperson said: “Out of respect, and to enable our co-workers to participate in the funeral, Ikea UK will pause its business operations, including closing all of our UK stores on Monday 19 September.”
All WH Smith’s High Street stores will be closed for the whole day, while its travel stores will be closed at least for the duration of the funeral.
Homebase said: “We join the country in mourning the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II and will be closing our stores on the day of her funeral.”
It added that the decision had been made “so our team members can choose to mark her incredible life of service”.
B&Q said it would close all its UK stores “as a mark of respect” on the day. It said the decision would also offer its staff “the opportunity to pay their respects”.
Click and collect and home delivery services will also be temporarily suspended on the day, B&Q added.
The Royal Mail has announced that its postal services will be suspended on the day.
The government advises on its website that the additional Bank Holiday “will allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.”
Although it says that some businesses “may wish to consider closing or postponing events”, there is no statutory entitlement to time off for workers.
