Full list of the shops which are closed for the Queen’s funeral
A majority of large retailers have announced that they will close their doors on Monday 19 September
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Your support makes all the difference.The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be held at Westminster Abbey at 11am on Monday 19 September, it has been announced.
The Queen’s coffin will be brought down from Scotland to lie in state in Westminster Hall for “four clear days”, from 14 September until 6.30am on the morning of the funeral, to allow the public to pay their respects.
King Charles III declared the date of the state funeral to be a bank holiday across the UK.
While the government has said that there is “no obligation to suspend business” during the national mourning period, it adds that some businesses “may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the state funeral”, stating that this would be “at the discretion of individual businesses”.
Now, a number of retailers have announced their plans to close on Monday 19 September.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Which shops will be closed on the day of the Queen’s funeral?
Marks & Spencer, Aldi and Lidl are just some of the major retailers closing their doors on Monday 19 September.
Marks & Spencer
Stuart Machin, chief executive officer of Marks & Spencer, said: “All of us at M&S – and indeed across the country and beyond - feel a real and deep sense of loss and sadness at the passing of her majesty, as well as huge respect for the grace with which his majesty King Charles III and the wider royal family have led the nation in our mourning.
“It is right that we make changes to our operational arrangements on the day of the funeral to ensure our colleagues across our stores and distribution network can participate, whilst supporting customers as they show their respects too.”
John Lewis and Waitrose
All John Lewis department stores and Waitrose shops will be shut on the day of the funeral, although a small number of Waitrose stores along the route of the procession may remain open.
Andrew Murphy, chief operating officer at the John Lewis Partnership, said the move was a “mark of respect, and because we believe this is the right thing to do for our partners and customers.”
Sainsbury’s
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 5-10pm 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”.
Tesco
Larger Tesco shops will also be closed on the day.
The company's smaller Express shops will open at 5pm, but a small number of stores in central London and Windsor will remain open throughout the day “to help those attending the funeral”.
Tesco UK chief executive Jason Tarry said: “We want to express our deepest condolences to the royal family, as well as our gratitude to her majesty the Queen for her unwavering service.”
Morrisons
All Morrisons supermarkets in the UK will be closed on Monday.
A spokesperson said: “All our supermarkets will be closed on Monday 19 September as a mark of respect and so colleagues can pay tribute to Her Majesty.”
However, they added that Morrisons petrol stations will reopen on the day at 5pm.
Lidl
Lidl will close all stores across England, Scotland and Wales for the day.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that as a mark of respect and in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, we will be closing all of our stores across England, Scotland and Wales for the day of Her Majesty’s funeral, Monday 19 September.
“We are grateful to all Lidl customers for their understanding and will be keeping all who mourn Her Royal Highness in our thoughts during this time.”
Co-op
Co-op’s chief executive Shirine Khoury-Haq confirmed that its estate of stores will shut its doors as a “mark of respect” for the late Queen and to give employees “time to reflect and mourn”.
Aldi
Aldi stores will also be closed on Monday.
A spokesperson said: “As a mark of respect, all Aldi stores across the UK will close on Monday 19 September to allow our store colleagues to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen.”
Asda
Asda said it will shut its stores for the funeral, but all its supermarkets will open from 5pm. Colleagues working on Monday evening will receive double pay.
High street stores
Primark, Ikea, Poundland, Homebase, WHSmith, B&Q and Blue Diamond Garden Centres have also confirmed that they will close stores on the day.
Luxury department store Harrods will be closed too.
Better has confirmed that all of its leisure centres, libraries, venues and spas will be closed on Monday 19 September, while Royal Mail has confirmed that its postal services will be suspended on the day.
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