The Queen during a visit to St George’s School, Windsor, in 2011
(Picture: PA )Britain entered 10 days of mourning on Friday as Union Flags were lowered to half mast.
The official period began at midnight and will last until the Queen’s funeral which is expected to take place on Monday, September 19.
Schools are expected to stay open as usual but non-urgent government business such as routine announcements, press releases and ministerial visits will be suspended.
Prime Minister Liz Truss hosted a 9pm "operational meeting" of ministers and officials on Thursday night in order to discuss plans for the coming days.
The Queen’s funeral, which is reportedly taking place on September 19, will be considered a “Day of National Mourning” but is expected to be treated similar to a bank holiday.
It is not yet known if schools will close for the day though a decision is expected to be made imminently. The Department for Education will soon issue guidance to headteachers on this.
Many sporting organisations are expected to cancel their weekend fixtures, with no play on Friday in England’s third and final cricket Test match against South Africa at The Oval, in South London.
Talks were understood to be taking place on Thursday night over whether other sporting events – including the Premier League - should be axed.
The Commons is due to sit on Friday with planned debates expected to be shelved so that MPs can pay tribute to Her Majesty from noon until 10pm.
Parliament is also expected to sit on Saturday from 2pm, which would be only the third Saturday sitting in just over 40 years.
Bells will toll today at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral and Windsor Castle, and gun salutes - one round for every year of the Queen’s life - will be fired in Hyde Park and at other stations.
The King is set to make a recorded, televised address to the nation. The Accession Council is expected to formally proclaim Charles the new sovereign at St James’s Palace in the coming days.
The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.
