English Heritage, which manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places including Stonehenge, Sandbach Crosses and Dover Castle, announced all of its sites would be closed on Monday. The closures have been made to mark the Queen’s funeral.
A statement issued by English Heritage Chief Executive, Kate Mavor CBE said: “As a mark of respect, English Heritage is closing all sites on Monday 19 September 2022 for Her Majesty The Queen’s State Funeral. The Union Flag will fly at half-mast at all our sites with flagpoles until the morning after the funeral.”
It followed a message issued by the charity issued in the wake of the Queen’s death last week, in which Mavor expressed her “deep sadness” at the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. She added that the Queen served with “grace, resilience, wisdom and courage”.
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Earlier today, the National Trust also announced that it would be closing its sites in tribute to the Queen. An official statement said: “On Monday 19 September, the houses and gardens we care for, including cafes and shops, will be closed as we pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen.”
They added that coast and countryside parks would remain open for visitors. A number of businesses are expected to close for the Queen’s funeral this coming Monday, after it was announced by King Charles that it would be a Bank Holiday.
It brings to a close the ten-day period of national mourning, which has seen Parliament and public-facing Government activity being paused. On the day of the state funeral, schools and offices are also expected to close as the nation pays tribute to Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
While government guidance has stated that there is “no obligation” to suspend business during the official mourning period, businesses are being asked to be sensitive to workers' wishes. The official guidance states: “The government cannot interfere in existing contractual arrangements between employers and workers.”
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