At 11.55am yesterday Perth and Kinross residents joined millions of people around the world in a unified two-minute silence in remembrance of the late Queen Elizabeth II during her state funeral.
Streets and neighbourhoods across the region fell silent for the historic memorial service with schools, businesses, GPs and public buildings closed for the national public holiday.
Following Sunday’s National Moment of Reflection at 8pm, Perth and Kinross Council changed the interior lighting and projection at St Paul’s in Perth where the crown and EIIR emblem remained on the projector on Monday night following the state funeral.
King Charles III issued a message of thanks to the nation on the eve of the Queen’s state funeral which read: “Over the last 10 days, my wife and I have been so deeply touched by the many messages of condolence and support we have received from this country and across the world.
“In London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough and Cardiff we were moved beyond measure by everyone who took the trouble to come and pay their respects to the lifelong service of my dear mother, the late Queen.
“As we all prepare to say our last farewell, I wanted simply to take this opportunity to say thank you to all those countless people who have been such a support and comfort to my family and myself in this time of grief.”
The King approved the day as a bank holiday during his proclamation ceremony, with the period of national mourning to end after today (September 20).
The Dean of Westminster, who led the service at Westminster Abbey, expressed gratitude to a congregation of 2000 people including world leaders and royalty.
King Charles III led a sombre procession behind his mother’s coffin from Westminster Hall to the abbey.
The Queen’s coffin was then taken to Wellington Arch, at London’s Hyde Park Corner, to the toll of Big Ben.
St John’s Kirk in Perth was one of the churches to provide a sacred space to watch the funeral service on several screens transmitting live from Westminster Abbey.
Key workers, such as crews at Perth Fire Station, paid tribute by lining out in front of their base to take part in the two-minute silence.
The region’s schools, nurseries, sports centres, public toilets, and Perth Crematorium and Greyfriars Cemetery, were shut as the country observed the service at Westminster Abbey.
Funerals planned to take place at the crematorium on Monday were called off and “have been rearranged”, confirmed Perth and Kinross Council.
All community halls and sports centres – including Bell’s Sports Centre, Dewars Centre, Perth Leisure Pool and Blairgowrie Community Campus – were closed.
Businesses and attractions including museums and galleries and a large number of retailers and local shops also did not open, with employers nationwide encouraged to give their staff the day off.
Among those attractions were the Black Watch Castle and Museum, Scottish Crannog Centre, House of Bruar and Scone Palace.
The majority of major retailers and commercial chains, including Aldi, Lidl, Iceland, Primark, Marks and Spencers and WHSmith, shut on the day.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Co-op closed their stores until 5pm where some services, including petrol stations, opened up thereafter.
Stagecoach East Scotland operated a Sunday service with many independent bus companies operating as normal.
Royal Mail suspended its services on the day of the funeral with waste and recycling bin collections also halted and recycling centres closed.
Services for the homeless at Greyfriars House managed to operate as normal during the bank holiday weekend.
GP surgeries across Perth and Kinross also closed on Monday but COVID vaccination centres remained open.
Some outpatient procedures in NHS Tayside were unable to go ahead due to reduced staff numbers on the day.
But the vast majority of its services - including emergency services, maternity services, cancer procedures and urgent procedures - remained open with the emergency departments at Ninewells Hospital and Perth Royal Infirmary operating as normal.
A small number of community pharmacies in Tayside remained open on the public holiday but most dental practices and opticians observed the public holiday.
