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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Nadia Breen & Damien Edgar

The Queen's funeral: Closures, timings and details about watching the service

Queen Elizabeth II is to be laid to rest at 11am on Monday, with the State Funeral being held at Westminster Abbey.

A two-minute silence across the UK is planned for 11.55am, while more than 2,000 guests are expected to attend the funeral.

Public services and business operations will be affected in Northern Ireland, with widespread closures expected for the funeral.

Read more: Where to watch the service live on TV

On the morning of the State Funeral, the Lying-in-State will end at 6.30am as final members of the public are admitted to pay their respects.

The official Royal website adds: "At 10:44hrs the Coffin will be borne in Procession on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral.

"Immediately following the Coffin will be The King, Members of the Royal Family and members of The King’s Household.

"The Procession will arrive at the West Gate of Westminster Abbey at 1052hrs where the Bearer Party will lift the coffin from the State Gun Carriage and carry it into the Abbey for the State Funeral Service.

"The State Funeral Service will be attended by Heads of State and Overseas Government Representatives, including Foreign Royal Families, Governors General and Realm Prime Ministers. Other representatives of the Realms and the Commonwealth, the Orders of Chivalry including recipients of the Victoria Cross and George Cross, Government, Parliament, devolved Parliaments and Assemblies, the Church, and Her Majesty’s Patronages will form the congregation, along with other public representatives."

Floral tributes to Queen Elizabeth II outside Hillsborough Castle (PA Wire/PA Images)

Around 200 people who were recognised in The Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year will also join the congregation.

At around 11.55am, the Last Post will sound followed by the national two-minute silence. The National Anthem will bring the service to a close at around 12 noon.

After the service, Her Majesty’s coffin will be borne through the Abbey, returning to the State Gun Carriage for the procession to Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, arriving at 1pm.

At Wellington Arch, the coffin will be transferred to the state hearse to travel to Windsor. The committal service will begin at 4pm.

A private burial will take place in The King George VI Memorial Chapel later that evening, conducted by the Dean of Windsor. The Queen will be buried with The Duke of Edinburgh.

Here's how the funeral will be marked in Northern Ireland - you can also follow live updates in our dedicated blog

Where can people watch The Queen's funeral?

The funeral will be broadcast for members of the public who want to gather together on the day, with screenings set up in several locations across Northern Ireland.

Belfast City Hall

City Hall and the grounds will be open on Monday to allow people to sign the books of condolence, and the big screen will be showing the funeral live from London.

For further info, CLICK HERE.

Coleraine

Coleraine Town Hall will show the state funeral.

A Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council spokesperson said: “A big screen will be put in place in Coleraine outside the Town Hall to allow the public to come together following the death of HM The Queen...

"On Monday 19th September, it will show the state funeral from Westminster Abbey at 11am.

"Members of the public can watch the build up to the event from 8am, with the broadcast expected to end at 6pm.”

Lisburn

The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II streamed from Westminster Abbey will be shown on the screen in Lisburn City Centre on Monday 19th September from 10.00am.

Peoples Park, Ballymena

Will be screened from 9.30am.

It will provide an opportunity for residents to come together to reflect and pay tribute to Her Majesty.

Shaftesbury Park, Carrickfergus

A further public screening from 9.30am.

Larne Market Yard

Will also be screened from 9.30am.

How are public services affected?

Public bodies have laid out exactly how their services will be impacted by the funeral and bank holiday.

Schools

All schools in Northern Ireland have been granted an Exceptional Closure Day on Monday September 19, 2022.

It is expected that schools should close for this Bank Holiday to mark Her Majesty The Queen ’s state funeral.

You should get information about individual schools directly from the school.

Further and Higher Education Colleges

To mark the state funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, all further and higher education colleges in Northern Ireland will be closed on Monday 19 September 2022.

Healthcare

Hospital services

Trusts will be operating enhanced Bank Holiday services in order to reduce the impact on patients and service users. Trusts will be offering a range of services in addition to those ordinarily provided on a Bank Holiday.

They say they will endeavour to maintain as many scheduled inpatient, day case and diagnostics services as possible with priority given to those people with greatest clinical need. Chemotherapy sessions will also be maintained.

Where your care will be affected by the Bank Holiday, the relevant Trust will be in contact with you.

GP Services

GP practices will be closed on Monday September 19, 2022.

If you require urgent medical care when your GP surgery is closed and cannot wait until they reopen, you should contact GP Out of Hours.

GP Out of Hours will be operate from 6pm on Friday September 16, 2022 to 8am on Tuesday September 20, 2022.

Community Pharmacies

The majority of community pharmacies will be closed and a pharmacy rota will be in place.

If you need a pharmacy on Monday 19 September 2022, please check the rota to find a pharmacy near you.

Dental Practices

If you experience a dental problem, patients should ring their dental surgery or if they are not registered with a dentist, they should contact a local dentist. Dentists will have arrangements in place to offer advice, prescription for pain relief or management of your urgent dental condition.

Optometry practices (Opticians)

If you have an urgent eye problem on Monday 19 September 2022, please contact your local Optometrist in the first instance.

If your Optometry practice is closed and your eye problem is very urgent and cannot wait until normal opening hours, please contact your nearest hospital Emergency Department.

Out of hours Emergency Social Work Service

For social care emergency on Monday 19 September, please call the Regional Emergency Social Work Service 028 9504 9999.

You should always call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you or someone you know is in distress or despair call Lifeline on 0800 808 8000.

Other services

Translink school services

Translink is advising passengers that school services will not be operating on Monday 19th September 2022 following DE advice that it should be treated as an exceptional closure day for the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

For the latest public transport journey updates follow @Translink_NI, visit www.translink.co.uk or call 028 90 66 66 30.

Bin collections and recycling centres

A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said: "There will be no bin collection service on Monday 19 September. If your bin is due for collection on Monday 19 September, it will be collected on Saturday 24 September. You should leave bins out for collection by 7am on Saturday.

"If your bin has not been collected by the evening of Saturday 24 September, leave the bin out as we will collect again on Sunday 25 September. If your bin has not been collected by Monday 26 September, please report this using our missed bin collection form.

"Bryson Recycling box collections due on Monday 19 September have also been rescheduled. Their collections will take place on Saturday 17 September. Commercial waste due for collection on Monday 19 September will be collected on Saturday 17 September.

"Our recycling centres and amenity sites will be closed and there will be no bulky waste collections."

Courts and Tribunals

In line with government guidance, Courts and Tribunals business has continued during the period of National Mourning.

Most hearings will not take place on September 19, 2022. However plans are being put in place for emergency court sittings and urgent business if required. All Courts and Tribunals business that was due to take place on September 19 is being rescheduled, with the parties notified.

Further information relating to court business has been announced by the Lady Chief Justice and is available HERE.

Benefit payments

The closures will not affect benefit or pension payments as payments due on Monday 19 September will be made by that date.

Jobs & Benefits offices

Jobs & Benefits offices will be closed, re-opening on Tuesday 20 September. Benefit-related appointments with customers due to take place on 19 September are being rescheduled.

Health assessments

Health assessments will be rescheduled by the relevant health assessment provider who will contact customers to rearrange appointments.

The Appeals Service

As The Appeals Service will also close, any appeals listed for Monday will be rescheduled and a new priority listing date issued.

Historic environment monuments and sites

Carrickfergus and Dunluce Castles will be closed. Online services remain available at www.loveheritageni.co.uk.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland will close, with online services available at www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni.

All Department for Communities’ offices and business operations will resume business as usual on Tuesday 20 September.

Land & Property Services

Land & Property Services office at Lanyon Plaza, Belfast will be closed.

General Register Office

The General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI) public counter and search room will be closed.

NISRA publications
The release of Census 2021 statistics planned for Tuesday 20 September has been moved to Thursday 22 September.

DfI Buildings and Services

There will be no public access to any DfI buildings. In the event of an incident or emergency requiring a DfI response, use the out of hours contact numbers on NI Direct which can be found HERE.

Driver Vehicle Agency (DVA)

All DVA Test Centres will be closed on Monday 19 September. The DVA will directly contact all customers with an appointment for a vehicle or driving test for Monday 19 September 2022 to reschedule their tests at the earliest opportunity.

Are shops closed on the day of the funeral?

Some shops and supermarkets will close on Monday as a mark of respect.

Asda

An Asda spokesperson said: "As a mark of respect for Her Majesty The Queen, all Asda stores will be closed on Monday September 19 until 5pm to allow our customers and colleagues to recognise the passing of our late monarch and commemorate her steadfast service to our nation."

Primark

All stores will be shut.

Abbey Centre

The Abbey Centre in Newtownabbey will be closed reopening Tuesday at 9am

Poundland

All stores will be shut.

Sainsbury's and Argos

Sainsbury's and Argos stores will be closed.

The retailer will open smaller stores and petrol stations in the evening.

McDonald's

Restaurants will close to 5pm.

Tesco

Large supermarkets will close all day. Smaller Express stores will shut until 5pm.

Tesco convenience stores and petrol stations will open 5pm to their usual closing times.

M&S

It will close stores and pause deliveries to customers.

Next

All stores will be shut.

B&M

All stores will be shut.

Bloomfield Shopping Centre

The centre will be closed all day.

Connswater

The centre will be closed all day.

Forestside

All stores will be closed but Medicare Pharmacy will be open from 2pm to 6pm from their car park entrance.

CastleCourt

CastleCourt will be closed on Monday 19th, reopening as normal on Tuesday 20th September.

Spar

Henderson Retail has confirmed their 102 SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO branded stores will close for the duration of Her Majesty, The Queen’s funeral from 10am to 2pm on Monday 19 September 2022.

SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO stores owned by independent retailers will operate opening hours at their own discretion.

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