Manchester schools to close for Queen’s funeral on Bank Holiday

Schools in Manchester will close for the Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Monday 19 September, which has been declared a national bank holiday.

Her Majesty died on Thursday at her estate in Balmoral, Scotland, aged 96.

Having just celebrated her 70th Jubilee in June, she was the UK’s longest reigning and the world’s longest-reigning still-serving monarch.

The country is now in a 12-day mourning period, as outlined in Operation London Bridge, the document outlining protocol for the monarch’s funeral.

While schools will remain open for the mourning period, they will close for the day of the funeral.

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The government confirmed on Saturday that the day of the Queen’s funeral will be national bank holiday.

The statement on the government website said: “This will allow individuals, businesses and other organisations to pay their respects to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.”

Regarding schools, it said: “Schools will be closed, we are not asking them to remain open on the day of the bank holiday.”

Elsewhere, the government is understood to not be planning to order employers to give their staff a day off.

However, it has encouraged “employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take time off.”

Shops will close or will operate under reduced opening hours on the day of the Queen’s funeral.

School’s tribute to ‘warm’ monarch

The Queen will be “fondly remembered” at the school where her husband and three sons were educated, its principal has said.

Lisa Kerr, principal of Gordonstoun, also said the school wishes “every success” to its former student King Charles as he begins his reign.

The Queen had a close connection to Gordonstoun through her husband the late Duke of Edinburgh, her three sons Charles, Edward and Andrew and two of her grandchildren (Zara and Peter) who all attended the school in Moray.

She regularly visited both formally and informally, taking a close interest in the progress of the princes and watching them on stage or on the sports field.

Ms Kerr said: “Queen Elizabeth II will be fondly remembered.

“We remember our late Queen sitting alongside Prince Philip in seats reserved with pieces of paper which simply said, ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’.

“She visited the school regularly and our students also saw her at the Braemar Gathering, a highland games event which she attended every year.

“We will always remember her warm support for Gordonstoun and we send our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family.”