Britain to close for Queen’s funeral: Supermarkets announce all day closure plans on Monday

Britain’s supermarkets are set to shut for the Queen’s funeral on Monday out of respect for the late monarch.

Some of the biggest chains in the UK have announced they will close all day on September 19 as the country comes to a halt to commemorate Her Majesty.

The likes of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Waitrose and Poundland have all confirmed they will not open at all on the day of the service, which is being held at Westminster Abbey.

Sainsbury’s has also announced that its convenience stores and petrol stations will only be open from 5pm to 10pm on the evening of the Bank Holiday.

Meanwhile Tesco has said its large stores will also be shut all day and it will not be fulfilling online orders, while Express stores will remain closed until 5pm.

The likes of Asda and Morrisons are also expected to close their large supermarkets, potentially for up to four hours between 10am and 2pm, The Sun reports.

On the same day schools across the country will close, giving children the chance to watch Her Majesty’s funeral as it is shown on television.

The commemorations for the late monarch will also see museums across the capital close for the day, with the British Museum, Natural History Museum and National Gallery all shutting their doors.

Royal Mail has also announced it will not be making deliveries on the day of the service.

The shutting of supermarkets and other retail across the country means people looking to do their shopping will have plan around the Bank Holiday, with commuters and travellers also being impacted by some of the closures.

Sainsbury’s and Aldi supermarkets confirmed today they will close as a mark of respect to the Queen and to allow staff and customers to watch the service at Westminster Abbey on TV.

Argos stores will also be closed, Sainsbury’s told MailOnline, and its convenience stores and petrol stations will only open in the evening on the Bank Holiday – from 5pm to 10pm.

Tesco has confirmed its large stores will close all day, with Express stores only opening after 5pm.

Meanwhile, John Lewis department stores and the majority of Waitrose shops are to shut all day, and clothing giant Primark also confirmed that all of its 191 stores will close out of respect for the late monarch.

DIY giant B&Q also said today it will close all of its stores and will suspend its click and collect and home delivery services on Monday September 19 – the day of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.

Poundland has also said its 770-plus UK stores will close for the whole day, with staff who had been set to work still receiving their pay in full.

More supermarkets’ plans to close are reported to be almost finalised, while Asda said a decision on whether to close is still being made.

Most smaller convenience stores are expected to stay open as usual on Monday so people can still shop.

Meanwhile, Morrisons says it has ‘turned down’ the beeps on its self-checkouts and the music and tannoy announcements in its stores have been switched off in a mark of respect.

Businesses and schools up and down the country are set to close their doors on September 19, which King Charles III declared a bank holiday, as the nation mourns Queen Elizabeth II.

John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose, will keep just ‘a handful’ of food shops open along the funeral procession route.

‘When full details of the funeral are confirmed, an exception may be a very limited number of Waitrose stores on the route of the funeral procession to serve members of the public who we know will be lining the route for many hours,’ the company said in a statement.

The few shops that could be left open in London, however, will close for the funeral itself, they added.

The company is also set to close the remaining 300-plus Waitrose stores for the day.

Waitrose holds a Royal Warrant and sells products from the Duchy of Cornwall – the estate formerly held by King Charles III before his accession to the throne and which now has passed to his son, Prince William, the new Prince of Wales.

The retailers’ 34 John Lewis department stores across the country will all close on the day of the funeral.

Andrew Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, The John Lewis Partnership said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

‘We will be closing our stores on the day of her funeral as a mark of respect, and because we believe this is the right thing to do for our Partners and customers.’

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

‘In honour of Her Majesty and so our colleagues can pay their respects, all Sainsbury’s supermarkets and Argos stores will be closed on Monday, 19 September.

‘This includes Groceries Online and Argos Fast Track delivery.

‘Our convenience stores and petrol filling stations will be open from 5pm-10pm to allow our customers to pick up essential items, while select stores in central London will open to serve those attending the funeral in person.

‘We thank our customers for their understanding.’

Jason Tarry, Tesco UK CEO said: “We want to express our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, as well as our gratitude to Her Majesty The Queen for her unwavering service.

‘On Monday 19th September, in order for our colleagues to pay their respects, our large stores will be closed all day and our Express stores will remain closed until 5pm.”

DIY chain B&Q has also said today it will close its doors next Monday.

A spokesperson said: ‘As a mark of respect for the State Funeral for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and to offer our colleagues the opportunity to pay their respects, we have taken the decision to close all our UK stores on Monday 19 September.

‘Our click and collect and home delivery services will also be temporarily suspended on the day.’

High street clothing chain Primark will also close, with its spokeswoman saying: ‘Our stores, depots and head office in the UK will be closed on Monday September 19 to give our colleagues the opportunity to pay their respects and watch the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

‘We will reopen as normal on Tuesday September 20.’

The government has issued advice regarding the Bank Holiday to businesses.

‘Some businesses may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the State Funeral, however, this is at the discretion of individual businesses,’ it said.

A two minutes’ silence will be held at midday next Monday for the Queen’s state funeral and the London Stock Exchange will close.

MailOnline has contacted Asda, and Morrisons for comment.

Away from retail, schools across the country are set to close, as will museums and other cultural venues.

In London some of the most popular museums in the country will close their doors.

The likes of the British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, National Gallery and the Imperial War Museums will all shut for the funeral.

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Britain to close for Queen’s funeral: Supermarkets announce all day closure plans on Monday