What Next after the Queens Death?

In Summary
  • People across the UK and the world are reacting to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II
Image: Julian Calder

People across the UK and the world are reacting to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. While a carefully-planned timetable of official events will unfold separately.

The Queen's death will have a major impact on daily life in the UK and common wealth states. Most details are to be confirmed, but here is what to expect.

The funeral is expected to be held at Westminster Abbey in about 10 or 11 days' time, with the date to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace. It is likely to be declared a bank holiday, but this will be confirmed by the palace and government. It is not yet clear if they will close at all before then.

The Department for Education and devolved administrations are expected to issue advice.

Sporting fixtures scheduled on Friday (today) have largely been cancelled, including football matches in the English Football League and Northern Ireland Football League.

Stage six of the Tour of Britain cycling race, set to take place on Friday, will not go ahead. And the second day of the Test cricket match between England and South Africa on Friday has been postponed, with no confirmation on whether the rest of the five-day game will take place.

Theatre performances across the UK are expected to continue, observing a minute's silence. The award ceremony of the Mercury Music Prize was cancelled on Thursday evening after the news was announced.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced that planned strikes on 15 and 17 September will be cancelled as a mark of respect. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association has also called off planned strikes in September.

There will be a remembrance service at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday, attended by the prime minister and other senior ministers.

Because the Queen died in Scotland, her coffin will lie at rest at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. The public may be allowed to file past after a few days. The coffin will then be flown to London, where hundreds of thousands of people will be allowed to file past over a period of four days' lying in state at Westminster Hall.