HM Queen Elizabeth II has died today, aged 96, at her Scottish home Balmoral Castle.
The passing of the world’s second longest standing monarch has triggered an official process known as Project London Bridge; a framework that outlines how the UK will mark the occasion.
The state funeral is expected to be held at Westminster Abbey on 19 September, with a two-minute silence at noon. It will be a Day of National Mourning, with all businesses including the London Stock Exchange expected to close. The subsequent coronation of Prince Charles will be a UK bank holiday.
It is understood that military events will be banned on both days but all other shows and events will be able to continue as planned, at organisers’ discretion. According to the Association of Event Organisers (AEO), it is recommended that all events honour the national one minutes silence on the day of death, and the national 2 minute silence on the day of the funeral.
The AEO advised that there could be an increased security risk (terror threat) to all events during this period, and in particular the funeral and coronation dates.
Kerrin MacPhie, chief executive of the Meetings Industry Association, released the following statement: “The Meetings Industry Association is extremely saddened to hear of the death of our Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. We offer our deepest condolences to the Royal Family.
“As we will enter a 10-day period of national mourning, many events may be cancelled as a mark of respect. The mia is therefore advising venues and suppliers to proactively contact their clients offering a solution that gives flexibility. This can either be offering alternative dates or pausing and agreeing to do nothing until the period of mourning has passed. Next, we suggest agreeing a solution for all parties – one that will hopefully see the event take place in the future.”
UPDATE: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has provided an update regarding the events industry.
It reads:
“There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period. This is at the discretion of individual organisations. As a mark of respect, organisations might wish to consider cancelling or postponing events or closing venues on the day of the State Funeral.
“They are under no obligation to do so and this is entirely at the discretion of individual organisations.
“If sporting fixtures or events are planned for the day of the State Funeral, organisations may want to adjust the event timings so they do not clash with the timings of the funeral service and associated processions. As a mark of respect, and in keeping with the tone of National Mourning, organisers may wish to hold a period of silence and/or play the National Anthem at the start of events or sporting fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands.”
