M&S, Asda and Lidl latest stores to close on day of Queen's funeral

Several major retailers and supermarkets have announced closures on the day of the Queen's funeral.

Lidl, Marks and Spencer, Zara and Next latest retailers to announce shop closures on day of Queen’s funeral iStock

Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, and Marks & Spencer have become the latest retailers to confirm they will shut stores on Monday for the Queen’s funeral.

It comes after a raft of supermarkets and high street stores, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Primark, Homebase and B&Q confirmed closure plans for the day.

Morrisons said all its UK supermarkets will shut on Monday September 19, which will be a bank holiday as the Queen’s state funeral takes place.

“All our supermarkets will be closed on Monday September 19 as a mark of respect and so colleagues can pay tribute to Her Majesty,” a spokeswoman for the supermarket said.

“At 5pm our petrol filling stations will reopen.”

Lidl confirmed on Tuesday that it will also shut all its stores for the day.

Another retail competitor, the Co-op, has announced that its estate of stores will shut their doors.

M&S said it will close stores and halt deliveries to customers as it allows employees to pay their respects.

Stuart Machin, chief executive at M&S, said: “All of us at M&S – and indeed across the country and beyond – feel a real and deep sense of loss and sadness at the passing of Her Majesty, as well as huge respect for the grace with which His Majesty King Charles III and the wider royal family have led the nation in our mourning.

“It is right that we make changes to our operational arrangements on the day of the funeral to ensure our colleagues across our stores and distribution network can participate, whilst supporting customers as they show their respects too.”

Asda said it will shut all its stores until 5pm on the day to allow employees to watch the funeral.

An Asda spokesman 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.

“We will not be offering online deliveries on Monday September 19.

“All our stores will close by midnight on Sunday, September 18 and reopen at 5pm on Monday, September 19.

“Those colleagues contracted to work while the stores are closed will receive their normal pay.

“Any colleagues who work when the stores reopen will be paid double time for the rest of the day.”

Iceland also confirmed that its stores would close, and that home delivery and online delivery services would not be available on Monday September 19.

Following Primark, WHSmith, and John Lewis, which already announced closures for the day, Apple, Next, Zara, Waterstones, Ikea, H&M, Poundland, Matalan, B&M, Home Bargains and River Island will also closed.

Owners of St James Quarter in Edinburgh announced that the galleria will be “predominantly closed” with only a small number of food and beverage-related outlets opening later in the day. 

The Edinburgh Style and student evening events at the shopping mall will also be postponed.

Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow will observe bank holiday opening times but retailers will make their own decision on whether or not to open.

Retailers are not required to shut their doors on the day of the funeral, and others may choose to open for reduced hours, as many regularly do on other bank holidays.

The Government guidance is: “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.”

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