FILE: Queen Elizabeth at the Trooping the Colour parade
(Picture: PA)A petition calling for a permanent ‘Queen Elizabeth’ bank holiday has reached more than 100,000 signatures.
The campaign, on petitions site Change.org, proposes that September 8, the day of the Queen’s death, should become an annual bank holiday in celebration of Her Majesty’s life.
The petition, started by John Harris, states: “Queen Elizabeth II is our longest reigning Monarch, and arguably the Nations, and the World’s most popular ever Monarch.
“In the words of President Macron, ‘to you, she was your Queen, to us, she was THE Queen…The most constant symbol of Great Britain’.
“She was indeed an inspirational woman. Britain has fewer bank holidays than most European countries; France has 11 compared with our 8, Spain has 14.
“I believe we need a new public bank holiday to mark our greatest Sovereign’s lifetime; a Queen Elizabeth Day. A day for our Nation to come together and celebrate both the life of the Queen, and our gratitude for the institution of our Royal Family.”
More than 100,000 people have given their backing to the call, with Frank McCoid writing: “We shouldn’t forget what the Queen has done for the Country and the World”.
Stephen Towndrow added: “She has united our kingdom and provided 70 years of stable enduring public service. As a nation we should never forget this.”
Meanwhile, petition signer Susantha Senanayake said: “She was a legacy. She deserves to be remembered each year on a special day”.
Some signatories, however, called for a debate on the future of the monarchy while also having a new bank holiday.
The date of the Queen’s funeral, Monday September 19, has been designated a bank holiday to allow as many people to pay their respects as possible.
Her late Majesty’s coffin will lie in state at the Palace of Westminster from 5pm Wednesday until the morning of the funeral.
The Government has planned for the queue from Westminster to stretch as far as Southwark Park in south-east London as thousands turn out to pay tribute.
Some mourners have already begun queuing, while designated viewing areas have been established for those wishing to witness the royal procession of Her Majesty’s coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall.
