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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Sam Barker

Supermarkets including Waitrose and Sainsbury's to close to mark the Queen’s funeral

Supermarkets Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Morrisons are set to shut next week to mark the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

The late monarch's funeral will take place at 11am on Monday, September 19.

As a mark of respect, supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons are expected to close.

Large Tesco supermarkets will close all day, and smaller Express stores will shut until 5pm.

Tesco UK chief executive John Tarry 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."

Sainsbury's will close all its supermarkets and Argos stores on the day of the funeral.

It will also pause its online shopping options.

Smaller Sainsbury's and its petrol forecourts will open from 5pm to 10pm.

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

Waitrose and sister firm John Lewis are closing next Monday (Getty Images)

"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.”

A spokesperson for the John Lewis Partnership, which runs Waitrose and John Lewis, said both brands will shut their doors for the day of the Queen's funeral.

The spokesperson added: "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. These shops will, however, close for the funeral itself."

John Lewis Partnership chief operating officer Andrew Murphy 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.”

The Queen's funeral has been officially declared a Bank Holiday for the UK, meaning many people could well be off work.

A spokesperson for Asda said the store is still deciding what to do.

New guidance from authorities confirms that each employer needs to make their own decision on whether or not they will give staff the day off.

The guidance also says staff should speak with their bosses over if they will get a day’s holiday in lieu if they do work the funeral date.

That’s the same policy for overtime rates, the government says, and reclaiming annual leave days if it is granted as a free day off by your employer.

Her Majesty will lie in state for four days before the funeral, in Westminster Hall, and from there, the funeral procession will travel to Westminster Abbey.

Her final resting place will be St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

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