John Lewis, Primark, Aldi to shut stores all day for Queen’s funeral
Government guidance states that some businesses ‘may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the state funeral’.
A number of retailers have confirmed they will shut all of their stores on the day of Queen’s funeral on 19 September as a mark of respect.
Retailers including John Lewis, Homebase, WH Smith, B&Q, Primark, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Argos, Ikea, Poundland and grocers Aldi and Sainsbury’s will shut all of its stores for the day, which was approved as a bank holiday by King Charles III.
Aldi said as a mark of respect its 970 UK stores would be closed “to allow our store colleagues to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen”.
John Lewis also confirmed it would also shut its department stores, along with its sister company, Waitrose, all day for the funeral. Andrew Murphy, chief operating officer at the John Lewis Partnership, said the move was a “mark of respect, and because we believe this is the right thing to do for our partners and customers”.
Meanwhile, Harrods also confirmed its decision to Drapers: “Harrods stands with the entire nation in grief on the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. We will continue to commemorate the life of Her Majesty the Queen and pay our respects by closing the store on the day of the State Funeral.”
Currently government guidance states: “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.”
