The government has issued guidance to businesses and event organisers covering the period of national mourning following the death of the Queen.
The guidance says business owners and event organisers may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the state funeral – which has still to be confirmed but has been widely reported as 19 September – but there is no obligation to do so.
‘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,’ says the guidance.
If events do go ahead on the day of the funeral, the government advice suggests that 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,’ it adds.
The furnishing industry has several events taking place during or close to the period, including London Design Festival, The Flooring Show and Bed Show. Organisers have been contacted.
Update:
LDF says that ‘all activities on the day of the funeral will be rescheduled and we recommend the same to all our partners.’
The Bed Show says it is working on different scenarios until the date of the funeral is known, but cancelling the exhibition is ‘most unlikely’.
