Britain to shut down for Queen

BRITAIN will shut down on Monday with high streets, supermarkets, businesses and factories closing as the nation pays its respects to the Queen.

Even the skies will fall quiet as Heathrow cancels around 100 flights to minimise noise over London.

Schools will shut, while some hospitals are cancelling appointments and operations. Many shops, museums and theme parks, which would normally open on a Bank Holiday, will also close.

Food chains, such as McDonald’s, and many petrol stations will close until late in the day. But some pubs and cinemas will open to show the funeral, while screens in cathedrals, churches, parks, theatres and football clubs will also show the historic ceremony.

Meanwhile hospitals will mount thousands of television screens on wards and in waiting room. England’s chief nurse, Dame Ruth May, said NHS staff were ‘going the extra mile’ to give patients the chance to pay their respects.

Remembrance services are being held at Guy’s and St Thomas’ chapel, which sits by Westminster Bridge, and at St George’s Hospital in the capital.