All of us at Explore Buxton are hugely saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. For 70 years, she gave her life to our country as our longest serving monarch culminating in the fantastic Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June this year.
She was an exceptional woman, who at the age of just 25, promised to serve our country throughout her life. Becoming Queen at such a young age following the death of her father, she would be seen as working to modernise yet safeguard the monarchy.
She had an extraordinary life, during her reign she travelled more than any monarch in history, visiting every part of our family of nations. Her devotion to a life of service will never be forgotten. HM Queen Elizabeth II inspired many of us, on occasion comforted us and always personified values we hold dear. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family and everyone around the world mourning her loss at this sad time.
Following the announcement, the Mayor of the High Peak, Councillor Ollie Cross, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, the Leader of the Conservative group, Councillor Tony Ashton, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Councillor David Lomax, the Leader of the Green Party group, Councillor Joanna Collins and the Council’s Chief Executive, Andrew Stokes, paid this tribute:
“It is with immense sadness that we learned of the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Throughout her unprecedented 70-year reign she has set the standard of dignified, unwavering public service and commitment to fulfilling her role with the good grace and good humour that stand as an enduring example to us all.
“For so many of us Queen Elizabeth has been the only monarch we have known and, on so many occasions, a comforting presence in our lives. Her loss will be mourned not just here in the UK but across the Commonwealth and the wider world community.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the Royal Family at this time as communities across the High Peak join those around the world in remembering this remarkable monarch and the service she has given us.”
When will the funeral be?
The funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II will take place on Monday 19th September at Westminster Abbey at 11am. Full details can be found here.
An audience of 2,000 guests will attend the service at Westminster Abbey, followed by a public procession down the Mall. It will be shown on big screens around the city and country.
What happens now following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II ?
The day of the Queen’s death is referred to as D-Day. Given that the news of the Queen’s death was announced on Thursday evening, D-Day was the following day, Friday 9th September. Liz Truss was the first person to be informed outside the Royal Family.
D-Day+4 Tuesday 13th September
The Queen’s coffin will be flown to London where it will be laid to rest at Buckingham Palace. It is expected to arrive around 7pm, before travelling to Buckingham Palace.
At the same time, a rehearsal will take place for Operation LION — the procession of the coffin from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster.
D-Day+5 Wednesday 14th September
Operation LION will commence at 2pm, seeing the coffin travel from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster where it will lie in state for four days.
Crowds will be able to watch as the cortege makes the 38-minute journey through central London along Queen’s Gardens, The Mall, Horse Guards and Horse Guards Arch, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square and New Palace Yard.
There will be a service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in Westminster Hall when the coffin arrives. Senior royals are expected to pay their own tribute, standing guard at some stage around the coffin — the tradition known as the Vigil of the Princes.
Members of the public will be able to pay their respects to the Queen’s coffin from 5pm. Westminster Hall will remain open 24 hours a day until 06:30am on Monday, 19th September. People are warned they may have to queue for many hours, possibly overnight, with very little opportunity to sit down as the queue will be continuously moving.
D-Day+6 Thursday 15th September
The Queen’s coffin will remain lying in state as the public has the opportunity to pay respects.
A rehearsal will take place for the state funeral procession.
D-Day+7 Friday 16th September
Lying in state continues.
The King and Camilla will travel to Wales, marking the final of his visits to all four nations of the United Kingdom as king.
D-Day+8 Saturday 17th September
Lying in state continues.
D-Day+9 Sunday 18th September
Lying in state continues.
D-Day+10 Monday 19th September
D-Day+10 will be the day of the Queen’s funeral. Lying in state will end, and the coffin will be taken to a procession in procession to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral, which is a Bank Holiday in the UK.
Plans are still being finalised, but early indications suggest that the Queen’s coffin will process on a gun carriage to the abbey, pulled by naval ratings – sailors – using ropes rather than horses. Senior members of the Royal Family are expected to follow behind.
The service will be televised and a national two-minute silence is likely to be held.
On the same day, the Queen’s coffin will be moved to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
The Queen’s body is expected to be buried in a tomb at King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor Castle, alongside her late husband, Prince Philip. The day of the funeral will be declared a day of national mourning and almost certainly a National Holiday. A two-minute silence will take place across the UK and well-wishers are expected to gather in London and Windsor.
Union flags have been lowered and flown at half-mast on royal residences, government buildings and military establishments and books of condolence opened at British embassies across the world. Flags at Buxton Town Hall and Hadfield Hall, at Norfolk Square in Glossop and in Manor Park and the Pavilion Gardens have been lowered to half-mast.
Buxton shops, events, attractions and venues
Venues and attractions in Buxton and the High Peak may have changed events or opening hours or events maybe have been cancelled. Some shops and venues may close on the day of the funeral. You should check direct with the venue for more information ahead of your visit. On the day of the HM Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, some businesses may close – we will update this page once we have more details – please note some key attractions may NOT be open on the day of funeral, please check before travelling.
Shops: Several shops have said they will close on the day of the funeral: Major supermarkets and shop chains to close include Next, Iceland, Tesco (re-opens at 5pm) Morrisons, Waitrose, Sainsburys, Argos, WH Smith, Aldi and B&Q. Other smaller retailers in Buxton may also be closed.
Buxton Opera House performances are going ahead as planned, unless ‘otherwise announced’. The Opera House have confirmed they will be closed on the day of the funeral.
Pavilion Gardens Events and opening times for the attractions are continuing as normal at the moment, including the Artist & Designer Fair on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th September.
Heritage Open Days in Buxton: Most events are going ahead as planned, however some events have been cancelled – please check ahead before travelling.
Buxton Museum is open is normal. Events taking place are going ahead as planned currently. Finds Day on 17th September will go ahead as planned.
Buxton Crescent Heritage Experience is open as normal.
Poole’s Cavern is open as normal.
Go Ape is open as normal.
Planned train strikes cancelled
RMT rail worker walkouts on 15th and 17th September have been suspended. The train drivers’ union Aslef has also postponed a strike planned for 15th September.
The Rail Delivery Group said train timetables would be normal now that strikes were not going ahead.
The Criminal Bar Association said that planned barristers’ demonstrations next week had been cancelled “out of respect”.
How will the royal titles change?
The Accession Council met at St James’s Palace on Thursday to proclaim Prince Charles as the new sovereign. His official title has been confirmed as King Charles III. King Charles was officially announced as King on Saturday 10th September at a ceremony at St James’s Palace in the morning.
The titles of other royals have changed too. Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, is now Queen Consort. She was initially going to be known as Princess Consort, but the Queen said in February this year that she would like her to be known as Queen Consort.
Prince William now takes the title of Prince of Wales and Catherine will take the title of Princess of Wales.
Harry and Megan’s son Archie will now be a prince and their daughter Lilibet will now be a princess.
Prince Edward has been Earl of Wessex up till now. However, he could become Duke of Edinburgh following the Queen’s death.
How to pay your respects to the Queen
In the High Peak, book of condolence is available to sign at Buxton Town Hall and the Municipal Buildings in Glossop. Buildings will be open: 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday 9am – 2pm Saturday and Sunday. It will be available to sign until 5pm the day after the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen.
In London, you can lay flowers at dedicated sites in Green Park and Hyde Park to pay tribute to the Queen. In the High Peak the grassed areas on the Slopes in front of Buxton Town Hall and in Norfolk Square in Glossop have been made available for people to do that. Chapel Parish Council is asking people to leave their tributes at the war memorial in the Market Place and the Town Council in New Mills have made the grassed area in front of the Town hall available.
There are no physical books of condolence at royal residences, although an online book for those wishing to leave messages is now available on the royal website here. A selection of messages will be passed onto members of the Royal Family, and may be held in the Royal Archives for posterity.
Photo: The Royal Family
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