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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Rosaleen Fenton & Liam Buckler

Odd things you can't do in national mourning period - from parking your bike to strikes

King Charles III declared a period of national mourning for UK following the death of the Queen - which means there are certain things the public can and can't do.

The 73-year-old confirmed the national mourning will continue until seven days after the Queen's funeral, which is set to take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19, at 11am.

Flags are being flown at half-mast by businesses and on Government buildings as a mark of respect - with many newsreaders dressed in black.

The Met Office confirmed they would only be posting daily forecasts and warnings during the period of national mourning.

A council has banned cyclists from parking at bicycle racks during the period of national mourning (Getty Images/Mint Images RF)

On Friday, football matches at all levels were postponed at the weekend out of respect for the Queen.

Other sporting events were expected to follow but rugby, cricket, golf continued.

Rugby league and rugby union chose to wear black arms and observed a period of silence before the game.

Although there is no obligation to postpone or cancel events many companies and organisations are doing so out of respect - with others set to follow closer to the funeral.

The Met Office will only be posting daily forecasts and warnings out of respect for the Queen during the mourning period (Getty Images/Image Source)

As Government guidance says: "There is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues during the National Mourning period.

"This is at the discretion of individual organisations.

"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.

"If sporting fixtures or events are planned for the day of the state funeral, 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 or sporting fixtures, and players may wish to wear black armbands."

Companies are under no obligation to cancel or postpone events and it is entirely at the discretion of individual organisations (Getty Images/Image Source)

Visit Center Parcs

Center Parcs is facing criticism after it announced plans to close its five UK holiday sites on the day of the Queen's funeral - meaning visitors will be turfed out out for 24 hours.

Complaints started to flood in on social media pages after the company announced it would shut sites from 10am on the day to allow staff "to support our Queen on her final journey".

Holidaymakers that haven't arrived will be given the option to cancel, while those part-way through their holiday will be forced to spend the night elsewhere or go home early.

They would be refunded for the loss, the company said, saying details would be in the email they received.

Those due to arrive on Monday for shorter stays are being given the opportunity to begin their breaks a day later at a discounted rate

Weather forecasts

After the period of national mourning was announced, the Met Office confirmed they would only be posting daily forecasts and warnings.

In a statement on Twitter they said: "We are saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with her family and all those affected by this news.

"As a mark of respect during this time of national mourning we will only be posting daily forecasts and warnings."

Cycling

As a mark of respect to Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, British Cycling's guidance 'strongly recommends' that anybody out riding their bike on the day of the State Funeral does so outside of the timings of the funeral service.

One confused cyclist asked: "What if you’re cycling to watch the processions? Is that OK? Is it just cycling for fun that’s not OK?"

Meanwhile Norwich City Council closed down a cycle rack because of the royal period of mourning.

Twitter user Jeremy Hutchinson posted the image and wrote: "Because of the royal period of mourning, you can’t lock your bike to a cycle rack in Norwich."

"Advanced warning: this cycle rack will be closed from Friday, September 9, until Wednesday, September 21.

"If you leave your cycle here between these times it may be removed.

"We apologise for any inconvenience."

General view of the players during a minutes silence before the match after the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (Action Images via Reuters)

Cancelled events

Arsenal's Europa League game on Thursday evening has been postponed due to 'severe limitations on police resources' with the game set to be rescheduled.

There were expected to be 3,000 PSV fans at the match.

A Uefa statement announcing the postponement, said: "This is due to the severe limitations on police resources and organisational issues related to the ongoing events surrounding the national mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II."

Chelsea's Champions League group match against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday will go ahead as planned.

The EFL confirmed their fixtures would resume on Tuesday evening following the postponements at the weekend.

They confirmed they would "continue to work with forces in respect of any challenges that may emerge regarding policing of specific fixtures".

However, the Premier League is yet to confirm whether games will be played between September 16 and 18.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for the National Police Chiefs Council said: "UK Policing is working closely with other organisations to ensure events are held safely and with the appropriate security.

"Following the decisions of the Premier League and English Football League to cancel this weekend's matches, we will work with football clubs to try and ensure that, where possible, football fixtures can take place safely when balanced against the requirement to support national events and deliver day-to-day policing.

"This is a unique situation and we are working closely with everyone involved."

Railway strikes due on Thursday and Saturday this week have been shelved as a mark of respect (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Strikes

Railway strikes due on Thursday and Saturday this week have been shelved as a mark of respect.

Commuters were set for more delays and longer journeys but instead will have a normal week of travel - after union bosses decided to postpone their strikes.

Criminal barristers are to continue their strikes, however, protests outside courts and parliament have been cancelled.

London Fashion Week

The event is due to begin on September 16 with organisers allowing shows but will make sure they don't clash with the Queen's funeral.

Parties have been cancelled out of respect as the event continues.

Members of the public are able to sign books of condolences (PA)

Books of condolence

Members of the public are able to sign books of condolences in many famous buildings and British embassies across the world.

An online book on the Royal Family website which can be signed if people are unable to get to their nearest book.

Laying flowers

Thousands of flowers are being laid outside Buckingham Palace and across a number of different sites in the UK to express their sorrow of the Queen.

However, Royal officials have asked that no official flowers are sent to the location of the State Funeral, Royal Residents or government offices.

Instead they have asked members of the public to ask nearby stewards where they should place their flowers across the sites.

Streaming

Nintendo Direct confirmed on social media as a mark of respect during the period of national mourning, they would not be live streaming their event tomorrow.

Nintendo Direct posted on their Twitter: "As a mark of respect during this period of national mourning, we will not livestream tomorrow’s Nintendo Direct.

"It will be published as a video-on-demand on our YouTube channel at 16:00 (UK time) tomorrow."

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