More than 109,000 people have signed a petition calling for a permanent bank holiday to remember Queen Elizabeth II.
The campaign was started on Change.org by John Harris three days ago and quickly attracted scores of supporters. He wrote: " Queen Elizabeth II is our longest reigning Monarch, and arguably the nation's, and the world’s most popular ever monarch.
"In the words of President Macron, 'to you, she was your Queen, to us, she was THE Queen…The most constant symbol of Great Britain'. She was indeed, an inspirational woman.
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"Britain has fewer bank holidays than most European countries; France has 11 compared with our 8, Spain has 14. I believe we need a new public bank holiday to mark our greatest sovereign’s lifetime - a Queen Elizabeth Day. A day for our nation to come together and celebrate both the life of the Queen and our gratitude for the institution of our royal family."
Monday, September 19, has been declared a bank holiday this year, which is the day of the late monarch's funeral. Schools will be closed and a number of shops and businesses have said they will remain shut as a mark of respect.
Now, hundreds of thousands of people are supporting the petition to have a permanent bank holiday every year. September 8 has been put forward as a suggestion.
One supporter wrote on Change.org: "We shouldn’t forget what the Queen has done for the country and the world". Another said: "She was exceptional and will always and should always be remembered."
A third added: "It would be a good way of remembering a great Queen." And a fourth commented: "I think the Queen should be remembered every year with a day dedicated to her majesty."
Some people suggested the bank holiday should be on a different date. One said: "I think the Bank Holiday should be moved to late September/early October if it's approved since schools will hardly be back at that time and it would be a real disruption at the beginning of term." The petition can be seen here.
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