Food Banks Halted During 'Public Holiday Designation' for Queen's Funeral... Concerns Over 'Economic Impact'

Holiday Designated on the Funeral Day, 19th
Convenience Facilities and Essential Public Services Suspended
Pound Sterling Hits Lowest Value in 37 Years
The Guardian: "Recession Risk Deepens"

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was laid in state at Westminster Hall in London on the 14th (local time), where the public paid their respects. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gunchan] As the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II is about to take place, various convenience facilities and essential public services will be suspended on the funeral day, which has been designated as a public holiday. It is expected to deal an economic blow to the UK, which is facing an economic crisis.

Queen Elizabeth II's funeral will be held on the 19th at Westminster Abbey in London. About 500 world leaders, royals, and other high-ranking officials, including President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden, are expected to attend the funeral.

Following the Queen's passing, the UK is observing a 10-day mourning period until the funeral on the 19th. The funeral day has been designated as a public holiday. On this day, not only convenience facilities such as banks, supermarkets, and cinemas but also essential public services including the National Health Service (NHS) and food banks (free meal centers) will suspend operations.

According to local media such as the BBC on the 14th (local time), about 1,300 McDonald's outlets in the UK will cease operations by 5 p.m. on the 19th. McDonald's UK tweeted on the 15th, "To allow all McDonald's people to pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II, all outlets across the UK will close from midnight to 5 p.m. on the 19th," adding, "Operating hours and services after 5 p.m. may vary by location."

Not only McDonald's but also several UK companies such as the shopping center Primark, department store John Lewis, grocery store Waitrose, supermarket Asda, and cinema chain Cineworld have announced they will close on the funeral day.

Citizens lined up to enter St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, on the 12th (local time), where the coffin of the late Queen Elizabeth II was lying in state. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Most NHS appointment schedules for patients have also been canceled or rescheduled. The NHS refers to the UK's public healthcare system that provides comprehensive medical services free of charge to residents of the UK. According to the BBC on the 15th, the NHS schedule in Sussex was changed due to the Queen's funeral. A Sussex NHS spokesperson advised, "As Queen Elizabeth II's funeral takes place, people should stock up on essential medicines at home during the public holiday."

The UK daily The Independent also reported that some food banks announced closures on the 19th. Food banks are free meal centers that distribute groceries to low-income groups. According to the report, food banks in Stoke-on-Trent, East Ambridge, East Greenstead, Gransham, Ringwood, and South Sefton have decided to close.

The UK government has announced that there is no obligation to suspend business during the mourning period. In a statement the day after the Queen's passing, the government said, "Depending on the nature and location of the business and the atmosphere of planned events, businesses may consider canceling or postponing events, but this is at the discretion of individual businesses."

The day after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, on the 9th (local time), memorial photos and messages for the queen were displayed at bus stops, subway stations, and shops across London and other parts of the UK. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The suspension of business and services due to the designation of this public holiday is also expected to deal an economic blow to the UK, which is facing an economic crisis. According to data released by the UK Office for National Statistics on the 17th of last month, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in July rose 10.1% year-on-year, reaching a record high. On the 7th, the British pound fell to around $1.145 per pound in the foreign exchange market, hitting its lowest level in 37 years since 1985.

On the 14th, the UK daily The Guardian pointed out, "As the UK stops to mourn the Queen, the risk of recession has deepened." It added, "The UK economy was already fragile and shaky before the Queen's passing, and with more public holidays and businesses temporarily suspending operations due to the funeral, the economic outlook has worsened."

Modupe Adekbambo, an economist at AXA Investment, warned, "With banks taking additional days off during the funeral period, the risk of the UK falling into a technical recession may increase." A technical recession means recording negative growth for two consecutive quarters. On the 12th, the U.S. daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also reported, "The Queen's funeral is expected to impact the UK economy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.