Will schools close today? Major update as nation mourns the Queen
SCHOOLS have been ordered to stay OPEN as the nation mourns the Queen.
Children across the country will continue to attend class as ten days of national mourning begins today, The Sun understands.
In a sombre statement yesterday, Buckingham Palace confirmed Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history, had passed away - making her son, Charles, King.
Ms Truss was the 96-year-old Queen's 15th and final PM of her record 70-year reign.
The Queen's passing comes as...
- King Charles told of his 'greatest' sadness as he paid tribute to his mother
- The Queen went from a shy daddy's girl to a hero who dedicated her life to the country
- The Union flag flew at half mast as the devastating news was announced
- Prince Charles has now become King Charles III
- Prince Harry was pictured holding his head as he travelled to Balmoral to be with his family
- Crowds have gathered at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral to pay tribute to the Queen
She said the nation would "come together" now to support each other and remember her after the "devastating" news.
And she also revealed the new monarch would be referred to as King Charles III, ending her speech with the words not spoken by a PM for 70 years: "God save the King".
The Government will now go into a ten day mourning period.
National mourning guidance is expected to be published by the government shortly.
This comes as a period of royal mourning is announced to last from now until seven days after the Queen's funeral, at King Charles' behest.
It is for sporting bodies to decide whether fixtures go ahead or not.
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The government expects droves of mourners to flock to royal residences to pay their respects.
Designated zones will be set up to mark where people should pay tribute to the Queen.
Civil servants have been given advice about how they should dress during the period of mourning.
Urgent government business - including dealing with the cost of living crisis - will continue.
MPs will pay their own tributes to Her Majesty on Friday as they gather to remember her.
The Commons is expected to sit on Saturday and possibly even Sunday, while all other government business will be scrapped.
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The new PM, Liz Truss, will not be able to make any major announcements for the next ten days - and visits, press releases and new policy announcements will all be binned.
It may mean Ms Truss' emergency budget - pencilled in for later this month - will have to be postponed.
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But any vital information - like yesterday's energy bills announcement - can still be conveyed to the public.
The new PM will likely swear allegiance to the new King in the next few days, alongside the rest of the Privy Council.
