Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, September 8, her funeral was declared a Bank Holiday. Because of this, most supermarkets and high street shops will be closed. However, on Monday, September 19, mourners will be able to and watch the Queen’s funeral in cinemas across the UK for free.
Which cinemas are showing the Queen’s funeral?
While other major cinema chains will remain shut, both Vue and Curzon have taken the decision to stay open and offer up their big screens for a different purpose.
Vue was the first conema chain to announce the tickets on a first come first served basis, so you should book your tickets now as they are quickly selling out.
For those who manage to get a ticket for Vue cinemas, screening will start at 10am and bottled water will be handed out to ticket holders. However, no further drinks or snacks will be available for purchase.
On the website, Vue recalls The Queen’s efforts to support the film industry and her fondness for the industry: “The Queen was renowned for her support of the UK’s creative industries, having been patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the Royal Variety Charity and the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund. Over the years, The Queen visited countless film organisations, supporting their efforts by highlighting the work they do.”
“We will be screening the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in selected UK venues on Monday, 19 September, live from 10am. Seats will be free of charge and our retail offering on this day will be limited to complimentary bottled water during the broadcast, with no other snacks or drinks available for purchase. On this day we will not be showing our normal programme of films.”
Curzon cinemas have quickly followed Vue’s example and will now be screening the funeral across its venues free of charge on Monday. The screening time is set to start at 11am lasting 5 hours in total. What is more, Curzon has taken the decision to sell drinks and snacks as normal at the cinemas. Those wishing to attend can book their tickets here.
Where else is screening the Queen’s funeral?
For mourners who prefer to head down to the pub, some pub chains such as Walkabout, Slug & Lettuce and Greene King have confirmed they will be screening the funeral.
A big screen will also be put up in Hyde Park where well-wishers will be able to gather together. It is expected around 100,000 mourners will gather in Hyde Park alone on Monday, September 19. There will be four big screens around the park where many campers are expected to stay overnight to snag the best spot.
However, one does not have to leave the house to watch The Queen’s funeral. BBC One, BBC News, Sky News and ITV will all be broadcasting the historical event, as well as BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub online. Social media sites such as Twitter also often showcase major events on its explore page and YouTube also has a live streaming option.
As the day of the funeral will be a Bank Holiday, schools, shops and museums will be closed, while bin collections, as well as Royal Mail deliveries, will not be going ahead.