HM Queen Elizabeth II

Published: 09 September 2022

Councillors and Staff were saddened to hear the news yesterday of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The Union Flag will fly at half mast at the recreation ground in line with protocol and the Parish Council will take its lead from the Borough Council with regard to marking this sad occasion.

Below is a message from the Mayor’s Office outlining the measures that will be put in place over the coming days:

You will have heard the sad news that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has sadly passed away at the age of 96 years old.

The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr Paul Miller has led the borough’s tribute to the late Queen and you can read it in full on the webpage at https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/HM-Elizabeth-II

The Mayor will be writing a letter of condolence to the new Sovereign King Charles III. The Union Flag will fly at half-mast outside the Civic Offices until after the late Queen’s funeral.

I thought it would be helpful to summarise the arrangements that, in line with national protocols, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will be putting in place:

We will follow any guidance from the Palace on whether the laying of flowers is encouraged, if so there will be an area set aside at the edge of the War Memorial Park for these.
Residents will be directed to the Royal website book of condolence when it goes live at https://www.royal.uk/ as this is shared with the Royal household. Residents who need help to add their tributes online will be able to do this at the council’s reception.
During the period of mourning (10 days), the Chief Executive of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council will be advising committee chairs to cancel meetings scheduled. Events and other activities will be cancelled as appropriate.
During the period of mourning, a Civic Church Service will be held in the borough.
On the day of the funeral at 11am the Mayor will encourage people to observe the two minutes silence
Service delivery will continue throughout the period.

The council is arranging for the local reading of the public proclamation notice of the accession of the new King, under national protocols. As his predecessor did in 1952, the Mayor will read the Proclamation of the new monarch on the steps of The Willis Museum, the old town hall, in Market Square, Basingstoke, joined by the Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire Lady Portal MBE DL (Louisa). This is expected to be on Saturday.

More details of the Basingstoke proclamation will follow shortly and the webpage at https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/HM-Elizabeth-II will be updated with further arrangements, as they are available.