Commemorating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Books of condolence

Her Majesty The Queen has been a part of all our lives and we know many people will want the opportunity to share their thoughts at this sad time. You can use this book of condolence to write down your memories of The Queen so we can collectively share in this important time of reflection and mourning.

Please send us a message and if you have a picture you also want to share of The Queen, please do so using the online form.

Tributes will be shared and you can send your messages at any time until the online book is closed the day after the funeral.

Send a message of condolence

In due course the messages shared here will be printed out and bound into a book and sent to the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre for the archives.

National book of condolence

You can contribute to the national book of condolence on the Royal Household: Send a message of condolence (opens new window). A selection of messages will be passed onto members of the Royal Family, and may be held in the Royal Archives for posterity.

Changes to Wiltshire Council services on 19 September

• No collections of waste or recycling will take place on Monday 19 September. All collections due on the day of the Queen's funeral will instead take place Tuesday 20 September. For collections scheduled between Tuesday 20 and Friday 23 September we ask that bins and containers are placed out as normal by 7am, though some collections may not be completed until the following day.
• All household recycling centres will be closed with normal opening hours resuming from 20 September.
• Leisure centres will be closed with normal opening hours resuming from 20 September.
• Libraries will be closed, with no mobile library service on offer on that day. Any books that were due to be returned by 19 September will be extended until 26 September. Books of condolence will be available in libraries until the end of the day on 20 September. Normal library opening hours will resume from 20 September.
• Buses will be running to Sunday timetables, therefore bus routes that do not normally run on a Sunday will not be running on 19 September. To find out timings on this date, people are advised to call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or contact the local bus company.
• Schools and colleges will be closed.
• Registration services will only be open for scheduled ceremonies.
• The three main council hubs (Bourne Hill, County Hall and Monkton Park) will be closed.
• All roadworks scheduled to take place on Monday 19 September will be suspended for the day, which may mean that the duration of these works are extended by a day. Highways operations will be emergencies only.

Proclamation

The Proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III took place at 1pm on Sunday 11 September at County Hall, Trowbridge. Watch a recording of the announcement on Facebook: Wiltshire Council (opens new window).

Floral tributes

The designated place for floral tributes is the front of County Hall. Mourners are kindly requested to remove all plastic wrapping from the floral tributes so they can be recycled after the period of national mourning.

Funeral

The state funeral takes place on Monday 19 September at 11am. Arrangements for the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II have been published on Royal Household: Arrangements for the Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen (opens new window) website. 

Local events and arrangements

Local events and arrangements in Wiltshire that we have been made aware of:

Flags

The flags at County Hall (Trowbridge), Monkton Park (Chippenham) and Bourne Hill (Salisbury) have been lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The flags will remain at half-mast until 8am the day after the state funeral. 

National mourning guidance

National mourning guidance has been published and includes information on the period of mourning, floral tributes and the state funeral. Read the official guidance from GOV.UK: Guidance - National Mourning Guidance (opens new window).

Further mourning guidance for faith and belief groups and places of worship is  also available at GOV.UK: Guidance - National Mourning period: guidance for faith and belief groups and places of worship (opens new window).

Monday 19 September will be a national bank holiday for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's State Funeral. This will also mark the last day of mourning. Further information can be found on GOV.UK: Press release - Bank holiday announced for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral on Monday 19 September (opens new window).