Center Parcs faces fresh backlash as pools closed after huge U-turn over Queen’s death

Queen Elizabeth II’s final flight most tracked in history

Center Parcs faces backlash as it prepares to close its facilities on the day Queen Elizabeth II is laid to rest. Her Majesty died last Thursday at the age of 96 in what is understood to have been one of her favourite residences.

A state funeral will be held on September 19, which new monarch King Charles has announced will also be a bank holiday.

On this day, and during the remainder of the official Royal Mourning period, a series of events and businesses will be closing shop.

Following the announcement of the day of Her Majesty’s funeral, Center Parcs UK said in a post on Twitter: “We have made the decision to close all our UK villages on Monday 19 September at 10am as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment.”

The company has received thousands of comments, and, no doubt, thousands more emails and phone calls, from angry customers.

Center Parcs faces fresh backlash as pools CLOSED after huge U-turn over Queen’s death. (Image: Getty)

One complained: “Very angry about this – we are not travelling directly to you, so this has left us stranded half way up the country without accommodation for a night.”

Another asked: “So will you be refunding one-quarter of the cost of our break?”

A spokesperson for the chain responded that “we are emailing all impacted guests and will offer the option to reschedule or cancel with a refund”.

Center Parcs added that guest who were due to arrive on the day of the funeral “should not travel on this day”.

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“Villages” will reopen on September 20.

It said: “We hope our guests will understand our decision to support our Queen on her final journey.”

Reports now show that, while parks will remain open for those who had already planned to stay on Monday, the villages themselves will be closed.

This means swimming pools, sports activities and restaurants will not be accessible to paying guests.

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Center Parcs, quoted in MailOnline, said: “The vast majority of our guests are either due to arrive or depart on Monday September 19.

“We have however, reviewed our position regarding the very small number of guests who are not due to depart on Monday and we will be allowing them to stay on our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday.

“The villages will still remain closed on Monday and we will be offering a discount for the lack of facilities available on that day.”

Businesses are not required by law to close on the day of Her Majesty’s state funeral, though may choose to do so if they wish, given the nature of the event.

Queen Elizabeth’s coffin has now arrived in London and will lie in state for some days, allowing Britons to pay their final respects.