UK: Bank Holiday if England Wins Euro 2024
An update about an additional bank holiday in the event that England wins Euro 2024 has been released on the official UK government website. Tomorrow, in Berlin, Germany, Gareth Southgate's team will play Spain in the European Championship final.
According to the most recent update on the government's official Bank Holiday webpage, "The next Bank Holiday in England and Wales is 26 August Summer bank holiday." It follows Sir Keir Starmer's declaration that, should England win the Euros, he intends to "mark the occasion."
The Prime Minister, speaking at the Nato summit in Washington, said: “We should certainly mark the occasion, I don’t want to jinx it. I went to the last Euros final, I don’t want to go through that again. I don’t want to jinx anything but we must mark it in some way. But the most important thing is getting it over the line on Sunday.”
Government officials are not expecting a bank holiday should England win the tournament, the Guardian newspaper has reported. There are plans being made for a celebration in London on Tuesday, in which the squad would travel by open-top bus from Guildhall in the City to Buckingham Palace, where there would be a reception, the Guardian understands.
“It was fantastic. I managed to pop out from one of my sessions for just five minutes, which is when I saw Harry Kane get the first goal. I missed the second one but it was brilliant,” Sir Keir said. “So on we go now, great chance. I’ve always said this team were going to go all the way so I’m really, really pleased and just good luck for Sunday.”
“I’d remind you, England have not missed a penalty under a Labour government in 2024,” he said. And King Charles congratulated the England team on reaching the final, saying: “My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the Uefa European Championship – and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.
“If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last-minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!”