Manchester United’s Europa League match against Real Sociedad will go ahead as planned on Thursday night, despite British sport being poised to completely shut down following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96.
Golfing action at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth was suspended ‘until further notice’ when news broke of the Queen’s death at around 6:30pm on Thursday evening.
Arsenal were playing in the Europa League at the time of the Queen’s passing and held a minute’s silence with FC Zurich as they made their way back onto the pitch after half-time.
A minute’s silence will be held at Old Trafford and both Manchester United and Real Sociedad will wear black armbands & flags will be at half-mast.
West Ham’s Europa Conference League match against FCSB, due to be held at the London Stadium, will also go ahead as planned on Thursday evening.
However, as a mark of respect following Her Majesty’s passing this weekend’s football, rugby and cricket fixtures are likely to be postponed over the coming days.
While there is no official mandate from the Government to cancel sporting events, with the decision resting with individual governing bodies, it is expected most fixtures and events will be postponed.
Elizabeth II, 96, was the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, serving as head of state for more than 70 years.
The Prince of Wales is now King, having acceded to the throne immediately on the death of his mother.
In a statement, the Palace said: ‘The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.’
Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96, with the British sporting schedule set to halt
Arsenal and FC Zurich held a minute’s silence after news broke of Queen Elizabeth II’s death
Play was also suspended until further notice at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth
The nation will come to a standstill in the coming days to reflect on the Queen’s extraordinary 70-year reign.
The country has started 10 days of official mourning for the Monarch, whose health deteriorated at Balmoral in the Scottish Highlands in recent days.
The Queen was placed under medical supervision on Thursday afternoon with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the Duke of Cambridge, travelling to Balmoral to be at her side.
Across the country, flags will be flown at half-mast and muffled mourning bells will sound.
When King George VI died in February 1952, rugby and hockey fixtures were called off but the football schedule went ahead as planned.
The Queen is pictured greeting Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister, this week at Balmoral
Spectators sang ‘Abide with Me’ and the national anthem before kick-off.
All games, including golf, will be banned in the Royal Parks during the national period of mourning.
The Queen’s greatest sporting love has always been horse racing. She read the Racing Post every morning and owns a number of thoroughbred horses.
Jockeys wearing the Royal colours of ‘purple, gold braid, scarlet sleeves, black velvet cap with gold fringe’ have triumphed in five English Classics and 24 races at Royal Ascot.
2022 was the first time in her reign that the Queen did not attend Royal Ascot, with the exception of the behind-closed-doors meet in 2020 amid the Covid pandemic.
The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh arrive at Royal Ascot in 2017 – visiting the race meet was always a highlight of the monarch’s year
The royal couple at Ascot in June 1962 as they wave to the crowds from horse-drawn carriage
The Queen presents jockey Frankie Dettori with the prize for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
The Queen watched the final day of the June meet on television after mobility issues precluded her from attending in person in her Platinum Jubilee year.
A month later, she sent a message of congratulations to the England women’s football team after they won the European Championship by defeating Germany 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.
A letter circulated by Buckingham Palace read: ‘My warmest congratulations, and those of my family, go to you all on winning the European Women’s Championships.
‘It is a significant achievement for the entire team, including your support staff.
‘The Championships and your performance in them have rightly won praise.
The Queen congratulated the England women’s football team on their Euro triumph this year
‘However, your success goes far beyond the trophy you have so deservedly earned.
‘You have all set an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations.
‘It is my hope that you will be as proud of the impact you have had on your sport as you are of the result today.’
The Queen has been present at other British sporting achievements during her reign.
She presented the Jules Rimet trophy to Bobby Moore after England defeated West Germany 4-2 at Wembley to win their one and only men’s football World Cup in 1966.
The Queen presents Bobby Moore with the Jules Rimet Trophy after England’s 1966 World Cup final win over West Germany at Wembley
The Queen smiles as Germany captain Jurgen Klinsmann lifts the trophy at Euro ’96 in England
Blackpool’s Stanley Matthews receives his medal from Her Majesty after the 1953 FA Cup final
In 1996, she presented Germany captain Jurgen Klinsmann with the European Championship trophy after they beat the Czech Republic in the Wembley final.
She has also presented the trophy to numerous FA Cup-winning captains during her reign with the final being a centrepiece of the sporting year.
The Queen opened the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal before playing a memorable role at the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics.
She played the part of herself alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig at Buckingham Palace before appearing to tumble from a helicopter into the Olympic Stadium.