Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest-reigning monarch, passed away 'peacefully' at Balmoral on September 8, 2022. As per protocol, this means that the UK enters an official period of mourning that will last from now until seven days after the Queen's funeral – a total of 17 days.
During this period, and potentially beyond, many London-based events will likely be cancelled as a mark of respect, while the Queen's funeral and new King's coronation will be announced as national holidays. But what of London Fashion Week, that falls directly within the national period of mourning?
Will London Fashion Week go ahead?
The British Fashion Council (BFC) has confirmed that London Fashion Week will indeed go ahead as planned, albeit significantly scaled back.
Shortly after the news of the Queen's passing, the BFC released a statement which read:
'London Fashion Week is a business-to-business event, and an important moment for designers to show their collections at a specific moment in the fashion calendar, we recognise the work that goes into this moment.
'Therefore, shows and presentations of collections can continue, but we are asking that designers respect the mood of the nation and period of national mourning by considering the timing of their image release.'
Will any London Fashion Week events been cancelled?
Burberry has announced that its SS23 show, originally planned for Saturday September 17, will be cancelled 'as a mark of respect'. The Raf Simons show has also been cancelled.
The BFC has recommended that all shows due to take place on the date of the Queen's funeral be re-arranged. The exact date of the funeral has not yet been confirmed, but is most likely to be held on Monday September 19 – which will likely mean the rescheduling of shows including Roksanda, Christopher Kane, Supriya Lele, Chopova Lowena, Sinead O'Dwyer and Chet Lo.
Any 'non-essential' events set to take place over London Fashion Week, including parties, launches and openings, will also likely be postponed or cancelled as per guidance from the BFC.
How has the fashion world reacted to the Queen's death?
Tributes have poured in from all corners of the fashion world in reaction to the Queen's passing. British brands including Burberry, Christopher Kane and Barbour have taken to social media to express their condolences and share stories, as have fashion icons Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.
