Penny Smith

After being contacted by thousands of irate families whose holiday plans had been shattered, Center Parcs was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on Monday after the firm announced that it would turf them out at 9:30 a.m. on Monday as a'mark of respect' for late Queen Elizabeth II. Parks will now be open to those who wish to remain there on the day of the Queen's state funeral, but the villages will still be closed and limited public services will be open as the country mourns the absence of its country's longest-serving monarch. Although visitors who arrive before the state funeral will no longer be permitted to stay on the resort, Center Parcs has urged those planning to arrive on Monday that they should not fly and that there will be discounts to those impacted. Jamie Nice, who wanted to take his terminally ill mother-in-law on a last-minute break, slammed the'ridiculous' decision, while other holidaymakers took to the internet to condemn Center Parcs' decision to 'penalise' customers. In the midst of the uproar, social media users were also quick to mock the holiday chain's bewildering decision, posting their best memes and mocking jokes of the situation.

Since it announced that its five parks would close at 10 a.m. on Monday because of the Queen's funeral, visitors were left wondering where to stay in the middle of their holiday. Following a vehement opposition from visitors, the company has now changed direction on the proposals. On Monday, parks will be open to visitors who want to remain there, but the villages will still be closed and limited activities will be held as the Queen's funeral takes place. Center Parcs spokeswoman said: "We've had to decide on the closing of all our UK villages on Monday, September 19th; We have, however, investigated our options regarding the very small number of visitors who are not scheduled to leave on Monday and told them to stay in our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday.' Laura Magor, 33 (pictured left with her family), was one of a number of holidaymakers who helped trigger the downfall. After a 70-mile journey from South Wales, she plans to celebrate her birthday along with her mother and sister on September 19 in Longleat Forest, Wiltshire. Laura told Metro.co.uk, "I'm disgusted by this decision." It's my birthday and my sister's birthday, and we're both born on Monday, September 19. We're lucky that this year is our family day, and every year we spend our birthdays together.

Bin collections, driving tests, hospital visits, theaters, and large supermarkets are among the businesses and services that will be suspended as the nation commemorates the Queen's funeral on Monday. Costa Coffee is one of the new stores to announce its closing following Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, Aldi, Morrisons, Iceland, Poundl, and M&S's that they would cease operations. The DVSA has announced that all driving tests in England, Scotland, and Wales had been postponed on the day of the Queen's state funeral.