On 21 September the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day Act 2022 received Royal Assent. In addition to specifying that the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day is to be treated as a public holiday for the purposes of the Holidays Act 2003, the Act also includes important clarifications as to the status of the Day as a 'business' or 'working' day under contracts and under other legislation. In particular:
- A reference in any legislation to the Sovereign's birthday or the Queen's birthday is to be treated as referring also to Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day. So, for example, the definition of 'working day' in the Property Law Act 2007 excludes the Sovereign's birthday, and so will therefore also exclude Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day
- For any requirement or obligation to perform an action within, by, or no sooner than a specified number of business or working days which is found in any agreement, deed, notice or other document, Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day will not be a 'business' or 'working' day for that purpose.
The Act can be viewed here.
