The government has confirmed that there will be an additional UK-wide bank holiday in 2023 to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III next year. The coronation is on Saturday 6 May and Monday 8 May 2023 will be a celebratory bank holiday. This means that there are three bank holidays in May next year: Monday 1 May, Monday 8 May and Monday 29 May. 

Like with similar ‘extra’ bank holidays granted previously, it is unlikely that there will be an ‘enforced closure’ of shops and businesses, although schools will almost certainly be closed (which may make child-care problematic for parents required to work). 

The wording of the contract will be crucial in determining the entitlement of staff. What does this say about entitlement to bank holidays? Does this allow the employer to ask staff to work on a bank holiday? If so, do they get a day-off in lieu? In many cases, the decision to grant an additional day-off (or time off in lieu) will be at the employer’s discretion. However, the approach taken to the ‘additional’ bank holidays granted for the Jubilee and Queen’s funeral may also be relevant to establishing custom and practice arguments.